GTA 6 Car Stealing Guide: How to Steal, Sell & Keep Vehicles

How to Steal Cars in GTA 6

Stealing cars has always been at the heart of Grand Theft Auto, but Grand Theft Auto VI is introducing a much more sophisticated vehicle theft system.

Instead of every vehicle being available with a simple button press, the vehicles in GTA 6 will feature different levels of vehicle security, requiring players to assess their target and potentially use specialized equipment to gain access.

The new system adds depth to vehicle theft, along with the addition of the WAINK scanner, digital key cloning, and vehicle trackers.

This guide explains everything you need to know about how stealing cars works in GTA 6, including how to identify valuable vehicles, bypass security, avoid trackers, sell stolen cars, and register vehicles as your own.

Parked Cars vs. Carjacking in GTA 6

It's important to know that GTA 6's new vehicle security system applies to parked, unoccupied vehicles.

Occupied vehicles driving on the road can still be carjacked normally, just like in previous GTA games. Simply pull the driver out and take the vehicle, although there is now a quick-time interaction where passengers try to fight back.

GTA 6 Vehicle Theft System Explained

In previous Grand Theft Auto games, stealing a vehicle was usually straightforward: approach a car, enter it, and drive away. GTA 6 introduces additional layers to the process.

Now, parked vehicles have different levels of security, meaning some cars can still be stolen quickly while others require specialized tools.

This creates a new decision-making process:

1. Find a potential vehicle.
2. Scan it with the WAINK device.
3. Check its value and security level.
4. Determine whether you have the equipment required to steal it.
5. Break into the vehicle.
6. Check for a tracker or other security systems.
7. Decide whether to sell the vehicle or register it as your own.

The result is a more involved car theft system where the best vehicle isn't necessarily the easiest one to steal.

Also, stolen cars do not spawn with guaranteed full tanks/batteries, risking running empty shortly after theft.

What Is the WAINK Scanner?

The WAINK scanner in GTA 6 is a new device that helps Jason and Lucia assess vehicles before attempting to steal them.

By scanning a vehicle, players can obtain important information about the target.

The scanner can reveal:

• Vehicle security information
• Vehicle value
• Tracker status
• Cost to register the vehicle as your own

This allows players to determine whether a car is worth stealing before committing to the attempt.

GTA 6 Vehicle Security Levels

Rockstar has confirmed that GTA 6 introduces stratified vehicle security. In other words, not every vehicle will have the same level of protection.

Older and less valuable vehicles may still be relatively easy to steal, while expensive modern vehicles can feature more advanced security systems.

Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson explained that the system was designed to give vehicles more meaning and introduce additional progression and decision-making into vehicle theft.

The exact number of security tiers has not yet been revealed. We will update this page with a complete breakdown as soon as available.

Vehicle Security Can Affect:

• How difficult a vehicle is to enter
• Which tools are required
• How quickly the theft can be completed
• Whether the vehicle has additional anti-theft technology
• How useful the vehicle is as a potential stolen car

How to Break Into Cars in GTA 6

The traditional methods of stealing vehicles haven't completely disappeared.

Older or less secure cars may be vulnerable to relatively simple methods, such as using a slim jim or simply smashing windows.

However, higher-end vehicles will require more sophisticated tools, which need to be unlocked by completing activities for fences.

This means players will need to consider the target vehicle before attempting the theft rather than assuming every car can be taken instantly.

Digital Key Cloning in GTA 6

Some GTA 6 vehicles feature modern electronic security systems. For these cars, physically forcing the lock may not be enough.

Players will be able to acquire a digital key cloning device, which can be used to bypass certain electronic vehicle security systems.

However, the equipment isn't freely available from the beginning. According to information revealed in the latest previews:

• The device must be acquired.
• It comes at a cost.
• Some tools become available later in the story.
• More advanced equipment expands the types of vehicles Jason and Lucia can steal.

This creates a form of progression within the vehicle theft system.

As players gain access to better equipment, previously inaccessible vehicles can become viable targets.

GTA 6 Car Trackers

Getting inside a vehicle doesn't necessarily mean the theft is over. Some vehicles can be equipped with tracking systems.

A stolen vehicle may therefore create additional problems after you've driven away. More advanced trackers can reportedly alert law enforcement to your location if you're driving below a certain speed.

This means that simply slowing down in a stolen vehicle could potentially put you at greater risk.

The ability to remove trackers at fences can eventually be unlocked as you play through the game.

How to Sell Stolen Cars in GTA 6

GTA 6 introduces a new way to profit directly from stolen vehicles. After stealing a car, players will be able to take it to a fence and sell it.

