Seating Layouts

Complete guide to FiveM vehicle seating layouts and seat configurations.

vehicles.meta Configuration

Seating layouts are defined and modified in the vehicles.meta file for each vehicle. The layout determines the entire skeletal structure, bone positioning, and seat configuration for a vehicle.

How to Modify Seating Layouts

Each vehicle entry in vehicles.meta contains a <layoutHash> element:

<Item>
  <modelName>oracle</modelName>
  <layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_SEDAN</layoutHash>
  <type>car</type>
  <carClassIndex>0</carClassIndex>
  <!-- other vehicle properties follow -->
</Item>

Location: The <layoutHash> is typically found on line 19 of each vehicle entry in vehicles.meta.

To change a layout:

1. Open the vehicle's vehicles.meta entry
2. Locate the <layoutHash> tag
3. Replace the current layout name with a different one from the available layouts list
4. Save and reload the resource

warning

Changing layouts can cause:

• Hand/animation misalignment on steering wheel
• Model clipping or parts sticking through doors
• Seat positioning issues
• Game crashes if an invalid layout is used

Always test thoroughly before deploying.

Seating Bones in Vehicle Models

The actual seating bones are embedded directly in the vehicle model file (YFT format). These bones define the exact positioning and orientation for each seat in the vehicle.

Editing Seating Bones

The seating bones can be edited and modified using:

• ZModeler 3 - Full bone editing and repositioning capabilities with visual feedback
• Solumz - Advanced bone manipulation and custom bone creation
• Blender - With proper GTA V addon support for bone editing and rigging

Modifying Bone Positions

When you modify a seating layout in vehicles.meta, the game uses the bone structure defined in the vehicle model to position the driver, passengers, and their animations. To actually move or adjust where a seat is located:

1. Export the vehicle model from your resource
2. Open in ZModeler 3/Solumz/Blender
3. Locate the seat bones (usually named like seat_f, seat_r_l, seat_r_r, etc.)
4. Adjust bone positions as needed for proper seating
5. Re-export and save the modified model
6. Reload the resource to see changes

info

The seating bones are part of the skeletal structure and control:

• Where the character model sits
• How animations align with the vehicle
• Seat spacing and positioning
• Door and interior interactions

Bone Naming Conventions

Common seating bones follow a consistent naming pattern in GTA V:

• seat_dside_f - Driver side front (driver seat)
• seat_pside_f - Passenger side front (front passenger)
• seat_dside_r - Driver side rear (left rear passenger)
• seat_pside_r - Passenger side rear (right rear passenger)
• seat_dside_m - Driver side middle (middle seat)
• seat_pside_m - Passenger side middle (middle seat)
• seat_dside_r2 - Driver side rear row 2 (third row left)
• seat_pside_r2 - Passenger side rear row 2 (third row right)

Abbreviations:

• dside = Driver side (left in most countries)
• pside = Passenger side (right in most countries)
• f = Front
• r = Rear
• m = Middle
• Numbers indicate row position (r2, r3, etc. for additional rows)

What are Seating Layouts?

Seating layouts define the skeletal structure and seat positioning for vehicles. The layout determines:

• Number of available seats
• Seat positioning
• Door mechanisms
• Bone structure
• Interior configuration

Standard Layouts

Sedan Layouts (4-5 Seats)

LAYOUT_STD_SEDAN

Seats: 5 (1 driver + 4 passengers) Type: Standard sedan Usage: Most cars, default layout Characteristics:

• Standard 4-door sedan
• Driver + front passenger
• 2 rear passengers
• Trunk access

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_SEDAN</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Oracle, Fugitive, Washington, Cognoscenti

LAYOUT_STD_LOWROOF

Seats: 5 (1 driver + 4 passengers) Type: Low-roofline sedan Usage: Sports cars, coupes Characteristics:

• Sloped roof design
• Lower interior height
• Sportier proportions
• 4-door configuration

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_LOWROOF</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Exemplar, Sentinel, Tailgater

LAYOUT_STD_MINIVAN

Seats: 5-7 (1 driver + 4-6 passengers) Type: Family van Usage: Minivans, family vehicles Characteristics:

• Sliding doors (some)
• Extra row of seats
• Spacious interior
• Raised roofline

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_MINIVAN</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Surfer, Journey, Dilettante

SUV & Truck Layouts (5-7+ Seats)

LAYOUT_STD_SUV

Seats: 5-7 (1 driver + 4-6 passengers) Type: Sport utility vehicle Usage: SUVs, crossovers Characteristics:

• High roofline
• Raised seating
• 4-door or 2-door
• Optional third row
• Good visibility

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_SUV</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Granger, Baller, Serrano, Contender

LAYOUT_STD_TRUCK

Seats: 2-5 (1 driver + 1-4 passengers) Type: Pickup truck Usage: Trucks, work vehicles Characteristics:

• Front cab seating
• Extended or crew cab options
• Open bed
• Higher seating position

