Vehicle Features are specific attributes or functional details that can be found on vehicles, in order to realistically enhance the gameplay. They are added as the Grand Theft Auto series goes by to make the games more realistic; these features range from subtle chimes when doors are open to daytime running lights when a car is running. Due to its enhanced graphical capabilities, the HD Universe allows for more prominent vehicle features.
Vehicle License Plates
Vehicle license plates are introduced in Grand Theft Auto III with the player's ability to explore in a three-dimensional environment making plates viewable. The feature has very little use aside for cosmetic purposes.
Description
License plates in GTA III and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City are static textures, with all plates in GTA III reading LC R29 (the LC could stand for Liberty City). In GTA Vice City, some vehicles retain the LC R29 plates; others have blurred and illegible versions of the Florida state plate.
License plates are dynamic in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, generating random 7 character license numbers that consist of both letters and numbers. The pattern is: two letters and two numbers, then a space, then a number and two letters (e.g. AA00 0AA). Each of the three major cities in San Andreas have their own plates and some vehicles have their own custom license numbers. Note, however, that during a session of play, all cars of the same model will have the same number plate (for example, all Landstalkers will have the same plates). These will change if a new session of play is started, even if stored in a garage.
A Los Santos plate in GTA San Andreas.
For Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, license plates in both games feature an "LC" (Liberty City) and "VC" (Vice City) prefix, respectively, followed by a four-digit number. While still more varied than in GTA III and GTA Vice City, the games only offer a limited number of license numbers, with each of them specific to certain vehicles' models.
In Grand Theft Auto IV, license plates do not have an actual letter-number combination; instead, all license plates simply say "LIBERTY CITY" in large blue capital letters. The design of the plates is a nearly exact copy of the current New York license plates (as seen here), except that they say "Liberty City State" at the bottom. In the beta license plates were originally intended to have a letter-number combination, much like the vehicles in GTA San Andreas, but this feature was dropped during the game's development, possibly due to complications or difficulties arising from programming this feature, and trailers show this. In GTA IV, the license plate from the beta version of the game can be found on the back of fuel trailers (which can be seen in the gallery below).
A San Andreas plate from a Grand Theft Auto V pre-release screenshot.
In Grand Theft Auto V, the license plates resemble the current California plates, but have "San Andreas" written on top instead. There are 8 random characters on each plate; the pattern is two numbers, followed by three letters and three numbers (00AAA000). Also, there are multiple types of plates including modern white plates with red cursive state name resembling modern California plates, red embossed state name on white resembling the 1982-1987 California plate, gold embossed state name and serial number on black resembling the 1963-1969 California plates, and gold embossed state name and serial number on blue resembling the 1970's California plates. A fifth license plate design reads "SA EXEMPT" at the top instead of the state name, which states that the vehicle has been issued by a government agency. For this reason, GTA V contains the most realistic plate combinations in the series.
There's a special variation of license plates only seen in North Yankton, which features the same things, except "Yankton" in a red stripe, unseen in SA plates. This plate variant only appears on snow vehicles, as North Yankton is a snowy place. These are based on 2001-2006 South Dakota license plates. Unlike in Los Santos, North Yankton Police vehicles share the same plate as their civilian counterparts.
Similarly, an Epsilon Program license plate is seen in the Tractor in Unknowing the Truth. It features an "Epsilon" text, in a baby blue stripe, its signature color.
Custom plates
Main article: Custom Vehicle License Plates
Custom plates are typically vanity plates featured on special vehicles, such as vehicles belonging to certain individuals or custom vehicles. Such plates has been seen in use in both GTA Vice City and GTA San Andreas. In GTA San Andreas they cannot be saved in garages, if they are they simply revert to a usual seven digit plate.
Trivia
- In real-life, United States license plates are issued by the state, rather than the city like in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV. This is possibly a developer oversight highlighting Rockstar's British origins, as vehicles in the United Kingdom are registered by the city. In Grand Theft Auto V, the license plates read "San Andreas", the name of the state featured in the game.
- The first plate available in Los Santos Customs to the player is the same one featured in GTA San Andreas, but always says San Andreas, as opposed to the ones in GTA San Andreas that say cities on them.
