Customizing vehicles in Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) is a key aspect of the game that enhances your experience by allowing you to tailor vehicles to your personal style and performance needs. Here’s a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to customize your vehicles, along with details on the various upgrades available:

Step-by-Step Customization Guide

1. Enter the Vehicle: Start by getting into the vehicle you wish to customize. Ensure you’re alone in the vehicle to avoid interruptions during the process.

2. Locate a Garage: Open your in-game map and look for the nearest Los Santos Customs location. If you’re customizing a special vehicle like a lowrider or a muscle car, you may need to head to Benny’s Original Motor Works or the Arena Workshop.

3. Drive Into the Garage: Once you arrive at the garage, drive towards the entrance. Wait for the garage doors to open, then proceed to drive inside.

4. Select Modifications: After entering, a menu will pop up displaying various categories of customization options. You can choose from both performance upgrades and aesthetic modifications.

Types of Upgrades Available

Performance Upgrades:
– Engine Tuning: Increases speed and acceleration of your vehicle.
– Brakes: Enhances stopping power for safer deceleration.
– Suspension: Affects handling and the overall ride height of the vehicle, which can improve maneuverability.
– Transmission: Offers better gear shifts, enhancing responsiveness.
– Turbo: Adds a turbo boost feature to increase acceleration dramatically.
– Armor Plating: Increases the vehicle’s durability against damage.
– Bulletproof Tires: Upgrades tires to be resistant to gunfire.

Aesthetic Upgrades:
– Paint Jobs: Customize your vehicle’s primary and secondary colors to suit your style.
– Body Kits: Modify your vehicle with spoilers, bumpers, and skirts for a personalized look.
– Wheels and Rims: Change the wheels, add neon lights or select the color of tire smoke.
– Window Tinting: Alter the transparency of your car windows for a sleek appearance.
– Exhaust Tips: Customize the exhaust to fit your aesthetic preference.
– Custom Decals and Liveries: Add unique graphics, especially available for special vehicles.
– Interior Mods and Custom Stereos: Available particularly at Benny’s for select vehicles, enhancing both style and sound.

Additional Notes
– Certain vehicles, such as aircraft, bicycles, police vehicles, fire trucks, taxis, and specific special vehicles, have restrictions against customization.
– If you’re trying to evade the police, you can use the respray option at Los Santos Customs to change your vehicle’s color, which can help you lose your wanted level as long as you evade their sight beforehand.
– Keep in mind that the cost of upgrades can be steep, especially for high-value vehicles. It’s advisable to manage your in-game cash carefully to afford the desired modifications.

Visual Resources
For a more hands-on understanding, consider watching walkthrough videos online that showcase different customization options and highlight the best vehicles to modify. This can provide visual learners with helpful insights into the customization process.

By following these steps, you can successfully personalize your vehicles in GTA V, enhancing both their performance and appearance to suit your unique gaming style, whether playing in story mode or GTA Online.