How to add a car to a FiveM server

An add-on car is a resource like any other: a folder with the model and textures in stream, its meta files and an fxmanifest.lua. Here is how to install one, make your framework know it, and fix it when it won't spawn.

1. 1Put the resource in your resources folder

   Unzip the car so you have one folder (for example [cars]/mycar) holding a stream folder with the .yft and .ytd files, the .meta files and an fxmanifest.lua. A folder inside a folder, or a .rar left packed, is the most common reason a car doesn\'t load. Folder names in square brackets such as [cars] are just categories — the server loads everything inside them when you ensure the category.

2. 2Check the fxmanifest

   The manifest needs fx_version 'cerulean' and game 'gta5', the meta files listed in files { }, and a data_file line for each: 'VEHICLE_METADATA_FILE' for vehicles.meta, 'HANDLING_FILE', 'CARCOLS_FILE', 'VEHICLE_VARIATION_FILE' and, if the car has one, 'VEHICLE_LAYOUTS_FILE'. Missing lines mean the car spawns with the wrong handling, no tuning or no sirens. Resource Forge writes a correct manifest for you.

3. 3Ensure it in server.cfg

   Add ensure mycar (the folder name) to server.cfg — or ensure [cars] for a whole category — and restart the server. Watch the server console while it starts; the Console Error Explainer turns errors such as oversized assets or a failed resource into a fix.

4. 4Spawn it to test

   Spawn the car by its spawn name — the modelName in its vehicles.meta — with your admin menu or your framework\'s car command (for example /car mycar). Every GXD car\'s spawn name is on the FiveM car spawn codes page.

5. 5Add it to QBCore, Qbox or ESX

   Spawning by command works without this, but shops and garages need the car in the framework\'s list. QBCore keeps it in qb-core/shared/vehicles.lua (model, name, brand, price, category, type, shop), Qbox in qbx_core/shared/vehicles.lua, and ESX in the vehicles database table (name, model, price, category). The Vehicle Registrar reads your vehicles.meta and writes all three. If garages show the name as "NULL", the car has no text entry — the Registrar writes that too.

6. 6If it still won't work

   Car invisible or texture loss: a .ytd over the 16 MiB limit — shrink it with the YTD Resizer. Wrong handling or sirens on another car: two cars share a handlingId or siren id — Pack Doctor finds the clash. Escrow-protected cars (Keymaster) only load on the server key of the Cfx.re account that bought them.

Every GXD car ships as a ready resource with its manifest, metas and spawn code, and works on QBCore, Qbox, ESX and standalone. New to it? Start with the free FiveM cars.