Gallery
.jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTA3).jpg (5 KB)") The license plate in GTA III. A handful of vehicles, such as the Landstalker, still feature this plate in GTA Vice City. _(variant_1).jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTAVC) (variant 1).jpg (5 KB)") The "Floridian" plate in GTA Vice City, common on most road vehicles. _(variant_2).jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTAVC) (variant 2).jpg (4 KB)") The unadorned Vice City plate in GTA Vice City, used on most industrial vehicles and low-grade vehicles.  Vice City 10th Anniversary plate (based off the Universary of Florida "Gators" plate). _(Los_Santos).jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTASA) (Los Santos).jpg (10 KB)") A Los Santos plate in GTA San Andreas. _(San_Fierro).jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTASA) (San Fierro).jpg (9 KB)") A San Fierro plate in GTA San Andreas. _(Las_Venturas).jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTASA) (Las Venturas).jpg (11 KB)") A Las Venturas plate in GTA San Andreas. Note the license number is reversed for this particular vehicle (the Hotdog) due to design error. .jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTALCS).jpg (3 KB)") A license plate in GTA Liberty City Stories. .jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTAVCS).jpg (3 KB)") A license plate in GTA Vice City Stories. _(unnumbered).jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTA4) (unnumbered).jpg (17 KB)") The unnumbered license plate used on road vehicles in GTA IV. _(numbered).jpg "Vehicle license plate (GTA4) (numbered).jpg (13 KB)") The numbered license plate used on trailers in GTA IV.  A license plate in GTA V.  Hidden Epsilon plate (found on one old tractor) in GTA V.  GTA Vice City plate mockup.  Liberty City Stories plate mockup.  Vice City Stories plate mockup.  GTA IV plate mockup. Blue on white 1 Blue on white 2 Blue on white 3 Yellow on blue Yellow on black  North Yankton plate in GTA V. |
Horns
Main article: Horns
Horns are features present in most GTA games. They are activated by a specific button on the controller or keyboard. Pressing the horn button on a emergency vehicle will activate the lights and sirens. In GTA V, players can customize the horns their vehicle has.
Horns do not have any effect in 3D Universe, but they do in the HD Universe. In GTA V and GTA Online, if the player is using the horn on a NPC, they will react negatively, but if it is used several times, the NPC will accelerate and starts to drive recklessly (not always, but they start to drive faster than normal).
Musical horns are also added in GTA V and GTA Online, as well as in several updates and DLCs. Most of them has a limited time to play, except one that plays indefinitely. This kind of horn can be found with the I'm Not a Hipster Update DLC.
Daytime Running Lights
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Daytime Running Lights, also referred to as DRLs, are small light strips or bulbs that cannot be controlled by the player. These lights turn on whenever the car's engine is on, and they remain on until the player turns the car off. Like normal headlights, these ones can get damaged and turn off during collisions. Much like in real life, DRLs seem to be a relatively new feature in the US only found on late-model cars. Not all vehicles have DRLs, just a select few;
Vehicles with DRLs
- Alpha
- Baller (2nd generation only)
- Carbonizzare
- Cavalcade (2nd generation only)
- Contender
- Coquette
- Huntley S
- Insurgent (enhanced version only)
- Interceptor
- Issi
- Jackal
- Jester
- Kuruma
- Massacro(permanently turned off)
- Oracle(2nd generation only)
- Perennial
- Pinnacle
- Surge
- Windsor
Door Ajar Chime
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Door Ajar Chimes are chimes that sound in order to alert the vehicle's occupants when a door is open. Only a select few vehicles have it in GTA IV (and the volume usually needs to be high for it to be heard) but it is more prominent in GTA V, and most vehicles have it.
Vehicles with Door Ajar Chime
- Admiral
- Banshee
- BeeJay XL
- Cognoscenti
- Esperanto (Including Roman's Taxi)
- Fugitive
- Granger
- Manana
- Marbelle
- Minivan
- Moonbeam
- PMP 600
- Premier
- Rancher XL
- Sandking
- Tailgater
- Turismo
- Uranus
- Washington (Including Romero)
- Willard
The PMP-600 has a Door-Ajar Chime.
