How To Install Custom Cars (FiveM)

Custom cars are one of the most popular additions to any FiveM server. Whether you want to add real-world brands, fictional vehicles, or entirely custom creations, installing car mods is a straightforward process once you understand the file structure and configuration. This guide covers both the stream (add-on) and replace methods, fxmanifest setup, handling files, and common troubleshooting steps.

Understanding FiveM Vehicle Mods

FiveM vehicle mods come in two main types:

• Add-on vehicles — New vehicles added alongside the existing GTA V vehicle roster. Players can spawn them with their unique spawn name without replacing anything.
• Replace vehicles — Custom models that replace existing GTA V vehicles. When the original vehicle spawns (in traffic or via commands), the custom model appears instead.

Most server owners prefer add-on vehicles because they do not remove any base game content and give you full control over which vehicles are available. Replace vehicles are useful when you want to overhaul the entire traffic system with real-world cars.

Stream Folder Setup

FiveM uses a stream folder system to deliver custom vehicle models to players. Here is the basic resource structure:

my-custom-car/
  fxmanifest.lua
  stream/
    mycar.yft
    mycar_hi.yft
    mycar.ytd
    vehicles.meta
    handling.meta
    carvariations.meta
    carcols.meta

The key files are:

• .yft — The 3D model file. The _hi variant is the high-detail version shown up close.
• .ytd — Texture dictionary containing all vehicle textures (paint, interior, lights, etc.)
• vehicles.meta — Defines vehicle properties like name, type, class, and spawn behavior
• handling.meta — Physics and driving characteristics (speed, grip, braking, suspension)
• carvariations.meta — Color combinations and livery configurations
• carcols.meta — Siren and light configurations (mainly for emergency vehicles)

fxmanifest.lua for Vehicles

Every vehicle resource needs a proper fxmanifest.lua. Here is a template:

fx_version "cerulean"
game "gta5"

name "My Custom Car"
description "2024 Custom Sports Car"
version "1.0.0"

files {
  "stream/vehicles.meta",
  "stream/handling.meta",
  "stream/carvariations.meta",
  "stream/carcols.meta",
}

data_file "HANDLING_FILE" "stream/handling.meta"
data_file "VEHICLE_METADATA_FILE" "stream/vehicles.meta"
data_file "CARCOLS_FILE" "stream/carcols.meta"
data_file "VEHICLE_VARIATION_FILE" "stream/carvariations.meta"

The files block tells FiveM which meta files to include. The data_file entries tell the game engine how to interpret each file. Without the correct data_file entries, your vehicle may load the model but have broken handling or missing color options.

Add-On vs Replace Method

Aspect

Add-On

Replace

Base vehicles affected

None

Replaces one vehicle

Spawn name

Custom unique name

Same as replaced vehicle

Traffic spawning

Only via script/command

Appears in regular traffic

Complexity

Slightly more setup

Simpler (drop-in replacement)

Recommended for

Most use cases

Full traffic overhauls

For add-on vehicles: The vehicles.meta must define a new, unique model name and hash. The vehicle will not appear in traffic unless you use a traffic script that includes it.

For replace vehicles: Use the exact same model name and hash as the vehicle you are replacing. The game will automatically use your custom model wherever the original would appear.

Handling.meta Configuration

The handling.meta file controls how your vehicle drives. Key parameters to understand:

• fMass — Vehicle weight in kilograms. Affects collisions and acceleration.
• fInitialDriveForce — Engine power. Higher values mean faster acceleration.
• fBrakeForce — Braking strength. Adjust for realistic stopping distances.
• fTractionCurveMax / fTractionCurveMin — Grip levels. Higher values give more grip in corners.
• fSuspensionForce / fSuspensionCompDamp — Suspension stiffness and dampening.
• fInitialDragCoeff — Air resistance. Affects top speed.
• nInitialDriveGears — Number of gears in the transmission.

If a vehicle feels wrong to drive, handling.meta is where you fix it. Many downloaded vehicles come with unrealistic handling — take the time to tune these values for your server.

Vehicle Spawner Script

Once your vehicle is installed, players need a way to spawn it. Most servers use one of these approaches:

• Admin commands — Simple /car [model] commands for staff use
• Garage systems — qb-garages, esx_garages, or similar let players store and retrieve owned vehicles
• Dealership scripts — Players purchase vehicles through an in-game car dealership
• vMenu — Server-side menu that includes vehicle spawning (mainly for development/testing)

For the vehicle to appear in garages or dealerships, you typically need to add it to the vehicle list in your garage/dealership script configuration. The exact process depends on which script you use.

Common Errors and Fixes

Problem

Cause

Solution

Vehicle is invisible

Missing or corrupted .yft file

Re-download the model files, verify they are not corrupted

Vehicle has no textures

Missing .ytd file or wrong filename

Ensure .ytd filename matches the model name exactly

Vehicle floats or sinks

Incorrect handling.meta values

Adjust fSuspensionUpperLimit and fSuspensionLowerLimit

Vehicle does not spawn

Wrong model name in spawn command

Check vehicles.meta for the correct modelName and gameName

Crash when spawning

Incompatible model version or too many polygons

Find a FiveM-optimized version of the vehicle

No engine sound

Missing audio hash in vehicles.meta

Set audioNameHash to a valid GTA V vehicle audio hash

Missing dashboard/interior

Missing vehicle interior model

Ensure the _hi.yft includes interior geometry

Legal and Licensing Notes

A few important points about vehicle mods:

• Respect mod creators. Do not redistribute paid vehicle mods. Many high-quality FiveM vehicles are created by professional 3D artists who deserve compensation for their work.
• Check license terms. Some vehicle mods are released under specific licenses that restrict commercial use or require attribution. Read the included license file or description before using them on a public server.
• Real brand names. Using real car brand names and logos is technically a trademark concern, but it is widely accepted in the FiveM community. Just be aware that brand owners could theoretically object.
• Performance responsibility. Poorly optimized vehicle mods can cause client crashes and frame drops. Test every vehicle thoroughly before adding it to your production server. Keep polygon counts reasonable — a single ultra-detailed car should not tank performance for everyone on the server.

Final Thoughts

Installing custom cars in FiveM is one of the most rewarding modifications you can make to your server. Start with a few high-quality vehicles, get comfortable with the file structure and fxmanifest configuration, and gradually expand your vehicle roster. Always test on a development server first, tune handling values for a realistic driving experience, and respect the work of mod creators who make these vehicles available to the community.

Vehicle Resources on VertexMods

Once your custom cars are installed, complete the experience with these vehicle management resources available on VertexMods:

• stg-vehicleshop-esx — 23€ — STG Vehicle Shop — ESX car dealership
• gabz-vehicle-dealer-pdm — 39€ — Gabz PDM — premium dealership MLO
• zerio-cardealer — 19€ — Zerio Car Dealer script
• cd-garage — 30€ — CD Garage — advanced multi-garage system
• jg-advanced-garages — 28€ — JG Advanced Garages
• carhud-mileage-system-steering-wheel — 7€ — Car HUD with mileage & steering wheel