If you’re still rolling around Los Santos in a stock Primo, you’re basically invisible. We’ve all been there. You see a clean Voodoo sliding past Eclipse Towers, hydraulic pumps screaming, and you realize your garage looks like a generic NPC parking lot. But here's the thing: learning how to customise your car lowrider in GTA 5 isn't just about spending a few million GTA dollars and hoping for the best. It’s actually a pretty specific process that the game doesn't always explain well, especially since the Benny’s Original Motor Works update changed the literal physics of how some cars handle.
Most players think they can just drive any old car into a regular Los Santos Customs and get those iconic hopping hydraulics. Nope. That’s a rookie mistake that'll leave you with a chrome paint job and a stock suspension. You need Benny. Specifically, you need to head down to Strawberry.
Why Benny’s Original Motor Works is the Only Place That Matters
You can't just talk about lowriders without talking about Benny’s. Located right in the heart of Strawberry, this shop is the exclusive hub for high-end hydraulic modifications. If you try to take a standard car to a regular LSC, you’ll get the basic performance upgrades—brakes, engine, transmission—but you won't see the "Benny’s Original Update" menu.
That's the gateway.
To start, you have to drive a "lowrider-capable" vehicle into his shop. Once you're inside, you’ll see the option to perform a Custom Upgrade. This is the most expensive part. Honestly, it’s a massive sinkhole for your in-game bank account. For a car like the Albany Buccaneer, you’re looking at nearly $400,000 just for the "base" conversion before you even touch the paint or the pumps. Why is it so expensive? Because this upgrade literally swaps the vehicle model for a "Custom" variant that has a different chassis, allowing for the deep customization options that define the lowrider scene.
The Physics of the Hop
Once you’ve paid the entry fee, you get into the hydraulics. This is where people get confused. There are different levels of pumps. You’ve got your basic setups, and then you’ve got the high-end stuff like the "Full Size" or "Heavy Duty" pumps.
Does it actually matter which one you pick? Absolutely.
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If you’re planning on winning hydraulic jump competitions in GTA Online, you need the highest tier. Better pumps mean more height on the bounce. But there's a trick to it. You don't just mash the button. You have to time the release. It’s rhythmic. It’s basically a mini-game hidden inside the driving mechanics. When you hold the "X" button (on PS) or "A" button (on Xbox) to prime the hydraulics, the car settles low. Letting go at the right moment sends it skyward. If you’ve ever seen a car flip over in the middle of Legion Square, that's someone who mastered the timing—or someone who hit a curb at the wrong angle.
The Aesthetic: More Than Just Shiny Paint
When you're figuring out how to customise your car lowrider in GTA 5, the looks are arguably more important than the bounce. Lowrider culture is about detail. Benny’s offers stuff you literally can't find anywhere else in the game.
Interior mods are huge here. You can change the dash, the steering wheel, and even the "bobblehead" on the dashboard. It sounds trivial. It’s not. If you’re going for a 1960s Chicano style, you want the crushed velvet textures and the wood-grain steering wheels. If you’re going for a more modern "West Coast" look, you might want the digital gauges and the carbon fiber inserts.
Then there’s the engine block. Benny let’s you plate the engine in chrome or gold. You can change the air filters to these massive, polished intakes. Why bother? Because when you’re at a car meet and you pop the hood using the Interaction Menu, everyone sees that detail. It’s about the flex.
Paint and Liveries: The Soul of the Build
Don't just slap a "Metallic Black" on there and call it a day. That’s boring. Lowriders thrive on complex liveries. We’re talking pinstripes, flames, and those classic "faded" patterns that look like they belong on a mural.
- The Base Layer: Start with a Pearlescent finish. If you pick a dark blue base and a light purple pearl, the car shifts colors as it moves under the streetlights of Vinewood.
- The Livery: Layer a livery on top. Some of the "Custom" versions of these cars have 15+ unique liveries that interact differently with your paint color.
- The Wheels: You need the "Lowrider" category wheels. Deep-dish rims with white-wall tires are the standard. Gold spokes are the classic choice, but don't sleep on the "Big Mamma" or "Viking" rims if you want something that looks a bit more aggressive.
