How to Keep Stolen Cars in GTA 5: A Comprehensive Guide
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So, you’ve boosted a sweet ride in Los Santos and you’re wondering if you can keep it in your garage. The answer isn’t always straightforward, and depends on whether you’re playing GTA 5 Story Mode or GTA Online. This guide will break down the rules for both modes, helping you become a master car thief with a garage full of illicitly obtained vehicles!
In Story Mode, each character (Michael, Franklin, and Trevor) has a main safehouse garage where you can save cars. Additionally, each character has a purchasable four-car garage. To save a vehicle, simply park it inside the garage. But remember, story mode doesn’t let you sell these stolen rides. So, choose wisely!
In GTA Online, the rules are a bit more complex. You can only keep stolen cars that cost less than $100,000 from the in-game websites. Any vehicle valued higher than this must be purchased. Even if you can keep a stolen vehicle, you will have to take it to Los Santos Customs and buy Loss/Theft protection.
Understanding the Mechanics
The key to keeping your stolen cars safe boils down to understanding game mechanics and limitations. Knowing the rules for storing, insuring, and retrieving vehicles is crucial. Let’s delve deeper into these aspects:
Storing Cars in Story Mode
- Safehouse Garages: Each character has a garage at their main safehouse. Michael and Franklin can store two cars each, while Trevor’s safehouse garages can hold one car each.
- Purchasable Garages: Each character can purchase a four-car garage in addition to their safehouse garage. This significantly expands your storage capacity.
- Saving Vehicles: To permanently save a vehicle, park it inside one of your garages. The game automatically saves the car’s state when it’s properly stored.
- Personal Vehicle: In story mode, your personal vehicle is assigned and can’t be changed. Franklin always has his Buffalo, Trevor has his Bodhi truck, and so on.
Storing Cars in GTA Online
- Garage Capacity: In GTA Online, you can own multiple properties with garages, significantly increasing your storage capacity. The amount of cars you can store has changed over the years but it is now 50 cars.
- Vehicle Value Limit: Only cars that cost less than $100,000 on the in-game websites can be permanently stored when stolen off the street. Anything more expensive requires a purchase.
- Los Santos Customs: To keep a stolen car in GTA Online, you must take it to Los Santos Customs and buy Loss/Theft Protection. This acts as insurance for your vehicle.
Insurance and Recovery
- GTA Online Insurance: Purchasing insurance from Los Santos Customs is essential. If your insured vehicle is destroyed, you can call Mors Mutual Insurance to have it replaced (for a fee). The fee is automatically paid if another player destroyed it.
- Impound Lot: If you abandon your personal vehicle or it gets impounded by the police, you can retrieve it from the impound lot for a fee.
What Happens When Garages are Full?
- Story Mode: If your garage is full and you try to store another car, the game will ask you to replace an existing vehicle. Be careful, as the replaced car will be permanently lost.
- GTA Online: The game also prompts you to replace a vehicle when your garage is full. Always be sure you are replacing a vehicle you no longer want.
Vehicle Restrictions
Not all vehicles can be stored or kept permanently, regardless of how you obtain them. Knowing these limitations is crucial to managing your garage:
- Special Vehicles: Some special vehicles, like the tank, are stored in hangars rather than garages. Drive them to any hangar you own to save them.
- Personal Vehicles in Story Mode: In Story mode, your personal vehicle is assigned to each character. These cannot be changed or sold.
- “Too Hot” Vehicles: Vehicles above a certain value cannot be stored if stolen.
Advanced Tips and Tricks
- Money Glitches and Car Glitches: Some players attempt to exploit glitches to store vehicles that are normally restricted. However, these glitches are often patched and can result in account penalties.
- Strategic Garage Placement: Consider the location of your garages. Owning garages in different parts of the city can make it easier to access your favorite vehicles quickly.
Now that you understand the mechanics of how to keep stolen cars, let’s address some of the most common questions players have about this feature.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I keep any stolen car in GTA 5 Online?
No, only cars that cost less than $100,000 from the various websites can be kept when stolen. Anything more expensive must be purchased.
2. How do I insure a stolen car in GTA 5 Online?
Take the stolen car to Los Santos Customs and purchase Loss/Theft Protection. This acts as insurance for the vehicle.
3. What happens if my insured stolen car is destroyed in GTA 5 Online?
Call Mors Mutual Insurance. They will replace your car for a fee. If another player destroyed it, they will pay the fee.
4. Can I sell stolen cars in GTA 5 Story Mode?
No, you cannot sell stolen cars in story mode. You can only sell cars in GTA Online at Los Santos Customs.
5. Where can I store a tank in GTA 5?
Tanks are stored in hangars. Drive the tank to any hangar you own to save it.
6. What happens if my garage is full when I try to store a new car?
The game will ask you to replace an existing car in the garage. The replaced car will be permanently lost.
7. Do stolen cars disappear in GTA 5?
If you leave a stolen car it will disappear if you haven’t stored and insured it in GTA Online. In story mode, stolen cars will remain where you left them for a period of time, but will eventually disappear.
8. What is the fastest stealable car in GTA 5?
Top speed wise you’re looking for the Ruffian, though that’s a bike. Car wise, the Dominator is the stealable vehicle with the highest top speed.
9. How many cars can I store in GTA 5 Story Mode?
Each character can store 2 cars in their safehouse garage and 4 in the purchasable garage. This leaves you with a grand total of 18 cars across all three characters.
10. How many cars can I store in GTA Online?
The amount of cars you can store in GTA Online has changed over the years but it is now 50 cars.
11. Where can I steal expensive cars in GTA 5 Online?
Rockford Hills is a great place to find expensive cars. It’s the wealthiest part of Los Santos.
12. How do I make money in GTA 5 Story Mode?
Robberies, heists, assassinations, stock investments, races, and purchasing businesses are all effective ways to make money.
13. How do I get my impounded vehicle back in GTA 5?
Go to the impound lot and pay the fee to retrieve your vehicle.
14. What is the best way to protect my cars in GTA Online?
Always purchase insurance from Los Santos Customs. This ensures that your car will be replaced if it’s destroyed or lost.
15. Are there any resources for learning more about game design and mechanics?
Yes! Check out the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ for insights into game design, learning through games, and more.
By following this guide, you’ll be well-equipped to build a formidable collection of stolen cars in both GTA 5 Story Mode and GTA Online. Happy stealing!