To provide a continuously variable transmission for a vehicle comprising a toroidal continuously variable transmission assembled with a torque converter, the transmission achieving a structure capable of safely and quickly decelerating and stopping the vehicle when a shift lever is operated in a selection position in the opposite direction to the traveling direction of the vehicle at the time, and capable of starting the vehicle in a direction responding to the selection position of the shift lever.

When a shift lever is operated to a selection position in the opposite direction to the traveling direction at the time, a controller of the continuously variable transmission does not connect one clutch responding to the selection position of the shift lever between a forward clutch and a reverse clutch, but connects the other clutch responding to the traveling direction at the time. The controller changes a speed ratio of the toroidal continuously variable transmission from a value responding to the traveling state at the time into a value indicating the maximum deceleration so as to sufficiently decelerate the vehicle. The controller disconnects the other clutch afterwards and moderately connects the one clutch.