How to install add-on cars on a FiveM server

Add-on cars are streamed as new models, so they sit next to the base-game vehicles instead of replacing them. This guide shows how to install add-on cars on a FiveM server, give them proper names, put them in your dealership, and avoid the texture and handling problems that come with large car packs.

By the HighLeaks teamUpdated 8 November 20266 min read

Add-on or replace?

A replace car overwrites a base-game model (every Adder becomes your car). An add-on car gets its own spawn name, so you can have as many as you like. For a roleplay server, add-on is almost always what you want.

Resource layout

my_cars/
├─ fxmanifest.lua
├─ vehicle_names.lua
├─ stream/
│  ├─ mycar.yft
│  ├─ mycar_hi.yft
│  └─ mycar.ytd
└─ data/
   └─ mycar/
      ├─ vehicles.meta
      ├─ handling.meta
      ├─ carvariations.meta
      └─ carcols.meta

One folder per car inside data/ keeps packs easy to maintain.

The fxmanifest

fx_version 'cerulean'
game 'gta5'

files {
  'data/**/*.meta'
}

data_file 'HANDLING_FILE'          'data/**/handling.meta'
data_file 'VEHICLE_METADATA_FILE'  'data/**/vehicles.meta'
data_file 'CARCOLS_FILE'           'data/**/carcols.meta'
data_file 'VEHICLE_VARIATION_FILE' 'data/**/carvariations.meta'

client_script 'vehicle_names.lua'

Model and texture files in stream/ do not need to be listed.

Only declare the meta files the car actually has. Some cars also ship vehiclelayouts.meta (VEHICLE_LAYOUTS_FILE) for custom seating.

Give the car a display name

Without a text entry the car shows as "NULL" in menus. Map the gameName from vehicles.meta to a readable name:

AddTextEntry('MYCAR', 'Brand Model 2026')

vehicle_names.lua

Start and test

Add ensure my_cars to server.cfg, restart, and spawn the car by its model name with your admin menu (for example /car mycar on QBCore). Drive it, check every livery and extra, and open F8 for warnings.

Spawning and checking a new add-on car in game

Selling it in your dealership

QBCore

Add an entry to qb-core/shared/vehicles.lua with the model, name, brand, price, category and shop, then restart. The model must match the spawn name exactly.

ESX Legacy

Most ESX vehicle shops read from the database: add a row to the vehicles table with the model, name, price and category used by your shop resource.

Car packs

Combining many cars into one resource cuts resource count, but keep each car's meta files in its own folder and make sure no two cars use the same handlingName, modelName or texture dictionary name. FiveM prints an oversized-asset warning for very large models or texture dictionaries; those are the usual cause of texture loss for players with less video memory.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Car does not spawn	Wrong spawn name or resource not started	Use the `modelName` from vehicles.meta and check `ensure`.
Shows as NULL	No text entry	Add `AddTextEntry` in vehicle_names.lua.
Drives like another car	Duplicate `handlingName`	Give each car a unique handling name.
Blurry or missing textures	Oversized .ytd, too many big cars	Use optimised versions and fewer 4K textures.
No liveries or extras	carvariations.meta or carcols.meta not loaded	Check the `data_file` lines and paths.

Find vehicle releases and feedback in the vehicles hub, and add matching interiors with how to install an MLO.