handling.meta

The handling.meta file controls vehicle physics, performance characteristics, and driving behavior in FiveM.

Structure Overview

<HandlingData>
  <Item type="CHandlingData">
    <handlingName>ADDER</handlingName>
    <fMass>1300.0</fMass>
    <fInitialDragCoeff>0.27</fInitialDragCoeff>
    <fDownforceModifier>1.0</fDownforceModifier>
    <!-- More properties... -->
  </Item>
</HandlingData>

Core Physics Properties

Mass & Inertia

Property	Purpose	Unit	Example
fMass	Vehicle weight	kg	1300.0
fInvMass	Inverse mass (calculated)	-	0.000769
fInertiaMult	Rotational inertia	multiplier	1.0

<fMass>1300.0</fMass>           <!-- Lighter = faster acceleration -->
<fInvMass>0.000769</fInvMass>   <!-- Auto-calculated from mass -->
<fInertiaMult>1.0</fInertiaMult>  <!-- Affects turning stability -->

Drag & Aerodynamics

Property	Purpose	Range	Typical
fInitialDragCoeff	Air resistance	0.2-0.5	0.27
fDownforceModifier	Downforce	0.0-2.0	1.0
fTractionCurveMax	Grip at full grip	1.0-2.0	1.5
fTractionCurveMin	Grip with no traction	0.0-2.0	1.0

<fInitialDragCoeff>0.27</fInitialDragCoeff>
<fDownforceModifier>1.0</fDownforceModifier>

Acceleration & Speed

Engine Performance

<fDriveBiasFront>0.5</fDriveBiasFront>    <!-- 0.0=RWD, 0.5=AWD, 1.0=FWD -->
<fAcceleration>0.8</fAcceleration>         <!-- Acceleration multiplier -->
<fInitialDragCoeff>0.27</fInitialDragCoeff>
<fEstimatedMaxSpeed>200.0</fEstimatedMaxSpeed>

Transmission

<nInitialGear>1</nInitialGear>        <!-- Starting gear -->
<fClutchChangeRateScaleUpShift>1.3</fClutchChangeRateScaleUpShift>
<fClutchChangeRateScaleDownShift>1.5</fClutchChangeRateScaleDownShift>

Braking

<fBrakeForce>1.0</fBrakeForce>        <!-- Brake power multiplier -->
<fBrakeBiasFront>0.65</fBrakeBiasFront>  <!-- Front brake proportion (0.0-1.0) -->
<fHandBrakeForce>1.0</fHandBrakeForce>   <!-- Handbrake/parking brake force -->

Steering

<fSteeringLock>45.0</fSteeringLock>       <!-- Max steering angle (degrees) -->
<fSteeringLockRatio>0.75</fSteeringLockRatio>
<fSteerAssistance>0.0</fSteerAssistance>  <!-- Steering assistance (0.0-1.0) -->
<fTractionLossMult>1.5</fTractionLossMult>

Suspension & Handling

<fSuspensionForce>1.0</fSuspensionForce>
<fSuspensionCompDamp>0.12</fSuspensionCompDamp>
<fSuspensionReboundDamp>0.1</fSuspensionReboundDamp>
<fSuspensionHeight>0.13</fSuspensionHeight>
<fSuspensionLowerLimit>0.0</fSuspensionLowerLimit>
<fSuspensionUpperLimit>0.3</fSuspensionUpperLimit>
<fSuspensionBiasFront>0.48</fSuspensionBiasFront>
<fAntiRollBarForce>0.8</fAntiRollBarForce>  <!-- Anti-sway bar -->
<fAntiRollBarBiasFront>0.65</fAntiRollBarBiasFront>

Damage & Durability

<fEngineDamageMultiplier>1.0</fEngineDamageMultiplier>
<fBodyDamageMultiplier>1.0</fBodyDamageMultiplier>
<fDirtLevelMultiplier>1.0</fDirtLevelMultiplier>
<fEngineHealth>1000.0</fEngineHealth>
<fDeformationDamageMultiplier>1.0</fDeformationDamageMultiplier>

Weight Distribution

<fCenterOfMassOffsetX>0.0</fCenterOfMassOffsetX>
<fCenterOfMassOffsetY>-0.1</fCenterOfMassOffsetY>
<fCenterOfMassOffsetZ>-0.25</fCenterOfMassOffsetZ>

Vehicle Type Configuration

Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)

<fDriveBiasFront>1.0</fDriveBiasFront>
<fTractionBiasFront>1.0</fTractionBiasFront>

Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)

