How to Convert & Add Cars to FiveM (Add-on vs Replace)

Most custom cars you find are made for single-player GTA V as “replace” mods. To use them properly on a FiveM server, you usually want them as add-on vehicles. This guide covers how to convert and add cars to FiveM the right way.

Add-on vs replace (why convert)

A replace car overwrites a base-game model — you lose the original and risk conflicts. An add-on car is a brand-new vehicle with its own spawn name, sitting alongside the base cars. Add-on is the correct approach for servers, so converting a replace car to add-on is a common task. Many cars are also sold “FiveM-ready” as add-ons already — those just need installing.

Installing a FiveM-ready add-on car

1. Place the vehicle resource in your resources folder.
2. Confirm its fxmanifest.lua streams the model files (.yft, .ytd) and references the metas (vehicles.meta, carcols.meta, carvariations.meta, handling.meta).
3. ensure it in your server.cfg and spawn it by its model name.

Converting a replace car to add-on

If you only have a replace car, the conversion means giving it a unique identity:

• Rename the model files and the vehicle’s spawn name so it no longer matches a base car.
• Set up the meta files (vehicles.meta, carvariations.meta, carcols.meta) with the new name and a vehicle that loads as a DLC/add-on.
• Package it as a streamed resource with a proper fxmanifest.

It’s fiddly, but it means the car coexists with everything else. Tune how it drives afterward with our handling.meta editor, and compare against stock cars in the vehicle database.

Performance note

Custom cars stream model and texture data to every player. Oversized 4K YTD textures hurt streaming for the whole server — keep them reasonable and run on hosting with fast NVMe storage. See our optimization guide.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a car to FiveM?

Use add-on vehicles: place the resource in resources, ensure the fxmanifest streams the model and metas, add it to server.cfg, and spawn by model name.

What’s the difference between add-on and replace cars?

Add-on cars are new vehicles with their own name (recommended for servers); replace cars overwrite a base GTA model.

Why do my custom cars cause lag?

Usually oversized textures. Keep YTD sizes reasonable and host on fast NVMe storage so streaming keeps up.