How to Install ELS for GTA 5 - Emergency Lighting System Guide 2026

ELS — Emergency Lighting System for GTA 5 Installation Guide 2026

ELS (Emergency Lighting System) adds realistic emergency vehicle lighting with customizable flash patterns, siren tones, and light stages. Essential for LSPDFR players and emergency vehicle enthusiasts.

Installation Steps

1. Download the latest ELS from the official source
2. Extract and copy ELS.asi to your GTA 5 root directory
3. Copy the ELS folder (containing configs) to the game root
4. Ensure Script Hook V is installed and up to date
5. Download ELS-compatible vehicle packs
6. Place vehicle ELS config XML files in ELS/pack_default/
7. Launch the game — ELS activates automatically in emergency vehicles

Configuring Vehicle Light Patterns

1. Open the vehicle's ELS XML file (e.g., police.xml)
2. Edit PRML (primary), SNDL (secondary), and WRNL (warning) sections
3. Set flash patterns using pattern codes (1-28 for different sequences)
4. Configure AllowEnvLight for ambient light glow on surroundings
5. Set Color values for each light (RED, BLUE, WHITE, AMBER)
6. Save and test in-game

ELS XML Structure

• <PRML> — Primary light configuration (main light bar)
• <SNDL> — Secondary lights (side markers, grille lights)
• <WRNL> — Warning lights (rear amber, traffic advisor)
• <EOVERRIDE> — Extra light overrides for custom setups
• <SOUNDS> — Siren tone configuration

Compatibility Notes

• ELS works with both replace and add-on emergency vehicles
• Fully compatible with LSPDFR — enhances police experience significantly
• Each vehicle needs its own XML config file named after the vehicle model
• Non-ELS vehicles keep their default emergency lights
• Performance impact is minimal — no noticeable FPS drop