Buying the Auto Shop in GTA Online gives you a fully operational vehicle business in Los Santos — complete with a two-bay service garage, contract missions, and a steady stream of client cars to tune and deliver. The purchase only takes a few minutes once you know where to look, and this guide walks you through every step from booting up GTA Online to meeting your head mechanic on the floor of your new shop.
What you need before you start
The Auto Shop is a GTA Online-only property — it is not available in single-player Story Mode. You will need a GTA Online character with enough in-game cash to cover the purchase. Auto Shop locations start at $1,670,000 and go up to around $1,920,000 depending on which district you choose. If your balance is low, complete a few CEO/VIP work sessions or source crates first to build up your funds. No Rank requirement is needed; any character can buy one.
How to buy the Auto Shop in GTA Online
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Step 1: Launch GTA Online
Start Grand Theft Auto V and at the main menu, select GTA Online. Wait for the session to load and your character to spawn into Los Santos. Make sure you have sufficient GTA$ funds — check your balance in the top-right corner of the HUD before proceeding. If you want privacy while shopping, you can also join an Invite Only Session via the pause menu so that no other players interrupt you.
Choose GTA Online from the main menu, then wait for your session to load. -
Step 2: Open your in-game phone
Once you are in Los Santos, bring up your character's phone. On PC press T by default; on PlayStation or Xbox press the Up button on the D-Pad. Your phone's home screen will appear. From there, tap the Internet browser icon (the globe or magnifier icon, depending on your phone model) to open the in-game web browser. This is the same browser you use for the Rockstar Games Social Club website and in-game banking.
Press T on PC or Up on the D-Pad to open your phone, then tap the Internet icon. -
Step 3: Navigate to Maze Bank Foreclosures
In the phone browser, go to Maze Bank Foreclosures. You can find it listed under the browser's Money and Services bookmarks, or type it directly into the address bar. The site lists all purchasable properties in GTA Online. Click the Auto Shops category tab to filter the listings. You will see five locations spread around Los Santos, each with a different price tag based on its position in the city.
Browse the Auto Shops tab on Maze Bank Foreclosures to see all five available locations. -
Step 4: Pick your location and confirm the purchase
Browse the five Auto Shop listings and click View on any one to see its location on the map and its base price. The five districts available are Banning (south LS, cheapest), LSIA (airport area), La Mesa (east LS), Davis, and Strawberry. Location does not affect the contract missions you receive, so pick whichever area of the map you prefer or whichever price fits your budget. Once you have decided, click the listing and then click Purchase to confirm. The purchase is deducted immediately from your in-game cash balance.
Select a location, review the details, and click Confirm Purchase to complete the transaction. -
Step 5: Visit your Auto Shop and speak to KDJ
After confirming, a cutscene will trigger and you will be transported to your new Auto Shop. Inside you will meet KDJ (also known as Mimi), your head mechanic, who gives you a brief tour. Speak to KDJ to unlock the Contracts — a series of multi-part heist-style missions co-written with Dr. Dre. Once the introduction is complete, your Auto Shop is open for business: you can take in client vehicles for modifications, source and sell exotic cars, and launch all available contract work directly from the planning board inside the garage.
Speak to KDJ inside your new Auto Shop to unlock contract missions and start operations.
Tips for getting the most out of your Auto Shop
- Upgrade the shop early. You can add extra vehicle lifts, a dedicated mod area, and staff improvements from the Auto Shop management computer. These upgrades increase your earnings from client car jobs.
- Client cars are free money. Every so often a customer will drop off a vehicle to be modded. Check the board regularly, complete the mod order, and deliver the car to earn a straightforward payout with no combat required.
- Contract prep missions are worth it. The Contracts provide some of the best storytelling in GTA Online and yield strong payouts. Complete all three series (The Data Contract, The Prison Contract, The Bank Contract) for the full experience.
- Location does not lock you to that part of the map. All contract missions take place across the entire map regardless of where your shop sits, so the choice of location is purely cosmetic and financial.
- You can own only one Auto Shop at a time. If you want to relocate later, you can trade in your current shop through Maze Bank Foreclosures, though you will lose any interior upgrade costs you paid.
Troubleshooting
The purchase button is greyed out
This almost always means your in-game bank balance is too low. Check your GTA$ amount in the top corner of the HUD and complete more jobs or sell product from another business to raise enough funds before returning to Maze Bank Foreclosures.
I bought the shop but no cutscene played
This can happen in a laggy session. Open the in-game map, look for your Auto Shop blip (a wrench icon), and drive there manually. Entering the garage will trigger the KDJ introduction cutscene from inside the building.
I can't find the Maze Bank Foreclosures website
Make sure you are using the in-game phone browser, not a real-world browser. Open your phone, tap the Internet icon, and look under the Money and Services category, or type "maze" into the search bar to bring it up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Auto Shop cost in GTA Online?
Auto Shop prices range from approximately $1,670,000 for the Banning location up to around $1,920,000 for the more central districts. All five shops offer the same core features; only the location and price differ.
Can you buy the Auto Shop in GTA 5 Story Mode?
No. The Auto Shop is exclusive to GTA Online. It is not available to Michael, Trevor, or Franklin in single-player Story Mode.
Do you need GTA+ to buy the Auto Shop?
No, GTA+ membership is not required. Any GTA Online player can purchase an Auto Shop as long as they have enough in-game money.
What is the best Auto Shop location in GTA Online?
All five locations give you the same missions and features, so there is no single best pick. The Banning shop is the cheapest if you want to save money; LSIA and La Mesa are popular because they sit near major highways, making vehicle deliveries slightly quicker.
Can you sell the Auto Shop after buying it?
You cannot sell the Auto Shop outright for cash, but you can trade it in when purchasing a different location from Maze Bank Foreclosures. Note that interior upgrade costs are not refunded when you trade in.
Final thoughts
Buying the Auto Shop in GTA Online is a straightforward process: load into a session, open your phone's internet browser, visit Maze Bank Foreclosures, and pick one of the five locations that fits your budget. Once the purchase goes through, head inside to meet KDJ and unlock the Contracts series. For more ways to earn money and grow your criminal empire in Los Santos, check the official GTA Online website for the latest updates and limited-time bonuses.