<fDriveBiasFront>0.0</fDriveBiasFront>
<fTractionBiasFront>0.0</fTractionBiasFront>

All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

<fDriveBiasFront>0.5</fDriveBiasFront>
<fTractionBiasFront>0.5</fTractionBiasFront>

Complete Example

<Item type="CHandlingData">
  <handlingName>MYCUSTOM</handlingName>
  
  <!-- Mass & Physics -->
  <fMass>1500.0</fMass>
  <fInvMass>0.000667</fInvMass>
  <fInertiaMult>1.0</fInertiaMult>
  
  <!-- Drag & Aerodynamics -->
  <fInitialDragCoeff>0.30</fInitialDragCoeff>
  <fDownforceModifier>1.0</fDownforceModifier>
  
  <!-- Performance -->
  <fDriveBiasFront>0.5</fDriveBiasFront>
  <fAcceleration>0.9</fAcceleration>
  <fEstimatedMaxSpeed>210.0</fEstimatedMaxSpeed>
  
  <!-- Braking -->
  <fBrakeForce>1.0</fBrakeForce>
  <fBrakeBiasFront>0.65</fBrakeBiasFront>
  
  <!-- Steering -->
  <fSteeringLock>45.0</fSteeringLock>
  <fSteerAssistance>0.0</fSteerAssistance>
  
  <!-- Suspension -->
  <fSuspensionForce>1.2</fSuspensionForce>
  <fSuspensionCompDamp>0.12</fSuspensionCompDamp>
  <fSuspensionReboundDamp>0.1</fSuspensionReboundDamp>
  
  <!-- Damage -->
  <fEngineDamageMultiplier>1.0</fEngineDamageMultiplier>
  <fBodyDamageMultiplier>1.0</fBodyDamageMultiplier>
  <fEngineHealth>1000.0</fEngineHealth>
</Item>

Tuning Tips

Light vehicles - Lower fMass for better acceleration
Grip enhancement - Increase fTractionCurveMax
Top speed - Raise fEstimatedMaxSpeed and fAcceleration
Handling improvement - Adjust fSteerAssistance and suspension
Off-road capability - Increase suspension values and reduce drag
Sports cars - Lower mass, higher acceleration, increased downforce
Trucks - Higher mass, higher gravity, better traction

Performance Guidelines

Vehicle Type	Mass	Acceleration	Max Speed
Compact Car	1000-1200	0.9-1.0	180-190
Sports Car	1300-1500	1.0-1.2	200-230
Muscle Car	1600-1800	0.8-0.9	210-240
SUV	2000-2500	0.6-0.7	180-200
Truck	2500-3500	0.4-0.6	150-180

Common Issues

Vehicle feels too heavy - Reduce fMass
Handling is loose - Increase fTractionCurveMax or fSteerAssistance
Top speed too low - Increase fAcceleration
Brakes too weak - Increase fBrakeForce
Drifts too much - Reduce fDriveBiasFront or increase grip values

handling.meta Breakdown

Core Identification

Element	Purpose	Example
`<handlingName>`	Unique handling identifier	`07gal`
`<type>`	Data type classification	`CHandlingData`

Mass & Weight Properties

Element	Purpose	Notes
`<fMass>`	Vehicle mass in kilograms	Lower = faster acceleration
`<fInitialDragCoeff>`	Air resistance coefficient	0.2-0.5 typical
`<fPercentSubmerged>`	Buoyancy percentage when in water	Usually 85.0
`<vecCentreOfMassOffset>`	X, Y, Z offset from center	Affects stability
`<vecInertiaMultiplier>`	Rotational inertia multiplier	X, Y, Z values

Drivetrain Configuration

Element	Purpose	Example
`<fDriveBiasFront>`	Front wheel drive proportion	0.09 (RWD biased)
`<nInitialDriveGears>`	Number of gears/speeds	`6`
`<fInitialDriveForce>`	Acceleration power	0.19
`<fDownforceModifier>`	Downforce amount	2.0
`<fDriveInertia>`	Engine inertia	1.0
`<fClutchChangeRateScaleUpShift>`	Upshift smoothness	2.4
`<fClutchChangeRateScaleDownShift>`	Downshift smoothness	2.4
`<fInitialDriveMaxFlatVel>`	Top speed in flat terrain	180.0

Braking & Deceleration

Element	Purpose	Range
`<fBrakeForce>`	Brake power multiplier	Typically 1.0-2.0
`<fBrakeBiasFront>`	Front brake proportion	0.0-1.0
`<fHandBrakeForce>`	Parking/handbrake force	Typically 1.0+