This effectively turns car theft into a potential source of income rather than simply a method of obtaining temporary transportation.

The value of a stolen vehicle can depend on factors such as its condition and security systems. A tracker-equipped vehicle may also need additional attention before it becomes an attractive purchase.

More information about the locations of vehicle fences and the exact selling mechanics will be added once they are fully revealed.

How Much Are Stolen Cars Worth in GTA 6?

The exact prices for stolen vehicles have not yet been fully revealed. However, the WAINK scanner can display a vehicle's value, allowing players to identify potentially profitable targets.

This means players won't necessarily have to guess which vehicles are worth stealing. A high-value vehicle may offer a larger payout, but it can also be protected by stronger security systems and tracking technology.

The most profitable vehicle will definitely not be the easiest one to steal.

Also, damage can reduce the value of a stolen vehicle, making a clean getaway important.

How to Keep Stolen Cars in GTA 6

GTA 6 will allow Jason and Lucia to keep multiple personal vehicles and store them in purchasable garages.

If you want to turn a stolen vehicle into one of your own personal cars, you will need to remove its tracker (if it has one) and register the vehicle as your own. The WAINK scanner can show the registration cost.

Unregistered vehicles are "temporary" and will eventually despawn. However, you can store a stolen vehicle inside your garage even before registering it, allowing valuable cars to be kept until their trackers can eventually be removed.

This gives players another choice after stealing a vehicle: sell it for profit or pay to make it your own.

GTA 6 Car Theft During Police Chases

The new system could make escaping from law enforcement more unpredictable.

If a police chase is already underway, finding an unlocked or easily accessible vehicle may be more useful than attempting to steal an expensive, heavily protected car.

A high-end vehicle might be worth more, but stopping to deal with sophisticated security isn't necessarily practical while police are pursuing you.

This gives players more reasons to adapt their escape plans and use whatever transportation is immediately available.

Rockstar has also noted that Leonida's roads are narrower and traffic is denser than in previous games, making driving itself more challenging.

GTA 6 Car Theft Tips

• Scan before you steal: Use the WAINK scanner to check a vehicle's security, value, and registration cost before attempting to take it.
• Don't always target the most expensive car: High-value vehicles can have stronger security systems and trackers. A cheaper vehicle may be a much easier and safer target.
• Upgrade your equipment: Obtaining advanced vehicle theft tools will expand the range of cars you can target.
• Pay attention to trackers: Getting away from the initial theft doesn't necessarily mean you're safe. Tracker-equipped vehicles can create additional complications.
• Decide whether to sell or keep: Before taking a stolen vehicle to a fence, consider whether it's worth registering it as a personal vehicle instead.
• Adapt during escapes: If you're being pursued by police, don't assume your ideal getaway vehicle will be available. A quick, low-security vehicle may be a better option than stopping to crack a heavily protected car.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you steal cars in GTA 6?

Approach a vehicle and use the appropriate method based on its security level. Less-secure cars can be stolen using simple methods, while some vehicles require specialized equipment.

What is the WAINK scanner in GTA 6?

The WAINK scanner is a device used to inspect vehicles. It can provide information including the vehicle's security, value, and the cost of registering it as a personal vehicle.

Can you sell stolen cars in GTA 6?

Yes. GTA 6 introduces vehicle fences where stolen cars can be sold for profit.

Can you keep stolen cars in GTA 6?

Yes. GTA 6 allows both Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos to own multiple personal vehicles. The number of vehicles each character can keep will depend on available garage space and other ownership requirements.

The WAINK scanner helps players determine the cost of registering a stolen vehicle before deciding whether to keep it.

Do GTA 6 cars have trackers?

Some vehicles can be equipped with tracking systems. Certain advanced trackers can reveal your location to law enforcement when driving below a specified speed.

Do you need special equipment to steal cars?

Some vehicles require specialized tools. A digital key cloning device can be used to bypass certain electronic security systems, and some equipment becomes available later in the story.

Will car theft be harder in GTA 6?

Some car thefts will be more complicated than in previous GTA games because vehicles have different security levels and may include electronic locks and trackers. However, simpler vehicles can still be stolen using traditional methods.

GTA 6 Vehicle Theft Guide Updates

Grand Theft Auto VI is still unreleased, so additional details about vehicle security, theft tools, fences, trackers, vehicle values, and personal vehicle registration may be revealed before launch.

GTABase will update this guide as Rockstar Games provides more information about GTA 6's car stealing system.