Preview reporting shows two ways to enter a parked car in GTA 6: smash a window for a loud entry, or use a slim jim for a quieter entry with a brief right-stick minigame. Some parked cars reportedly require tools you acquire later in the story. Exact final controls and unlock order have not been confirmed, so treat these as preview-era mechanics, not a finished-game walkthrough.
How to enter a parked car in GTA 6
- Inspect the car. Preview coverage reports that the WAINK phone app can show whether a vehicle is locked, has an alarm or tracker, its approximate resale value and registration cost, and which tool is needed to get in.
- Check which entry option is available. The reported choices are smashing a window or using a slim jim. The slim-jim approach involves a short minigame using the right stick; preview footage reportedly displayed circle or triangle prompts, but final button mappings are not established.
- Account for locked or gated vehicles. Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson told GamesRadar that some parked cars are inaccessible at the start until the player progresses and obtains certain tools. The interview does not give a complete tool list or unlock order.
Nelson also said, “You can always carjack any driver you see.” That describes a reported in-game option; it does not mean every parked car can be entered without the required tool.
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Grand Theft Auto 5 PS4 - PlayStation 4 ( GTA V Ps4) | $26.95 | Buy on Amazon |
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Rockstar Games Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition (PS4) | $25.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Which entry method should you use?
| Method | What preview coverage reports | Practical trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Smash a window | A loud way to enter a parked vehicle. | Noise may draw attention or trigger an alarm. The sources do not quantify detection chances. |
| Use a slim jim | A quieter entry involving a brief right-stick minigame. | It depends on having access to the required tool, and quieter does not mean undetectable. |
| Carjack a driver | Nelson said players can carjack drivers they encounter. | This is a separate reported option from entering a parked vehicle; police notification may still follow if someone witnesses the crime. |
What happens if police are alerted?
Nelson told GamesRadar that a crime must be witnessed or an alarm must be triggered for police to be notified. Preview reporting also describes police tracking identifying details, including the vehicle and the protagonists’ appearance. Changing vehicles was shown as a way to remove the car from police recognition, but that demonstration does not establish that switching cars always clears wanted status or guarantees an escape.
What is confirmed—and what is not
These details come from pre-release preview reporting and an interview, not a final manual or independent hands-on testing. The game is unreleased as of October 4, 2026. Exact final controls, the full set of tools and their story unlock order, WAINK’s final behavior, and how wanted status resolves remain unverified. Rockstar’s official GTA VI page confirms the game and its PlayStation 5 platform context, but does not document these theft mechanics.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- Grand Theft Auto III: It all starts in Liberty City
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City: Welcome to the 1980s
- Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: Five years ago, Carl 'CJ' Johnson escaped the haze of Los Santos, San Andreas...a city tearing itself apart with gang trouble, drugs, and corruption.
Rank #2
- Carry on the Grand Theft Auto tradition playing through the single player campaign as Niko Bellic
- Get cars and other modes of transportation anyway you can
- Interact with various colorful characters who give you various missions to engage in
- Engage in multiplayer challenges ranging from cover matches to shoot-outs
- Carry on the Grand Theft Auto tradition playing through the single player campaign as Niko Bellic
#1 Best Overall
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