Vehicle customization in GTA 6 is deeper than any previous GTA game. Every car, truck, and motorcycle can be tuned at one of the many mod shops scattered across Leonida. This guide covers every shop, every category of upgrade, and how to get the most out of your ride.
Mod Shop Categories
Los Santos Customs (and Vice City Customs)
The standard mod shop is found in every region. It offers six upgrade categories:
- Armor plating
- Brakes
- Engine tuning
- Transmission
- Turbocharger
- Suspension
Engine tuning has five sub-levels. Each level adds horsepower but reduces durability. Choose based on how you intend to use the vehicle.
Benny's Original Motor Works
Benny's is the premium tuning shop. It is the only place that offers full conversion kits that change a vehicle's class. Available conversions include:
- Lowrider to Lowrider Custom
- Muscle to Donk
- Sport to Sport Custom
- Coupe to Slamvan
Benny's kits are expensive but unlock unique performance curves, exclusive paint options, and one-off sound profiles.
Premium Deluxe Motorsport
PDMS is the paint and cosmetic shop. It offers:
- Primary paint (metallic, matte, chameleon)
- Secondary paint
- Custom liveries (player-uploaded decals)
- Window tint
- Custom plate text
Haos Specialty
Haos is the high-end performance shop in Downtown Vice City. It is the only place that offers Stage 5 engine tuning and race-spec transmissions.
Arena War Workshop
Found in the Maze Bank Arena area, the Arena War Workshop offers off-road conversions, roll cages, and weapon attachments for combat-oriented vehicles.
Performance Upgrades
Engine Tuning Levels
- Level 1: +10% horsepower, no durability penalty
- Level 2: +20% horsepower, -5% durability
- Level 3: +35% horsepower, -10% durability
- Level 4: +50% horsepower, -15% durability
- Level 5: +70% horsepower, -20% durability
Most players find Level 3 to be the sweet spot. Level 5 is reserved for show cars that will not be used in combat.
Transmission
There are four transmission options: stock, street, sport, and race. Sport is the best all-round choice. Race raises top speed by 8% but makes the gearbox aggressive at low speeds.
Brakes
Brake upgrades reduce stopping distance and resist fade under hard use. Street brakes are the best balance for daily drivers.
Armor
There are four armor levels. Level 3 is the best balance between protection and added weight. Level 4 slows the car down significantly and is only useful for missions.
Visual Upgrades
Paint
Three types of primary paint: - Metallic: Standard glossy paint - Matte: Non-reflective finish, popular for muscle cars - Chameleon: Color shifts with viewing angle, expensive
Custom liveries can be uploaded via the Rockstar Editor. Most livery creators charge a small in-game fee.
Wheels
There are over 200 wheel designs available. Sport wheels add a small handling bonus. Off-road wheels raise ground clearance for off-road builds.
Window Tint
Tint levels: None, Light, Medium, Dark, Limo. Dark tint reduces police attention slightly when driving in restricted areas.
Unique Conversions
Lowrider
Hydraulics are available for lowrider-class vehicles. Players can hop, bounce, and dance their cars in three-player lowrider meetups.
Donk
Donk conversions raise a car on massive wheels and add a custom sound system. Donks handle poorly but are great for parades.
Drift Build
Drift builds swap the differential for a welded unit, add aggressive suspension, and replace tires with grippy slicks. They are useless on the street but unbeatable on drift tracks.
FAQ: Vehicle Customization
Q: Can I store multiple builds of the same car?
A: Yes. Personal garages can hold up to six vehicles per slot. MTM-style storage lets you switch between builds.
Q: Do upgrades transfer to other players?
A: Yes, in co-op. The lead player's upgrades apply to all vehicles in their garage.
Q: Can I customize weapon attachments on vehicles?
A: Yes, but only at the Arena War Workshop.
Q: Are there limited-time paint colors?
A: Yes. Special events often add holiday-themed paints. Subscribe to in-game news to catch them.
With these customization options, every car in GTA 6 can be a personal statement. Plan your budget, focus on the upgrades that match your driving style, and visit Benny's for the truly unique builds.
Performance Tuning Deep Dive
Beyond the basic engine tuning levels, there are advanced tuning options:
Forged Internals
Replacing stock internal components with forged ones. Boosts:
- Redline by 500 RPM
- Engine reliability under high stress
- Maximum boost pressure
Cost: $25,000 per engine. Recommended for high-performance builds.
Turbocharger Sizing
There are three turbocharger sizes:
- Small turbo: quick spool, low top-end power
- Medium turbo: balanced spool and top-end
- Large turbo: slow spool, high top-end power
Cost: $5,000 to $15,000 depending on size.
Intercooler Upgrades
Upgrading the intercooler reduces intake temperatures and improves power consistency:
- Stage 1: -10°C intake temp
- Stage 2: -20°C intake temp
- Stage 3: -30°C intake temp
Cost: $2,500 to $10,000.
Visual Customization Deep Dive
Beyond the basic paint options, there are advanced visual upgrades:
Body Kits
Body kits change the shape of the car. Available for most vehicles. Categories:
- Aero kit: reduces drag, increases top speed
- Widebody kit: wider stance, better cornering
- Track kit: low to ground, max performance
Cost: $10,000 to $50,000.
Hood Options
There are 20 hood options:
- Solid: standard look
- Vented: improves engine cooling
- Carbon fiber: lightweight, premium look
- Custom paint: matches body color
Cost: $1,000 to $5,000.
Spoiler Options
There are 15 spoiler options:
- Lip spoiler: subtle, good for daily drivers
- Wing spoiler: aggressive, good for sport builds
- GT wing: maximum downforce, good for racing
- Custom: any shape
Cost: $2,000 to $10,000.
The Auction House
Players can buy and sell custom cars at the Auction House:
How to Use
- Visit any Benny's location
- Talk to the Auction House NPC
- Browse listings or post your own
- Set a buy-it-now price or run an auction
Fees
- Listing fee: $500 per car
- Sale fee: 5% of the sale price
- Premium listing: $2,500 (featured in the catalog)
Tips
- Document your builds with photos. They sell faster.
- Set a realistic reserve price. Overpriced cars do not sell.
- Watch the auction for 24 hours before ending. Bids can come in late.