# What every FiveM vehicle meta file does

> What each FiveM vehicle meta file does: vehicles.meta, handling.meta, carvariations.meta, carcols.meta and vehiclelayouts.meta, and which IDs must line up.

Source: https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-vehicle-meta-files · FAM Tools · published 2026-09-11 · updated 2026-09-11 · about 11 min

**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.

## Key points

- `modelName` ↔ `.yft`, `txdName` ↔ `.ytd`, `handlingId` ↔ `handlingName`.
- `carvariations.meta` links the car to a mod kit ID.
- `carcols.meta` holds mod kits and sirens — IDs must be unique.
- Duplicate IDs across packs cause the strangest bugs.

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.

## The files at a glance

| File | data_file | Controls |
| --- | --- | --- |
| vehicles.meta | `VEHICLE_METADATA_FILE` | Model, textures, handling link, name, class, layout, LODs, flags |
| handling.meta | `HANDLING_FILE` | Mass, power, gears, grip, brakes, suspension, damage |
| carvariations.meta | `VEHICLE_VARIATION_FILE` | Colour combinations, liveries, mod kit link, lights |
| carcols.meta | `CARCOLS_FILE` | Mod kits (tuning parts) and siren setups |
| vehiclelayouts.meta | `VEHICLE_LAYOUTS_FILE` | Seat and entry animations for special vehicles |

## vehicles.meta: the key fields

*vehicles.meta — excerpt*

```xml
<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.

> **Unique IDs** — When combining car packs, check `<id>` values in every carcols.meta and give each kit and siren a unique number.

## handling.meta

The `handlingName` in handling.meta must equal `handlingId` in vehicles.meta. The physics fields are explained in [the handling.meta guide](https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-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.

## 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.

## Related

- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-add-addon-cars
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-handling-meta-guide
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-vehicle-liveries
- https://fam-tools.com/guides/fivem-replace-vs-addon-vehicles