18/05/2001
In the vast, chaotic world of Grand Theft Auto V, casual car repair is readily available at any Los Santos Customs. However, Grand Theft Auto Online takes vehicle customisation and repair to an entirely new level, offering players the unique opportunity to own and operate their very own auto shop. This isn't just about fixing a dinged fender; it's about building a legitimate business front, a hub for high-stakes heists, and a personal sanctuary for car enthusiasts. Let's delve into what these Auto Shops entail and how they can elevate your criminal enterprise.
The Auto Shop property was a significant addition to Grand Theft Auto Online, arriving with the hugely popular Los Santos Tuners update. More than just a simple garage, these establishments serve as multi-functional properties that blend legitimate vehicle customisation services with illicit contractual work. They are a pivotal part of the tuner scene in Los Santos, offering players a deep dive into car culture and the underground economy.
- What Are Auto Shops in GTA Online?
- Exploring Your Auto Shop: Layout and Features
- Core Functionalities and Earning Potential
- Key Staff in Your Auto Shop
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Can you repair a car in GTA 5?
- Q: What is the primary purpose of owning an Auto Shop in GTA Online?
- Q: How do I make money with my Auto Shop?
- Q: Are there any exclusive benefits to modifying my own cars at my Auto Shop?
- Q: Can other players use my Auto Shop?
- Q: Is it worth buying a second car lift?
- Conclusion
What Are Auto Shops in GTA Online?
Auto Shops are purchasable properties in Grand Theft Auto Online, introduced to players as vehicle repair and customisation shops. They offer a unique blend of business management and criminal activities, allowing players to earn money through various means. After meeting Mimi at the LS Car Meet, players gain the ability to purchase one of five available Auto Shops through Maze Bank Foreclosures. It's important to note that while the LS Car Meet membership is an optional add-on during the purchase, it's not a prerequisite for buying the shop itself.
Upon acquiring an Auto Shop, you'll be introduced to the eccentric duo, KDJ and Sessanta, who become your primary contacts for new, high-paying jobs. Your Auto Shop acts as a front, allowing you to modify customer cars to their exact specifications, delivering them for a tidy profit. This aspect of the business provides a steady, albeit lower-risk, income stream. Furthermore, the shop serves as a discreet planning location for more lucrative, illegal ventures orchestrated by KDJ and Sessanta.
The Purchase and Setup Process
To kick things off with KDJ and Sessanta, your first step after purchasing the Auto Shop is to visit the property. This triggers a cutscene where you meet the pair and they outline your new partnership. To fully activate the property and gain access to all its features, you must complete a setup mission: 'Setup: Impounded Car'. This involves retrieving Sessanta's Tailgater S from the police and bringing it back to your new shop. You'll need to be registered as a VIP, CEO, or MC Club President to initiate this mission, though it doesn't require a Public Free Mode Lobby. Once the car is delivered and a subsequent cutscene concludes, you'll need to interact with the Contracts Job Board to complete the setup, after which your Auto Shop becomes fully operational.
Exploring Your Auto Shop: Layout and Features
Your Auto Shop isn't just a single room; it's a multi-level complex designed for various operations. Understanding its layout helps in maximising its potential:
Shop Floor: This is the main work area where customer cars are delivered. It features a hydraulic lift near the entrance, with an option to purchase a second one for increased efficiency. You'll also find comfortable seating to replenish snacks and, for early adopters, a 'Race and Chase' arcade game which can be swapped out via the Interaction Menu. An inaccessible spray paint booth also resides here, often housing Sessanta's vehicle or specific mission-related cars.
Workshop: A smaller, non-interactive area filled with tools and vehicle parts. This is where the optional second customer vehicle lift is housed if purchased, allowing you to work on two customer cars simultaneously.
Garage: A dedicated 10-car garage space for storing your personal vehicles. A key advantage here is the built-in personal mod shop, offering reduced prices on all modifications, along with free classic paint jobs and Crew emblems/colours. This is an excellent perk for avid car collectors and customisers.
Mezzanine: Upstairs, you'll find a recreational area with vending machines for drinks and a 'QUB3D' arcade machine. There are also two small rooms: an optional owner's personal quarters (complete with wardrobe and gun locker) and a small office where you can use a laptop or monitor security cameras. Crucially, the Contracts Job Board and, after your first contract, the Exotic Exports blackboard are located here.
Customisation Options for Your Auto Shop
Before or after purchase, you can extensively customise your Auto Shop to reflect your personal style and business needs. These customisations are installed after you complete the initial setup mission:
| Option | Description | Price Range (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Style | 9 unique interior themes, from 'Undressed' to 'Race and Chase'. | 250,000 - 450,000 |
| Tint | 9 different tint colours for interior lighting. | 187,500 |
| Emblem | Choose from various emblems or your Crew Emblem for branding. | 25,000 - 104,500 |
| Staff | Hire up to two staff members to deliver modified customer cars for you, saving time. | 385,000 each |
| Personal Quarters | Adds a comfortable living space with a wardrobe and gun locker. | 340,000 |
| Car Lift | Adds a second hydraulic lift, allowing you to work on two customer cars concurrently. | 650,000 |
| Membership | If not already purchased, this grants LS Car Meet membership. | 50,000 |
Daily Fees
As with most businesses in GTA Online, owning an Auto Shop incurs a standard daily fee of £250. This is a minor overhead given the potential for earnings.
