FiveM Vehicle Refunds: Handling Cars, Boats, and Aircraft Claims

Vehicle refunds are more complex than items or money. Vehicles have properties, modifications, fuel levels, and often exist in multiple database tables. Getting them wrong means duplicate vehicles, missing mods, or database corruption. Here's how to handle them properly.

Understanding vehicle data structures

Vehicles in FiveM are stored with extensive metadata. Beyond the model, you're tracking modifications, colors, plate text, fuel, engine health, and ownership history. Each framework handles this differently.

-- Typical vehicle properties object
local vehicleProps = {
    model = 'adder',
    plate = 'ABC123',
    mods = { engine = 4, brakes = 3, suspension = 2 },
    colors = { primary = 12, secondary = 0 },
    fuel = 65.5,
    engineHealth = 1000.0,
    bodyHealth = 1000.0
}

ESX vehicle refund process

ESX stores vehicles in owned_vehicles table with a vehicle column containing JSON properties. When refunding, you must insert a complete record with valid properties, not just the model name.

• Query the player's citizenid or identifier
• Construct full vehicle properties with default mods if unknown
• Insert into owned_vehicles with state = 'garage'
• Vehicle appears in player's garage on next login

QB Core vehicle refund process

QB Core uses player_vehicles table with mods stored as JSON. The process is similar to ESX but column names differ. Ensure you match the exact schema your server uses—custom resources may modify it.

Handling vehicle modifications

Players care deeply about their vehicle mods. A stock refund of a fully upgraded car feels like a partial refund. Capture mod data when possible, or establish a policy about mod restoration.

• Option 1: Refund with maximum modifications (generous but costly)
• Option 2: Refund stock, compensate mod value in cash
• Option 3: Require players to provide mod screenshots for restoration
• Option 4: Use LD Refund System's automatic mod preservation

Special cases: Boats and aircraft

Boats and aircraft follow similar patterns but may use different garage resources. Some servers have separate hangars or marinas with their own database tables. Verify where each vehicle type is stored.

• Check if your server uses unified or separate storage for vehicle types
• Aircraft often have additional metadata (weapons, countermeasures)
• Boats may lack modification support depending on your resources
• Verify the spawn location makes sense (don't spawn boats on land)

Insurance and replacement policies

Many servers implement insurance mechanics. If a vehicle was insured, players can claim through that system instead of staff refunds. Understand your server's insurance before processing vehicle refunds manually.

Vehicle refunds require attention to detail. Take time to understand your server's specific implementation, and always test refunds in a staging environment before going live.