# GTA 6 tips before you start: 25 things to know for your first hours

Source: https://gta.kuber.studio/guides/gta-6-tips-before-you-start
Status: mixed
Updated: 2026-11-15

> Police need witnesses, cash is lost when you die, and you carry only two long guns. GTA 6 beginner tips on heat, money, fences, weapons, cars and phone apps.

**Quick answer:** GTA VI is less forgiving than GTA V: **police only come if someone sees or reports you**, **cash on hand is lost when you are Wasted or Busted** (bank it), **duffel-bag loot must be sold to a fence**, and you carry **two handguns and two long guns**, with the rest in your car. Most of this comes from previews, not a manual.

| Key fact | |
| --- | --- |
| Wanted stars | Six (up from five in GTA V) |
| Money types | Bank, cash, duffel-bag loot |
| Loadout | 2 handguns + 2 long guns |
| Auto-aim | Off by default |
| Wanted reset | Pay 'n' Spray, disguise, split up |
| Source grade | Mostly previews (reported) |

GTA VI changes several habits GTA V taught you. **Police need a witness, cash in your pocket disappears when you die, stolen loot is worthless until you fence it, and the weapon wheel is gone.** None of this comes from a Rockstar manual: almost every tip below is from hands-on previews (Edge, Red Bull, Engadget, VICE) and the Extended Look, so treat the details as <span class="tag-reported">reported</span> until we play it on Nov 19.

If you have not set up yet, start with the [[guides/gta-6-day-one-checklist|day-one checklist]]. Everything else is in the [[guides/index|guides hub]].

## How does the wanted system work?

The short answer: it is about what the police **know**, not just what you did. Full breakdown on [[gameplay/gta-6-wanted-system-and-heat|wanted system and heat]].

### 1. No witness, no cops

Crimes only draw police when there is a **witness, an alarm, or a stolen-car tracker** <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. Look around before you act. Quiet areas and back rooms are your friend.

### 2. There are six stars

The Extended Look shows **six wanted stars**, up from GTA V's five <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. A fan site claimed GTA VI drops stars entirely. That is <span class="tag-debunked">debunked</span>: the official footage shows them.

### 3. Read the star styles

Previews describe four star styles <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>:

| Star style | What it means |
| --- | --- |
| Solid | Police have visual contact |
| Flashing | They lost contact |
| Hollow / outlined | They don't know who the suspect is |
| Red | You are inside the search zone |

### 4. Heat is your description

A heat system tracks CCTV, your appearance and clothing, the number of suspects, weapons and your vehicle <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. To shake it:

- Split up Jason and Lucia
- Change clothes, or get a haircut at a barber
- Wear a mask in front of CCTV
- Swap the car, or torch it
- Use **Pay 'n' Spray**, which repairs the car and clears your wanted level

### 5. Hide in plain sight

Rockstar's Phil Hooker says police won't search a bus unless they saw you board it <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. Police may also keep a perimeter around a shop you robbed, so don't go back for seconds. Expect helicopters with searchlights and police dogs.

### 6. Your record follows you

Each character has a **Criminal Profile**, from Professional to Irredeemable, with angel and devil icons, and it affects the story <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. How much it matters is not yet known. See [[gameplay/gta-6-criminal-profile|Criminal Profile]].

## How does money work?

GTA VI has **three kinds of money: bank, cash and duffel-bag loot** <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. Details on [[gameplay/gta-6-money-banks-and-fences|money, banks and fences]].

### 7. Bank your cash

Cash is **lost when you are Wasted or Busted**. Money in the bank, managed through the **BuckMe** app, is safe. Use ATMs often, especially before a job.

### 8. Loot is not money yet

Duffel-bag loot must be **sold to a fence**. Fences specialise and unlock through the story, so you may be holding goods you can't sell yet.

### 9. Almost anything can be robbed

Almost any shop can be robbed, armored vans included. Safe codes can be found or bought. You can also blow the safe, which is faster but may damage what's inside.

### 10. Keep a cash buffer

Some story beats require a minimum amount of cash <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. Don't spend down to zero right before a mission.

### 11. No real money in single-player

Rockstar North co-head Rob Nelson says single-player has **no real-money purchases** <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. There is no Shark Card shortcut. See [[gameplay/gta-6-gameplay-features-confirmed|confirmed gameplay features]].

## How do weapons work?

### 12. The weapon wheel is gone

You carry **two handguns and two long guns**, with only one long gun on your back. The rest live in your vehicle's trunk, like RDR2's horse <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. Park close before a fight. More on [[guides/gta-6-controls-and-weapon-slots|controls and weapon slots]] and [[gameplay/gta-6-weapons|weapons]].

### 13. A visible gun changes how people act

Carrying a visible weapon changes NPC reactions but doesn't automatically bring the police <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. Still, a witness who sees you draw it can call it in.

### 14. Auto-aim is off by default

Previews say **auto-aim is off by default** and recoil is heavier than GTA V <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. If you want lock-on, change it in settings before your first shootout.

### 15. Use Focus

A slow-motion **Focus** mode highlights weak points, and vitals targeting allows non-lethal disarms <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. The Extended Look showed Jason using it. Whether Lucia has it too is unclear.

### 16. Loot police cars

Police cars can be looted for gear <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>.