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_TRUCK</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Bison, Phantom, Sadler, Rancher

LAYOUT_STD_SECURITY

Seats: 2-4 (1 driver + 1-3 passengers) Type: Security/armored vehicle Usage: Armored cars, security vehicles Characteristics:

• Reinforced structure
• Limited passenger space
• Specialized interior
• Enhanced frame

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_SECURITY</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Tula, Schecter, Strikeforce

Compact & Economy Layouts (4-5 Seats)

LAYOUT_STD_COMPACT

Seats: 4-5 (1 driver + 3-4 passengers) Type: Compact/economy car Usage: Small cars, hatchbacks Characteristics:

• Compact dimensions
• Efficient space usage
• Standard 4-door
• Practical interior

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_COMPACT</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Issi, Panto, Prairie, Blista

LAYOUT_STD_COUPE

Seats: 4 (1 driver + 3 passengers) Type: Coupe/sports car Usage: High-performance cars Characteristics:

• 2-door configuration
• Aggressive styling
• Cramped rear seating
• Focus on driver experience

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_COUPE</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Massacro, Rapid GT, Gauntlet

Two-Door Layouts (4-5 Seats)

LAYOUT_STD_TWODOOR

Seats: 4-5 (1 driver + 3-4 passengers) Type: 2-door sedan/coupe Usage: Compact sports cars, classic cars Characteristics:

• 2-door design
• Standard seating
• Suicide doors (some variants)
• Classic proportions

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_TWODOOR</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Dilettante, Vamos, Rumpo

Motorcycle Layouts (1-2 Seats)

LAYOUT_STD_BIKE

Seats: 1-2 (1 driver + optional passenger) Type: Motorcycle/Bike Usage: Motorcycles, ATVs Characteristics:

• Single rider position
• Optional passenger seat
• High-strung handling
• Minimal frame

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_BIKE</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Bati 801, Hakuchou, Sanchez, Endurex

Special Layouts

LAYOUT_STD_VAN

Seats: 2-3 (1 driver + 1-2 passengers) Type: Delivery/cargo van Usage: Commercial vans Characteristics:

• Commercial focus
• Bench seating (some)
• Large cargo area
• Limited passenger seating

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_VAN</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Speedo, Gang Burrito, Boxville

LAYOUT_STD_BUS

Seats: 2-50+ (1 driver + 1-49+ passengers) Type: Bus/public transport Usage: Buses, large transport vehicles Characteristics:

• Multiple rows of seating
• High capacity
• Wide interior
• Public transport design

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_BUS</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Bus, Shuttle, Tourbus

LAYOUT_STD_MUSCLE

Seats: 5 (1 driver + 4 passengers) Type: Muscle car Usage: Classic/performance cars Characteristics:

• Full-size design
• Spacious interior
• 4-door configuration
• Classic proportions

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_MUSCLE</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Gauntlet, Dominator, Buccaneer

LAYOUT_STD_BOAT

Seats: 2-10+ (1 driver + 1-9+ passengers) Type: Boat/watercraft Usage: Boats, jet skis, vessels Characteristics:

• Watercraft-specific
• Helm position
• Passenger seating
• Water-based physics

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_BOAT</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Dinghy, Seashark, Marquis, Tula

LAYOUT_STD_HELICOPTER

Seats: 1-5+ (1 pilot + 0-4+ passengers) Type: Helicopter Usage: Helicopters, aircraft Characteristics:

• Pilot position
• Door access
• Exposed seating
• Flight mechanics

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_HELICOPTER</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Buzzard, Swift, Maverick

LAYOUT_STD_AIRPLANE

Seats: 1-3 (1-3 pilots/passengers) Type: Airplane Usage: Small aircraft Characteristics:

• Cockpit seating
• Limited passenger space
• Flight controls
• Aeronautical design

<layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_AIRPLANE</layoutHash>

Vehicle Examples: Mallard, Dodo, Cuban

Seat Count Reference

By Seat Number

Layout	Min Seats	Max Seats	Standard
LAYOUT_STD_BIKE	1	2	1
LAYOUT_STD_COUPE	4	4	4
LAYOUT_STD_COMPACT	4	5	5
LAYOUT_STD_TWODOOR	4	5	5
LAYOUT_STD_SEDAN	5	5	5
LAYOUT_STD_LOWROOF	5	5	5
LAYOUT_STD_MINIVAN	5	7	7
LAYOUT_STD_TRUCK	2	5	5
LAYOUT_STD_SUV	5	7	5
LAYOUT_STD_VAN	2	3	3
LAYOUT_STD_SECURITY	2	4	4
LAYOUT_STD_MUSCLE	5	5	5
LAYOUT_STD_BUS	2	50+	Varies
LAYOUT_STD_BOAT	2	10+	Varies

Using Seating Layouts

In vehicles.meta

<Item type="CVehicleModelInfo__InitDataList">
  <modelName>mycustom</modelName>
  <layoutHash>LAYOUT_STD_SEDAN</layoutHash>
  <!-- Other properties -->
</Item>