Car alarms
Car alarms first appeared in GTA III and have appeared in every subsequent game since then, on the 3D Universe, parked cars were either locked or with alarms, on the HD Universe, some cars still feature alarms and will start if the player break the windows of a car. In all of its appearances, car alarms give the player a Wanted Level if the police spots the player driving it.
Fuzzy Dice
Fuzzy Dice is a unique modification available for only three vehicles in the series so far, however, they are only static and decorative, and only act as aesthetic enhancements. Fuzzy Dice are a common decorative matter for gangsters, this is further referenced as two gang cars features a pair of Fuzzy Dice in the mirror.
Cars with Fuzzy Dice
- Yardie Lobo
- Bickle'76
- Peyote(specially gang variants, although standard version can get this modification at Los Santos Customs)
Hydraulics
Hydraulics are a feature available in some GTA games, which enable the player to adjust a vehicle's height through electronic manipulation of the suspension with special hydraulic jacks. Hydraulics can be controlled with the right analog stick on console versions, and pressing either the left or right analog stick will make the vehicle's hydraulics either lock in place or hop in the air, respectively. The first car in the series to have hydraulics was a Yardie Lobo, in Grand Theft Auto III. In Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, the Voodoo was the only vehicle to have hydraulics.
Finally in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, the player can customize almost any vehicle to feature hydraulics, but storywise, the first vehicle to feature them is the Savanna. In San Andreas, many lowriders that are found in the streets are by default equipped with hydraulics. As both hydraulics and the game camera are controlled with the right analog stick (on console versions), vehicles with hydraulics disable the camera control. Almost any car can also be equipped with hydraulics at Wheel Arch Angels, TransFender and Loco Low Co.. In GTA V, the player is unable to modify any vehicle to include a hydraulic suspension system to his car.
Cars with Hydraulics
- GTA III
- GTA Vice City
- Voodoo
- Taxi (Upon completion of Taxi Driver missions)
- Cabbie (Upon completion of Taxi Driver missions)
- Zebra Cab (Upon completion of Taxi Driver missions)
- Kaufman Cab (Upon completion of Taxi Driver missions)
- GTA San Andreas
- Most cars can be equipped with Hydraulics at a TransFender
- Blade
- Broadway
- Remington
- Savanna
- Slamvan
- Tahoma
- Tornado
- Voodoo
- Sandking
- Taxi (Upon completion of Taxi Driver missions)
- Cabbie (Upon completion of Taxi Driver missions)
- GTA Vice City Stories
- Taxi (Upon completion of Taxi Driver missions)
- Cabbie (Upon completion of Taxi Driver missions)
- GTA Online (XB1/PS4/PC Only)
Hidden headlamps
Hidden headlamps (also known as pop-up headlights) are headlights that are designed to pop open when the driver turns the lights on. When not in use, the headlamps rotate downwards and sit flush with the hood of the car. They are designed to make the car's front end slightly more aerodynamic, by reducing the space needed for headlamps on the front of the car. Only a few vehicles in the entire GTA series feature pop-up headlights.
- Dukes (enhanced version of GTA V only)
Vehicles with pop-up headlights
Underglow
Underglow or neon lights are a vehicle modification available in Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and the enhanced version of Grand Theft Auto V. Neon underglow was only available on the Space Docker in the former version of GTA V, albeit to the sides of the vehicle rather than the underside.
GTA: Chinatown Wars
Vehicles with Neon Lights
- 500 XLR8
- CityScape
- Comet (modified variant only)
- Dukes (Spanish Lords variant only)
- Hellenbach (Triads variant only)
- MK GT9
- Resolution X
- Style SR
- Space Docker
GTA V Enhanced Edition
Template:Next-Gen The enhanced version of GTA V for PS4, Xbox One and PC adds Neon underglow as a modification option in Los Santos Customs shops in GTA V Story Mode and Online. Neon Kits are found under the lights section. Once fitted, underglow is always on when the vehicle is running.
Neon Layout
- Front
- Back
- Sides
- Front and Back
- Front and Sides
- Back and Sides
- Front, Back and Sides
Neon Color
- White
- Blue
- Electric Blue
- Mint Green
- Lime Green
- Yellow
- Golden Shower
- Orange
- Red
- Pony Pink
- Hot Pink
- Purple
- Blacklight
- Crew (Online only)
Interiors
Template:Next-Gen
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The enhanced version's rendition of GTA Online added the option to customize interiors, in the GTA Online: Lowriders DLC, with changes to features including steering wheels, seats, colour, sound systems and dial changes, as well as add-ons such as bobble-heads. This, at this stage, is only available on certain muscle cars.
