A driver apparatus and method for driving a voltage driven type switching element that discharge an electrical charge stored at the gate terminal of the voltage driven type switching element at a discharge rate. The discharge rate is controlled so that the change rate over time of the voltage between the collector and emitter terminals of the voltage driven type switching element is limited to a second change rate during the turn-off operation. The starting time of the control of the change rate over time to attain the second change rate is delayed for a predetermined delay time after start of the turn-off operation and before a time when the voltage between the collector and emitter terminals first reaches the power source voltage level. During the delay time, the discharge rate is initially at a first change rate higher than the second change rate.