A steering control apparatus for a vehicle including a steering input unit movable to set a steering input, and a steering output unit arranged to output a steering output, the steering input unit being connected via a cable to a body of the vehicle, includes a steering ratio control unit, a steering limiter, and a cable-attachment diagnostic controller. The steering ratio control unit regulates a variable steering ratio as a rate of change in the steering output with respect to a change in the steering input. The steering limiter restricts movement of the steering input unit to limit the steering input. The cable-attachment diagnostic controller is activated in a cable-attachment diagnostic mode, to control the steering ratio in such a manner that the steering input unit is movable over an allowable region defined by the steering limiter when the cable is correctly attached.