Crime · Spotted Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, August 27 2026
Vehicle Theft
Cars are split into security tiers. Old ones open with a slim jim, modern luxury cars need key-cloning tools, and some are off limits until the story unlocks the gear. The WAINK app tells you which is which before you try.
Stealing a car in GTA 6 depends on the car. The Extended Look and the July preview coverage described a tier system where expensive, modern vehicles are considerably harder to take than older ones. An older car can be opened with a slim jim, shown in the footage as the alternative to smashing a window, while modern luxury cars need key-cloning tools, and some vehicles cannot be stolen at all until the right equipment is unlocked through the story. The WAINK phone app scans a vehicle first and returns its estimated value, registration cost, lock status, alarm, and whether it carries tracking technology.
Occupied cars can still be taken by conventional carjacking. Once you have one, damage lowers its resale value, and advanced GPS trackers report the car's location to the police automatically, so a tracked car has to be driven fast or abandoned. Vehicle fences provide intel on valuable cars sitting in impound lots, and delivering a car through Vice City's narrow roads and dense traffic is described as its own challenge. Resale prices, fence locations, and which specific models sit in which tier are unconfirmed.
What we know
- Vehicles are split by security tier; expensive models are much harder to steal
- Older cars open with a slim jim, modern luxury cars need key-cloning tools
- Some vehicles cannot be stolen until story-unlocked equipment is acquired
- The WAINK app scans a car for value, lock status, alarm, and tracking before you commit
- Advanced GPS trackers report the car's location to police automatically
- Damage reduces resale value; vehicle fences buy cars and share intel on impound lots
Frequently asked
How does stealing cars work in GTA 6?+
It depends on the car's security tier. Older cars open with a slim jim, modern luxury cars need key-cloning tools, and some are off limits until story progress unlocks the equipment. The WAINK app on the phone scans a car first and shows its value, locks, alarm and tracking.
Can you sell stolen cars in GTA 6?+
Yes. Stolen vehicles are sold through vehicle fences, who also share intel on valuable cars in impound lots. Damage reduces what a car is worth, and GPS-tracked cars report their location to the police, so they have to be moved fast or dumped.