What is carvariations.meta?
The carvariations.meta file controls how vehicles appear when spawned in GTA 5 traffic or via trainers. It defines color combinations, wheel types, livery options, and extra configurations for each vehicle model. This is essential for addon vehicle modders who want their cars to appear with correct variants in 2026.
File location: common.rpf/data/ai/ (base game) or dlc.rpf/common/data/ai/ (DLC/addon)
Entry Structure
| Parameter | Function | Example Values |
|---|---|---|
modelName |
Vehicle model hash name |
adder, zentorno
|
colors |
Primary + secondary color combinations | COLOR_RED, COLOR_BLACK |
wheelType |
Default wheel category |
SPORT, MUSCLE, LOWRIDER
|
liveryIndex |
Assigned livery/paintjob number | 0-15 (depends on model) |
extras |
Toggleable extra parts (spoilers, etc.) | Bitfield: 0-255 |
How to Add Entries for Addon Vehicles
- Open your addon's
carvariations.metain a text editor - Add a new
<Item>block with your vehicle's model name - Define at least 3-5 color combinations for variety
- Set the appropriate
wheelTypefor the vehicle class - Configure extras if your model has toggleable parts
- Save and include in your addon's
dlc.rpf
Color System
Colors use the game's internal color names from carcols.meta:
-
Metallic:
METALLIC_RED,METALLIC_BLUE,METALLIC_BLACK -
Classic:
COLOR_WHITE,COLOR_BLACK,COLOR_SILVER -
Matte:
MATTE_RED,MATTE_BLACK -
Chrome:
COLOR_CHROME(single option)
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle spawns all black | Missing or invalid color entries | Add valid color combinations |
| Wrong wheels on spawn | Incorrect wheelType
|
Match wheel type to vehicle class |
| Vehicle not in traffic | Missing from popgroups + carvariations
|
Add entries to both files |
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