GTA 6 Record / Gameplay Features
Reworked Car Theft System
Also called car stealing system, slim jim, key cloner, vehicle security tiers.
- First shown in
- Not Yet Shown (2026-08-28)
- Source strength
- Major press
- Type
- theft
- Checked
- 2026-08-28
Coverage of the August 2026 Rockstar North preview sessions describes a car theft system built around vehicle security tiers. Older cars without electronic locks can be opened with a Slim Jim tool via a short minigame, while newer cars with key fobs require a key cloner device before the engine will start. Vehicles fitted with GPS trackers may require driving at a set speed to avoid detection. Carjacking an occupied vehicle remains possible as in earlier games, now with a quick-time struggle as the driver resists. Rockstar described the changes directly to outlets during the preview event.
Key facts
- Older cars can be opened with a Slim Jim tool through a minigame
- Newer cars need a key cloner to bypass electronic locks
- GPS-tracked vehicles may require driving at a set speed to avoid detection
- Carjacking an occupied car still works, now with driver resistance
- Confirmed through Rockstar North's August 2026 press preview sessions
What is still unknown
These are the open questions about Reworked Car Theft System. Nothing below has been answered by Rockstar, so this site does not answer it either.
- The exact speed threshold needed to avoid detection in a GPS-tracked vehicle
- How difficult the Slim Jim and key cloner minigames are, or whether they can fail
- Whether every vehicle in the game falls into one of the described security tiers
How this entry was built
This system was reported by Kotaku on 28 August 2026, based on coverage of Rockstar North's August 2026 press preview sessions where Rockstar described the changes directly to attending outlets. It is treated here as major press coverage rather than an official Rockstar publication.
Where this comes from
Common questions about Reworked Car Theft System
- Can you still hotwire cars instantly in Grand Theft Auto VI?
- No, according to preview coverage. Parked cars are split into security tiers, and older cars without electronic locks require a Slim Jim tool used through a short minigame instead of an instant hotwire.
- What is the key cloner in GTA 6?
- The key cloner is a device reportedly needed to bypass electronic locks on newer cars with key fobs before the engine will start, replacing the simple button-press theft used in earlier games.
- Can GPS-tracked cars be stolen in GTA VI?
- Reportedly yes, but vehicles fitted with GPS trackers may require driving at a set speed to avoid detection, adding a risk element that older GTA games did not have for stolen vehicles.
- Can you still carjack people in GTA 6?
- Yes. Carjacking an occupied vehicle remains possible as in earlier games, now reported to include a quick-time struggle as the driver resists, rather than an instant pull from the car.
- Is the new car theft system officially confirmed by Rockstar?
- Rockstar described the changes directly to outlets during the August 2026 preview event, so this comes from press coverage of that session rather than a formal Rockstar press release.
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