Core Functionalities and Earning Potential
The Auto Shop offers several avenues for making money and enhancing your gameplay experience:
Legitimate Repair Business
This is the bread and butter of your Auto Shop. Customer cars will occasionally be delivered to your shop, requiring specific modifications and repairs. You'll need to follow the customer's requested specifications to ensure maximum payout. Once modified, you have two choices for delivery:
Self-Delivery: You personally deliver the car to the customer, which yields the maximum reward. This involves a drive across Los Santos, often with a time limit or potential for damage.
Staff Delivery: If you've hired staff, you can send them to deliver the car. This saves you time, allowing you to focus on other activities, but results in reduced rewards.
Interestingly, you also have the option to purchase the customer car for yourself after customising it. Initially, this allowed players to acquire customised vehicles at stock retail prices, effectively getting the customisations for free. However, a later update (1.59) rectified this, and customisation charges are now included in the purchase price.
Personal Mod Shop
One of the most appealing features for any car enthusiast is the ability to modify your own vehicles within your Auto Shop. This comes with significant benefits:
Discounted Rates: All modifications applied in your personal Auto Shop receive a 5% discount.
Free Customisations: Classic paint jobs and Crew emblems/colours are entirely free.
Unlocked Modifications: For the shop owner, all locked modifications become available for use within their own Auto Shop, even if they haven't met the usual unlock requirements at other modification garages. This is a massive boon for personal customisation projects.
Other players can also access your Auto Shop (if you allow it via the Interaction Menu) to repair and customise their vehicles, though they won't receive your discounted rates. Members of your Organisation, Motorcycle Club, or even friends and crew members, however, get their damage repairs for free!
Contracts
The meat of the Auto Shop's illicit operations lies in the Contracts. These are a series of illegal jobs, akin to mini-heists, orchestrated by KDJ and Sessanta. Each Contract consists of two preparation missions followed by a main finale job. They often involve high-stakes scenarios and significant payouts. You can choose to undertake these jobs solo or with a crew, adding a dynamic cooperative element to the business.
Exotic Exports
After completing your first Contract, the Exotic Exports blackboard will unlock on your mezzanine. This feature presents a daily list of ten specific vehicles that need to be stolen and delivered to the port for monetary rewards. These target cars are marked with a distinct blue dot icon on your map, appearing randomly across Los Santos. It's a fun and quick way to earn extra cash while exploring the city.
Key Staff in Your Auto Shop
Beyond yourself, a few key individuals make your Auto Shop run smoothly:
Sessanta: Your chief mechanic and KDJ's partner. She's instrumental in setting up contracts and providing guidance.
A new Auto Shop property has been added to GTA Online with the Los Santos Tuners Update, with a selection of 5 different Auto Shop locations to choose from. It allows players to run a legitimate modification business, while planning robberies with Sessanta and KDJ. Unnamed Auto Shop Staff: You have the option to hire up to two additional staff members who can handle customer car deliveries, freeing you up for other ventures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about Auto Shops in GTA Online:
Q: Can you repair a car in GTA 5?
A: In Grand Theft Auto V's story mode and Grand Theft Auto Online, you can repair your personal vehicles at any Los Santos Customs. However, the Auto Shop in GTA Online provides a deeper, business-oriented approach to vehicle repair and customisation, allowing you to repair and modify both customer cars and your own.
Q: What is the primary purpose of owning an Auto Shop in GTA Online?
A: The primary purpose is twofold: to run a legitimate vehicle modification and repair business for customer cars, and to serve as a front for planning and executing lucrative, illegal Contracts and Exotic Exports missions with KDJ and Sessanta.
Q: How do I make money with my Auto Shop?
A: You earn money by modifying customer cars to their specifications and delivering them (or having staff deliver them), completing high-paying Contracts, and stealing and delivering Exotic Export vehicles.
Q: Are there any exclusive benefits to modifying my own cars at my Auto Shop?
A: Yes! You get a 5% discount on all modifications, free classic paint jobs and Crew emblems/colours, and all locked modifications become available for your use within your own shop.
Q: Can other players use my Auto Shop?
A: Yes, you can allow other players to access your Auto Shop. While they don't get your discounted rates, members of your Organisation/MC or friends/crew members get free damage repairs.
Q: Is it worth buying a second car lift?
A: If you plan on focusing heavily on the legitimate customer car business, a second car lift allows you to work on two vehicles simultaneously, potentially doubling your efficiency and earnings from that specific income stream.
Conclusion
The Auto Shop property in Grand Theft Auto Online is a fantastic addition for players looking to immerse themselves further in the game's rich vehicle culture and entrepreneurial opportunities. It offers a unique blend of legitimate business management and thrilling criminal activities, providing a steady income, exclusive vehicle customisation benefits, and access to exciting new missions. Whether you're a seasoned gearhead or an aspiring criminal mastermind, your own Auto Shop is a worthy investment that promises hours of engaging gameplay and substantial rewards in the dynamic world of Los Santos.
If you want to read more articles similar to Your Own Auto Shop in GTA Online: A Deep Dive, you can visit the Automotive category.