Halloween Edition36 maps, limited runlimited runShop the drop
FAM Tools
Sign in
Streaming assetsintermediate11 min readupdated 11 Sept 2026

What every FiveM vehicle meta file does

The short answer

vehicles.meta defines the model (spawn name, textures, handling ID, name, class, layout, LOD distances, flags); handling.meta the driving physics; carvariations.meta colours, liveries and which mod kit the car uses; carcols.meta the mod kits themselves and siren settings; vehiclelayouts.meta seating and entry animations for unusual vehicles. IDs must match across files, and mod kit and siren IDs must be unique server-wide.

A car resource usually ships four or five XML files, and every one controls a different part of the vehicle. When something is wrong — no tuning parts, wrong colours, sirens not working, missing sound — knowing which file owns that feature takes you straight to the fix.

What every FiveM vehicle meta file does — illustrated with a FiveM-compatible minimap render

#The files at a glance

Filedata_fileControls
vehicles.metaVEHICLE_METADATA_FILEModel, textures, handling link, name, class, layout, LODs, flags
handling.metaHANDLING_FILEMass, power, gears, grip, brakes, suspension, damage
carvariations.metaVEHICLE_VARIATION_FILEColour combinations, liveries, mod kit link, lights
carcols.metaCARCOLS_FILEMod kits (tuning parts) and siren setups
vehiclelayouts.metaVEHICLE_LAYOUTS_FILESeat and entry animations for special vehicles

#vehicles.meta: the key fields

vehicles.meta — excerpt
<Item>
  <modelName>mycar</modelName>
  <txdName>mycar</txdName>
  <handlingId>MYCAR</handlingId>
  <gameName>MYCAR</gameName>
  <vehicleMakeName>ANNIS</vehicleMakeName>
  <audioNameHash>elegy2</audioNameHash>
  <layout>LAYOUT_STANDARD</layout>
  <lodDistances content="float_array">15.0 30.0 60.0 120.0 500.0 500.0</lodDistances>
  <type>VEHICLE_TYPE_CAR</type>
  <vehicleClass>VC_SPORT</vehicleClass>
  <flags>FLAG_SPORTS FLAG_RICH_CAR</flags>
</Item>

audioNameHash borrows a vanilla engine sound unless the pack ships its own audio. lodDistances decide when cheaper models take over — too high and busy areas cost frames.

#carvariations.meta and carcols.meta

carvariations.meta lists allowed colour combinations and liveries and names the mod kit (<kits>) the car uses. carcols.meta defines those kits — spoilers, bumpers, liveries as mods — and siren settings for emergency vehicles. Every kit and siren has an ID; two packs using the same ID overwrite each other, which is why tuning menus suddenly show another car’s parts.

#handling.meta

The handlingName in handling.meta must equal handlingId in vehicles.meta. The physics fields are explained in the handling.meta guide.

#vehiclelayouts.meta

Only needed for vehicles with unusual seating or entry points (buses, special bikes). Most cars reference a vanilla layout such as LAYOUT_STANDARD and ship no layouts file.

Share this guideXRedditFacebook

Questions

What does vehicles.meta do?
It defines the vehicle: model and texture names, handling link, display name, class, layout, LOD distances and flags.
Why do tuning parts from another car appear on mine?
Two carcols.meta files use the same mod kit ID. Give each kit a unique ID.
Which file controls car colours?
carvariations.meta.
Do I always need vehiclelayouts.meta?
No. Only for vehicles with custom seating or entry animations.

Ready to pick a map?

Twelve themes on three base map styles, $8 each, instant download.

Relevant to what you just read

Look it up while you work

The reference tables this guide leans on, free and without an account.