Grip & Traction

Element	Purpose	Notes
`<fTractionCurveMax>`	Maximum grip level	Higher = more grip
`<fTractionCurveMin>`	Minimum grip on low traction	Lower = more slidey
`<fTractionCurveLateral>`	Sideways grip/cornering	Higher = sharper turns
`<fTractionSpringDeltaMax>`	Grip responsiveness	0.3 typical
`<fLowSpeedTractionLossMult>`	Low-speed grip reduction	0.85
`<fTractionBiasFront>`	Front/rear grip distribution	0.0-1.0
`<fTractionLossMult>`	Overall grip multiplier	0.3

Steering & Handling

Element	Purpose	Example
`<fSteeringLock>`	Maximum steering angle	40.0 degrees
`<fCamberStiffnesss>`	Body lean resistance	Usually 0.0

Suspension System

Element	Purpose	Notes
`<fSuspensionForce>`	Spring strength	2.0 typical
`<fSuspensionCompDamp>`	Compression damping	1.3
`<fSuspensionReboundDamp>`	Rebound damping	1.6
`<fSuspensionUpperLimit>`	Max compression	0.04
`<fSuspensionLowerLimit>`	Max extension	-0.13
`<fSuspensionRaise>`	Height adjustment	-0.015
`<fSuspensionBiasFront>`	Front/rear distribution	0.465
`<fAntiRollBarForce>`	Anti-sway bar strength	1.1
`<fAntiRollBarBiasFront>`	Anti-roll front ratio	0.35
`<fRollCentreHeightFront>`	Front roll center	0.34
`<fRollCentreHeightRear>`	Rear roll center	0.34

Damage Multipliers

Element	Purpose	Range
`<fCollisionDamageMult>`	Collision damage factor	1.08
`<fWeaponDamageMult>`	Weapon damage factor	1.0
`<fDeformationDamageMult>`	Body deformation from damage	0.01
`<fEngineDamageMult>`	Engine damage multiplier	0.8
`<fTractionLossMult>`	Grip loss from damage	0.8

Fuel & Resources

Element	Purpose	Example
`<fPetrolTankVolume>`	Fuel tank capacity	65.0
`<fOilVolume>`	Oil system capacity	6.5

Seat Configuration

Element	Purpose	Notes
`<fSeatOffsetDistX>`	Seat X position offset	0.0
`<fSeatOffsetDistY>`	Seat Y position offset	0.0
`<fSeatOffsetDistZ>`	Seat Z position offset	0.0

Game Data

| Element | Purpose | Example |

Breakdown: Complete handling.meta File Structure

Core Identification

Property	Purpose
`<handlingName>`	Unique identifier for this handling profile - referenced by vehicles.meta (e.g., `07gal`)
`<HandlingType>`	Vehicle category affecting behavior (e.g., `HANDLING_TYPE_CAR`, `HANDLING_TYPE_BIKE`, `HANDLING_TYPE_PLANE`)

Mass & Weight Properties

Property	Purpose
`<fMass>`	Total vehicle weight in kilograms (Float value, e.g., `1800.0` = 1800 kg; higher = slower acceleration)
`<fInvMass>`	Inverse mass for physics calculations (Auto-calculated; typically fMass as decimal e.g., `0.000556`)
`<fInertiaMult>`	Rotational inertia multiplier affecting turning speed (Float value e.g., `1.0`; higher = slower turns)
`<fPercentSubmerged>`	Percentage of vehicle submerged before water damage (Float 0.0-1.0, e.g., `0.85` = 85%)
`<vecCentreOfMassOffset x="" y="" z="">`	Offset of center of gravity from vehicle center - affects stability (e.g., `x="0.0" y="0.09" z="-0.55"`)

Drivetrain Configuration

Property	Purpose
`<fDriveBiasFront>`	Power distribution: 0.0=RWD, 0.5=AWD, 1.0=FWD (Float 0.0-1.0, e.g., `0.09` = mostly RWD)
`<nInitialDriveGears>`	Number of forward gears in transmission (Integer, e.g., `6` = 6-speed)
`<fInitialDriveForce>`	Engine power output multiplier (Float value, e.g., `0.19`; higher = more power)
`<fDriveInertia>`	Engine inertia/responsiveness (Float value, e.g., `0.55`; higher = slower power delivery)
`<fClutchChangeRateScaleUpShift>`	Upshift speed multiplier (Float value, e.g., `1.3`; higher = faster upshifts)
`<fClutchChangeRateScaleDownShift>`	Downshift speed multiplier (Float value, e.g., `1.5`; higher = faster downshifts)
`<fInitialDriveMaxFlatVel>`	Maximum speed in gears before redline (Float km/h, e.g., `180.0`)
`<fBrakeDecel>`	Deceleration when not accelerating (Float value, e.g., `6.0`)
`<fBrakeForce>`	Brake power multiplier (Float value, e.g., `1.635`; higher = stronger brakes)