Which Cars Are Actually Worth the Investment?
Not every car in GTA 5 can be a true lowrider. You need a specific list of vehicles that Benny accepts. If you’re looking for the best "bang for your buck," the Vapid Chino is a solid choice. It’s heavy, it looks mean, and it has a massive presence.
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However, if you want the "canonical" lowrider experience, you go for the Willard Faction. It’s a G-body style car that just feels right. But be warned: the Faction is notorious for having a low hitbox. Before the patches, it used to get stuck on literal pebbles in the road. Even now, it’s a bumpy ride.
The Albany Primo is the "budget" entry. It’s a four-door, which makes it great for cruising with your crew. It might not have the street cred of a Declasse Moonbeam (the van that can be turned into a literal rolling speaker system), but it’s a classy start.
If you want something ridiculous, look at the Donk version of the Faction. It’s not technically a "lowrider" in the traditional sense because it sits on massive 20-inch rims, but it uses the same hydraulic logic. It’s weird. It’s loud. It’s peak GTA.
Advanced Tactics: Managing the Interaction Menu
A lot of players finish their build, drive out of the shop, and realize they don't know how to show it off. To truly master how to customise your car lowrider in GTA 5, you have to master the Interaction Menu.
Open your menu (Select/Touchpad/M), go to Vehicles, and look at Remote Functions. From here, you can turn on the engine, headlights, and neon kits while standing outside the car. More importantly, you can control the doors. Pop the hood, open the trunk to show off the custom audio setup, and open all the doors.
This is where the "Lowrider" spirit lives. It’s a peacocking exercise. If you’ve spent $20,000 on a trunk full of subwoofers, you better make sure people can see them. You can even toggle the hydraulics from outside the car now, making it dance while you’re standing next to it smoking a cigarette.
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The Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
Check your bank balance before you start. Seriously. A fully "maxed" lowrider—including the conversion, the top-tier pumps, the engine mods, the interior, and the specialized paint—can easily run you $1.2 million to $1.5 million.
In the world of GTA Online, that’s a couple of Cayo Perico runs or a whole lot of Nightclub deliveries. It’s a luxury hobby. If you’re still trying to buy an Oppressor Mk II or a Kosatka, maybe hold off on the lowriders. They aren't fast. They don't have armor. They are terrible in a drive-by because they're bouncy and unstable. They are purely for style.
Actionable Steps for Your First Build
If you’re ready to dive in, don't just wing it.
First, go to the Benny’s Original Motor Works website on your in-game phone. Buy a cheap base car like the Voodoo. It’s only a few thousand bucks stock. Drive it to Strawberry.
Once you’re there, do the "Custom" conversion first. That unlocks the rest of the menu. Don't buy the expensive engine or transmission upgrades until the very end. Focus on the hydraulics and the wheels first. Those are the "bones" of the build.
Experiment with the "Air Horns" too. A lowrider with a "San Andreas Loop" horn is a classic trope for a reason. Once you've got the look down, take it to the parking lot near the Del Perro Pier. That's a common spot for car meets. Practice your "pancake" (landing the car flat after a high hop) and your "side-to-side" tilt.
The most important thing to remember is that there is no "correct" way to do this. GTA 5 is about excess. If you want a neon-green van with gold-plated engines and purple velvet seats, do it. Just make sure the hydraulics are loud enough that everyone on Grove Street hears you coming.
Key Takeaways for Lowrider Success
- Location: Only Benny’s in Strawberry can do full hydraulic conversions.
- The Conversion: Budget at least $500k just to get the "Custom" menu unlocked.
- The Bounce: Upgrade to the highest tier pumps for the best height in jump contests.
- The Flex: Use the Interaction Menu to open the hood and trunk at car meets.
- Physics: Custom lowriders handle differently; expect a learning curve with the bouncy suspension.
Start with a classic Declasse Tornado if you want that vintage 50s look, or go for the Buccaneer for a muscle-hybrid feel. Whatever you pick, make sure you have the cash to finish the job, because a half-finished lowrider is just a broken car.