Components
Column Shifters
Steering Wheels
Dashboards
The enhanced version of GTA V for PS4, Xbox One, and PC adds functional interior dashboards to all controllable vehicles along with the Police Roadcruiser and the Police Rancher seen only in the Prologue. They are most noticeable when using First-Person View while driving.
Many of the interiors are simply copied from GTA IV's exposed interiors, for example, the Tropic and Stallion are the same in both renditions, as well as the Yankee, which is used in most trucks in GTA V.
The PC version of GTA V also included the hood-cam view from Xbox 360 and PS3. This was later introduced into the Xbox One and PS4 versions of the game, after the Ill-Gotten Gains Part 1 Update.
Dashboard Components
The dashboards feature some working gauges and functional indicator lights, including:
Land vehicles
Upon start up, most (if not all) components will light up, due to the engine "checking" everything is working.
- Speedometer - (includes digital and analogue)
- Tachometer - (includes digital and analogue)
- Fuel gauge
- Engine temperature gauge
- Headlight Indicator light - (includes full beam and dipped lights, will still function when lights are damaged)
- Handbrake Indicator light
- Low Fuel Warning Light - (when fuel tank is damaged, this light will appear when the fuel tank is low - single player only)
- Engine Management - (after a car has run out of fuel, the player will automatically attempt to re-start the car, this light is briefly seen lighting up - single player only)
- Turn signals - (upon alarm breaching when stealing an alarmed car)
Air vehicles
- Altimeter
- Air speed indicator
- Heading
- Attitude Indicator
- Vertical speed indicator
- Landing Gear Up/Down lights - (only appears on aircraft with retractable landing gear)
Rear view mirrors are present and semi-functional - the reflections are not clear and may not reflect dynamic objects, only terrain.
To simplify gameplay, vehicle functions such as changing gears or operating the radio are not depicted, and the player's hands never leave the steering wheel except to operate the cell phone in Story Mode.
Steering wheels are functional in all land vehicles. However, very few if any vehicles have visible steering wheel mounted controls, such as for controlling radio volume and engaging cruise control. Some vehicles have the manufacturer logo on the steering wheel, while others do not.
Radio displays are present on some dashboards which will display the current station, song and artist, while others have a static radio. Radios can be generic (factory) models or made by either WIWANG or Meinmacht.
There can be other accessories present in some vehicles, such as coffee or soda cups in the cupholders, air fresheners and phone holders clipped to the air vents, and full ashtrays.
Dashboard styles
Most interior dashboard models are shared between vehicles, some ignoring the vehicle specifications to result in mismatched interior equipment for the vehicle manufacturer or engine/drivetrain type.
Land vehicles
Air vehicles
| Dashboard image(s) | Craft using this model | Notes/Limitations |
|---|---|---|
 Xero Blimp |
Xero Blimp, Atomic Blimp | |
 Lazer  Besra  Hydra |
||
 Annihilator  Jet  Luxor  Miljet  Shamal  Luxor Deluxe |
Annihilator, Jet, Luxor, Miljet, Shamal, Valkyrie | |
 Buzzard Buzzard Attack GTAVe Interior.jpg BuzzardAC |
Buzzard & Attack Chopper variant | |
 Cargobob  Cuban 800  Dodo  Duster Frogger GTAVe Interior.jpg Frogger  Mallard  Maverick  Swift  Titan  Velum  Vestra  Swift Deluxe  Savage |
Cargobob, Cuban 800, Dodo, Duster, Frogger, Mallard, Maverick, Swift, Titan, Velum, Vestra, Savage |
|
 Cargo Plane |
Cargo Plane |
|
Water vehicles
| Dashboard image(s) | Craft using this model | Notes/Limitations |
|---|---|---|
 Seashark |
Seashark | |
 Dinghy  Jetmax  Speeder  Squalo  Suntrap  Tropic  Toro |
Nagasaki: Dinghy |
|
 Marquis |
Marquis |
|
 Kraken  Submersible |
Kraken, Submersible |
|