## What about cars?

### 17. Check a car before you steal it

Cars have security tiers. Theft can mean hot-wiring, key cloners, lock picks, window smashing (which trips alarms) or a quick-time hijack. **Trackers can alert police** <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. The **Waink** phone app scans a car's security, tracker, registration cost and resale value. See [[gameplay/gta-6-vehicles|vehicles]].

### 18. Register what you keep

Stolen cars can be registered for a fee, and you can keep several personal cars per character in garages <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>.

### 19. Watch the fuel gauge

Fuel and refuelling are back. Hold the button for about 10 seconds at the pump. Engine health matters too <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>.

### 20. Call a car

**Scooter Bros** delivers a vehicle for a fee, and e-scooters are in <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>.

## What's on the phone?

### 21. Know your apps

| App | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| BuckMe | Banking |
| Waink | Car security, tracker and value scan |
| Snapmatic | Social feed; follow accounts, watch NPC events and livestreams |
| RydeMe | Ride-hailing; passengers chat |
| Scooter Bros | Vehicle delivery |

All <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. Jason and Lucia can't post publicly on Snapmatic because they are fugitives, but they can DM photos to each other. An optional livestream feed opens with **R3**. LifeInvader and Bleeter are <span class="tag-rumour">rumour</span>. See [[gameplay/gta-6-phone-and-social-media|phone and social media]].

### 22. Radio on foot

Rockstar says radio and podcasts can be heard on foot through the phone, a series first. Browse the [[music/gta-6-radio-stations|radio stations]].

## Jason, Lucia and the world

### 23. Switching is not always free

Both leads are playable, but Rob Nelson told Famitsu switching is "restricted depending on the progression of the story". Red Bull said you can switch "at any time". Prefer Nelson. See [[gameplay/gta-6-character-switching|character switching]].

### 24. The relationship is yours to lose

The romance is optional and can fade, though the pair stay partners in crime, per Nelson. Partner activities build closeness. Whether it changes the ending is unconfirmed. See [[characters/jason-and-lucia-relationship|Jason and Lucia's relationship]].

### 25. The body and the map change over time

Gyms change physique, stamina and focus, and diet and sleep change your weight <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. The map unlocks gradually as you explore. Storms and seasonal hurricanes are confirmed by Rockstar to Game Informer, and more than 170 animal species can be logged, from [[world/grassrivers|Grassrivers]] gators to flamingos <span class="tag-reported">reported</span>. Pet a dog if its owner allows it. Some won't.

## What we don't know yet

Rockstar has not published a control layout, the exact penalty for dying beyond lost cash, how fast heat fades, or how many fences exist. We will update this page after launch with tested answers. Meanwhile, the [[guides/gta-6-faq|GTA 6 FAQ]] covers the quick questions.

## FAQ

**How does the wanted system work in GTA 6?**

Police only respond when a crime has a witness, an alarm or a stolen-car tracker. A heat system tracks what they know about you, and changing clothes, a haircut, a mask or a new car can shake your description. There are six stars.

**Do you lose money when you die in GTA 6?**

Previews say cash on hand is lost when you are Wasted or Busted. Money in the bank, via the BuckMe app, is safe, so deposit at ATMs.

**How many weapons can you carry in GTA 6?**

Two handguns and two long guns, with only one long gun on your back. The rest are stored in your vehicle, like the horse in Red Dead Redemption 2.

**Is auto-aim on by default in GTA 6?**

Previews report auto-aim is off by default. Check the settings menu on first boot if you want it.


## Sources

- [GTA 6 gameplay: Key details that you might have missed](https://www.redbull.com/us-en/gta-6-gameplay-details) (Red Bull, Oct 20, 2026)
- [GTA VI Edge Preview Reveals Huge New Details On Gameplay, Police, Relationships And More](https://www.gtavice.net/news/gta-vi-edge-preview-reveals-huge-new-details-on-gameplay-police-relationships-and-more) (GTAVice.net, Oct 29, 2026)
- [20+ things you may have missed in the GTA 6 extended look](https://www.engadget.com/2246846/things-you-may-have-missed-gta-6-extended-look/) (Engadget, Aug 28, 2026)
- [150 New GTA 6 Details Revealed](https://www.vice.com/en/article/gta-6-new-details-netflix-extended-look-previews/) (VICE, Aug 27, 2026)
- [GTA 6: Famitsu's Full Rob Nelson Interview Translated Into English](https://www.gtavice.net/news/gta-6-famitsus-full-rob-nelson-interview-translated-into-english) (GTAVice.net, Sep 9, 2026)
- [Exclusive: Grand Theft Auto VI Features Tropical Storms And Hurricanes](https://gameinformer.com/exclusive/2026/09/29/exclusive-grand-theft-auto-vi-features-tropical-storms-and-hurricanes) (Game Informer, Sep 29, 2026)
- [Exclusive: Grand Theft Auto VI Includes Over 170 Animal Species](https://gameinformer.com/exclusive/2026/09/29/exclusive-grand-theft-auto-vi-includes-over-170-animal-species) (Game Informer, Sep 29, 2026)
- [Rockstar Confirms GTA 6 Single-Player Will Have No Microtransactions and Was Made Without Generative AI](https://libertycity.net/news/gta-6/10108-rockstar-confirms-gta-6-single-player.html) (LibertyCity.net)