GTA 6 Fuel System Explained: How Vehicle Refuelling Works

GTA 6 has a fuel system, with vehicles consuming fuel as they are driven and gas stations providing a place to refuel and repair them. Electric vehicles also feature in the game and use a dedicated recharging system.

The concept of vehicles requiring refuelling in GTA VI has been widely speculated and debated over the years, and we finally have the official answer.

Following the wealth of information regarding GTA VI that we received with the release of GTA VI: An Extended Look and in subsequent days via numerous previews, a fuelling system is now confirmed. 

Here's everything we know about the GTA 6 fuel system, how vehicle refuelling works, fuel consumption, gas stations, electric vehicles, and what happens when you run out of fuel.

How Does the Fuel System Work in GTA 6?

For the first time in the Grand Theft Auto series, vehicles will now consume fuel when driven. Whilst we didn't officially see this gameplay feature in the Extended Look, it has been confirmed by those who were given previews of the game back in July.

The vehicles in GTA 6 can be both refuelled and repaired at gas stations. Electric vehicles feature in the world of GTA VI and have their own dedicated recharging system, which we imagine will be near-identical to refuelling. 

According to TGG, refuelling occurs in the form of a cutscene, triggered by holding RT/R2, lasting approximately 10 seconds and 'typically isn't very expensive'. The decision for refuelling to be on the shorter side is deliberate by Rockstar Games, who are reportedly very mindful of the fact that this feature might not please all players.  

Throughout the driving footage featured in the Extended Look, the car's fuel is not shown. This is reported to be due to the fact that the fuel gauge is hidden from the HUD until fuel starts to run low, rather than being a permanent feature. That being said, the HUD is also reportedly pretty customisable, so there's a chance you could be able to opt to have it displayed permanently. 

How Quickly Do Vehicles Use Fuel?

So far, the exact rate of fuel consumption is unknown. Likewise, we don't know whether fuel consumption rates are uniform or vary between vehicles based upon factors such as their size or speed. 

It is also important to note that vehicles stolen from the street are not guaranteed to have a full fuel tank. This means you could find yourself with a vehicle that is already running low on fuel, potentially at an inconvenient moment such as during a police chase or while travelling a long distance from the nearest gas station.

This could become an important consideration when choosing which vehicle to use, particularly for longer journeys across the large world of GTA VI. Whether faster or heavier vehicles consume fuel more quickly remains to be seen.

We will update this section with more information on fuel consumption as the mechanics of GTA VI become clearer.

What Happens When You Run Out of Fuel?

We also don't know at present what happens once fuel runs out. Presumably the vehicle simply stops and becomes unusable, but are there any recovery systems to get your vehicle back on the road?

Can Jason or Lucia walk to the nearest gas station and fill a gas can? Is there even a breakdown service that we could call? These are some of the smaller details surrounding GTA VI's fuel system that remain unknown.

The answer to these questions could have a significant impact on how much of an inconvenience running out of fuel becomes, particularly when travelling through the more remote areas of the game's map.

Will GTA 6 Online Have a Fuel System?

Whilst Rockstar Games have yet to announce any details about the Online component of GTA VI, it is worth speculating about how this feature might fit into the game's multiplayer mode.

Players have rightfully raised concerns over how the system could incentivise griefers to camp outside gas stations in key locations, since these areas would see a constant stream of players needing to refuel. Rockstar is undoubtedly aware of this and will be planning to mitigate it.

It wouldn't be entirely surprising if refuelling was removed entirely from Online or at least substantially watered down, although we'll have to wait for Rockstar to reveal more about the game's multiplayer experience.

That's all we know so far about the refuelling system in GTA VI, but we will be continually updating this article as and when new information emerges. We feel it has the potential to definitely become a polarising feature, so let us know your opinions!