Braking & Deceleration

Property	Purpose
`<fBrakeBiasFront>`	Front brake proportion: 0.0=all rear, 0.5=balanced, 1.0=all front (Float 0.0-1.0, e.g., `0.55` = 55% front)
`<fHandBrakeForce>`	Handbrake/parking brake power (Float value, e.g., `1.0`)

Grip & Traction

Property	Purpose
`<fTractionCurveMax>`	Maximum grip multiplier during acceleration (Float value, e.g., `2.65`; higher = more grip)
`<fTractionCurveMin>`	Minimum grip when losing traction (Float value, e.g., `2.10`; higher = still grips when slipping)
`<fTractionCurveLateral>`	Lateral grip during cornering (Float value, e.g., `23.0`; higher = better turning grip)
`<fTractionSpringDeltaMax>`	Traction spring force maximum (Float value, e.g., `0.4`)
`<fLowSpeedTractionLossMult>`	Traction loss multiplier at low speeds (Float value, e.g., `1.0`)
`<fCamberStiffness>`	Suspension lean resistance (Float value, e.g., `0.3`)
`<fTractionBiasFront>`	Front traction distribution: 0.0=all rear, 1.0=all front (Float 0.0-1.0, e.g., `0.49`)

Steering & Handling

Property	Purpose
`<fSteeringLock>`	Maximum steering wheel angle in degrees (Float value, e.g., `45.0`; higher = sharper turns)
`<fSteeringLockRatio>`	Steering responsiveness multiplier (Float value, e.g., `0.75`)

Suspension System

Property	Purpose
`<fSuspensionForce>`	Overall suspension stiffness (Float value, e.g., `2.0`; higher = stiffer)
`<fSuspensionCompDamp>`	Compression damping - resistance when compressing (Float value, e.g., `1.3`; higher = less bouncy)
`<fSuspensionReboundDamp>`	Rebound damping - resistance when extending (Float value, e.g., `1.6`; higher = slower recovery)
`<fSuspensionHeight>`	Suspension ride height offset (Float value, e.g., `0.13`)
`<fSuspensionLowerLimit>`	Minimum compression distance (Float value, e.g., `0.0`)
`<fSuspensionUpperLimit>`	Maximum extension distance (Float value, e.g., `0.3`)
`<fSuspensionBiasFront>`	Front suspension force proportion: 0.0=all rear, 1.0=all front (Float 0.0-1.0, e.g., `0.5`)
`<fAntiRollBarForce>`	Anti-sway bar stiffness - resists body roll (Float value, e.g., `1.0`; higher = less body roll)
`<fAntiRollBarBiasFront>`	Front anti-roll bar proportion (Float 0.0-1.0, e.g., `0.65` = 65% front)
`<fRollCentreHeightFront>`	Front roll center height (Float value, e.g., `0.0`)
`<fRollCentreHeightRear>`	Rear roll center height (Float value, e.g., `0.0`)

Damage Multipliers

Property	Purpose
`<fCollisionDamageMult>`	Impact damage multiplier (Float value, e.g., `1.08`; higher = takes more damage from hits)
`<fWeaponDamageMult>`	Weapon damage multiplier (Float value, e.g., `1.0`; higher = more vulnerable to gunfire)
`<fDeformationDamageMult>`	Visual deformation damage (Float value, e.g., `0.8`; higher = visible dents easier)
`<fEngineDamageMult>`	Engine damage rate from impacts (Float value, e.g., `0.8`; higher = engine fails faster)
`<fEngineHealth>`	Starting engine health value (Float HP, e.g., `1000.0`)

Fuel & Resources

Property	Purpose
`<fPetrolTankVolume>`	Fuel tank capacity in liters (Float value, e.g., `65.0`; higher = longer range)
`<fOilVolume>`	Oil capacity (Float value, e.g., `5.0`)

Seat Configuration

Property	Purpose
`<nSeats>`	Total number of seats including driver (Integer, e.g., `4` = 4-seat car)
`<nMonetaryValue>`	Vehicle price in-game (Integer, e.g., `150000` = $150,000)