In vehiclelayouts.xml

<VehicleLayout>
  <Name>LAYOUT_STD_SEDAN</Name>
  <Seats>
    <Seat index="0" bone="seat_driver" />
    <Seat index="1" bone="seat_passenger" />
    <Seat index="2" bone="seat_rl" />
    <Seat index="3" bone="seat_rr" />
  </Seats>
  <!-- Other bone definitions -->
</VehicleLayout>

Seat Index Reference

Seat Indices (standard):
- 0 = Driver
- 1 = Front Passenger (Right)
- 2 = Rear Left Passenger
- 3 = Rear Right Passenger
- 4+ = Additional rear seats

Example: 5-Seat Configuration

<Seats>
  <Seat index="0" bone="seat_driver" />      <!-- Driver -->
  <Seat index="1" bone="seat_passenger" />   <!-- Front right -->
  <Seat index="2" bone="seat_rl" />          <!-- Rear left -->
  <Seat index="3" bone="seat_rr" />          <!-- Rear right -->
  <Seat index="4" bone="seat_center" />      <!-- Center rear (optional) -->
</Seats>

Choosing the Right Layout

For Cars

• Sports cars: LAYOUT_STD_LOWROOF or LAYOUT_STD_COUPE
• Sedans: LAYOUT_STD_SEDAN
• Compact cars: LAYOUT_STD_COMPACT
• Muscle cars: LAYOUT_STD_MUSCLE

For Trucks

• Pickup trucks: LAYOUT_STD_TRUCK
• Commercial vans: LAYOUT_STD_VAN

For Large Vehicles

• SUVs: LAYOUT_STD_SUV
• Minivans: LAYOUT_STD_MINIVAN
• Buses: LAYOUT_STD_BUS

For Motorcycles

• Bikes/ATVs: LAYOUT_STD_BIKE

For Special Vehicles

• Boats: LAYOUT_STD_BOAT
• Helicopters: LAYOUT_STD_HELICOPTER
• Airplanes: LAYOUT_STD_AIRPLANE
• Armored: LAYOUT_STD_SECURITY

Custom Seat Positioning

You can customize seat positions within a layout:

<Layout>
  <Name>LAYOUT_CUSTOM_SPORT</Name>
  <Seats>
    <Seat index="0" bone="seat_driver" x="0.0" y="0.5" z="0.0" />
    <Seat index="1" bone="seat_passenger" x="1.0" y="0.5" z="0.0" />
  </Seats>
</Layout>

Positioning Parameters:

• x = Left/Right offset (negative = left, positive = right)
• y = Forward/Back offset (negative = back, positive = forward)
• z = Up/Down offset (negative = down, positive = up)

Best Practices

1. Match vehicle type - Use appropriate layout for your vehicle
2. Test seat positioning - Ensure players can sit properly
3. Check door count - Confirm doors match your layout
4. Verify seat access - Players should be able to reach all seats
5. Consider realism - Choose layouts that make sense for your vehicle
6. Reference existing vehicles - Use game vehicles as templates
7. Document custom layouts - Note any modifications

Troubleshooting

Players Can't Enter Vehicle

• Check layout hash is spelled correctly
• Verify layout exists in vehiclelayouts.xml
• Ensure all seats are properly defined
• Check bone names match model

Seats Not Accessible

• Verify door count and positions
• Check seat bone references
• Ensure seat indices are sequential
• Test in-game positioning

Wrong Seat Count

• Verify layout definition has correct seats
• Check vehicles.meta references correct layout
• Confirm seat index numbering
• Test all seats spawn players correctly

Camera Issues

• Adjust seat positioning coordinates
• Check driver seat (index 0) position
• Verify bone transforms
• Test camera view from each seat

Advanced: Custom Layouts

Create fully custom seating layouts:

<VehicleLayout>
  <Name>LAYOUT_CUSTOM_LIMO</Name>
  <Seats>
    <Seat index="0" bone="seat_driver" x="0.0" y="0.7" z="0.0" />
    <Seat index="1" bone="seat_passenger" x="1.2" y="0.7" z="0.0" />
    <Seat index="2" bone="seat_rl" x="-1.2" y="-0.5" z="0.0" />
    <Seat index="3" bone="seat_rr" x="1.2" y="-0.5" z="0.0" />
    <Seat index="4" bone="seat_center_r" x="0.0" y="-0.5" z="0.0" />
    <Seat index="5" bone="seat_rl2" x="-1.2" y="-1.5" z="0.0" />
    <Seat index="6" bone="seat_rr2" x="1.2" y="-1.5" z="0.0" />
  </Seats>
</VehicleLayout>

Reference Information

For the most current and detailed information on available layouts, refer to:

• Game files extracted with CodeWalker
• FiveM documentation: docs.fivem.net
• Vehicle modding community resources

Note: Exact seat counts may vary slightly between game versions and mods. Always test your vehicle in-game to verify seating works correctly.