Game Data

Property	Purpose
`<strModelFlags>`	Model behavior flags in hexadecimal (e.g., `440010`)
`<strHandlingFlags>`	Handling behavior flags in hexadecimal (e.g., `820100`)
`<strDamageFlags>`	Damage type flags in hexadecimal (e.g., `0`)
`<AIHandling>`	AI driving profile name (e.g., `SPORTS_CAR`)

Sub-Handling Data

Property	Purpose
`<SubHandlingData>`	Container for specialized physics profiles (Parent element)
`<Item type="CCarHandlingData">`	Car-specific handling configuration (Optional child)
`<Item type="NULL">`	Unused handling type placeholder (Placeholder)

Example Complete Entry

<Item type="CHandlingData">
  <handlingName>07gal</handlingName>
  <fMass value="1800.0" />
  <fInitialDragCoeff value="5.9" />
  <fPercentSubmerged value="85.0" />
  <vecCentreOfMassOffset x="0.0" y="0.0" z="0.0" />
  <vecInertiaMultiplier x="1.0" y="1.4" z="1.2" />
  <fDriveBiasFront value="0.09" />
  <nInitialDriveGears value="6" />
  <fInitialDriveForce value="0.19" />
  <fDownforceModifier value="2.0" />
  <fDriveInertia value="1.0" />
  <fClutchChangeRateScaleUpShift value="2.4" />
  <fClutchChangeRateScaleDownShift value="2.4" />
  <fInitialDriveMaxFlatVel value="180.0" />
  <fBrakeForce value="1.635" />
  <fBrakeBiasFront value="0.55" />
  <fHandBrakeForce value="1.05" />
  <fSteeringLock value="40.0" />
  <fTractionCurveMax value="2.65" />
  <fTractionCurveMin value="2.499" />
  <fTractionCurveLateral value="23.0" />
  <fSuspensionForce value="2.0" />
  <fSuspensionCompDamp value="1.3" />
  <fSuspensionReboundDamp value="1.6" />
  <fCollisionDamageMult value="1.08" />
  <fEngineDamageMult value="0.8" />
  <fPetrolTankVolume value="65.0" />
  <nMonetaryValue value="150000" />
  <AIHandling>SPORTS_CAR</AIHandling>
  <SubHandlingData>
    <Item type="CCarHandlingData">
      <fBackEndPopUpCarImpulseMult value="0.1" />
      <fBackEndPopUpBuildingImpulseMult value="0.03" />
      <fBackEndPopUpMaxDeltaSpeed value="0.6" />
    </Item>
    <Item type="NULL" />
    <Item type="NULL" />
  </SubHandlingData>
</Item>

Structure Overview​

Core Physics Properties​

Mass & Inertia​

Drag & Aerodynamics​

Acceleration & Speed​

Engine Performance​

Transmission​

Braking​

Steering​

Suspension & Handling​

Damage & Durability​

Weight Distribution​

Vehicle Type Configuration​

Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)​

Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)​

All-Wheel Drive (AWD)​

Complete Example​

Tuning Tips​

Performance Guidelines​

Common Issues​

handling.meta Breakdown​

Core Identification​

Mass & Weight Properties​

Drivetrain Configuration​

Braking & Deceleration​

Grip & Traction​

Steering & Handling​

Suspension System​

Damage Multipliers​

Fuel & Resources​

Seat Configuration​

Game Data​

Breakdown: Complete handling.meta File Structure​

Core Identification​

Mass & Weight Properties​

Drivetrain Configuration​

Braking & Deceleration​

Grip & Traction​

Steering & Handling​

Suspension System​

Damage Multipliers​

Fuel & Resources​

Seat Configuration​

Game Data​

Sub-Handling Data​

Example Complete Entry​

Structure Overview

Core Physics Properties

Mass & Inertia

Drag & Aerodynamics

Acceleration & Speed

Engine Performance

Transmission

Braking

Steering

Suspension & Handling

Damage & Durability

Weight Distribution

Vehicle Type Configuration

Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)

Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD)

All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

Complete Example

Tuning Tips

Performance Guidelines

Common Issues

handling.meta Breakdown

Core Identification

Mass & Weight Properties

Drivetrain Configuration

Braking & Deceleration

Grip & Traction

Steering & Handling

Suspension System

Damage Multipliers

Fuel & Resources

Seat Configuration

Game Data

Breakdown: Complete handling.meta File Structure

Core Identification

Mass & Weight Properties

Drivetrain Configuration

Braking & Deceleration

Grip & Traction

Steering & Handling

Suspension System

Damage Multipliers

Fuel & Resources

Seat Configuration

Game Data

Sub-Handling Data

Example Complete Entry