If you're new to GTA Online, the sheer amount of things to do can be overwhelming. Most experienced players will tell you that understanding a few core systems early on will save you a lot of frustration. This guide breaks down the practical aspects of how the online world works, based on common player experiences.
How Does Money Work, and What Should I Spend It On First?
Money, along with RP (Reputation Points), is the fundamental economy of GTA Online. You earn it from almost everything: contact missions, selling stolen cars, completing daily objectives, and of course, heists. While you can purchase in-game cash with real money via Shark Cards, most players earn their wealth through gameplay, especially by focusing on heists and business activities later on.
Your first major purchases should be functional. A high-end apartment (one costing over $200,000) is the universal starting goal for new players because it unlocks the ability to host Heists. While the most expensive apartments offer better views, any high-end apartment will give you the needed heist planning room. After that, focus on a reliable armored or fast car, like the Karin Kuruma (Armored) or the Bati 801 motorcycle, which are affordable and great for missions.
A common frustration for new players is the grind for good cars and properties. This leads some to look for shortcuts outside the official game, like when they search to buy gta 5 modded accounts cheap. It's important to know that this violates Rockstar's terms of service and carries a high risk of the account being banned or reset, wasting both money and time. Most experienced players recommend the slower, safer grind through missions and heists with friends.
What's the Point of Properties and Apartments?
Properties are your bases of operation. Initially, you can own multiple properties, including apartments and garages. Their primary functions are:
Heist Planning: Only high-end apartments provide a heist planning room.
Vehicle Storage: Garages and apartment garages store your personal vehicles. A personal vehicle is one you've purchased or stolen and then insured. You can call it via the interaction menu whenever you need it.
Spawn Points: You can set your spawn location to any owned property.
In general, players start with a high-end apartment for heists, then expand to include a office (for CEO work), a nightclub (for consolidating business income), and specialized facilities as they progress. Location matters less than you might think; convenience to major roads or your businesses is usually the priority.
Are Crews Actually Useful, or Just for Show?
The crew system is more useful than it appears. While you can play solo, the game heavily incentivizes playing with others. Being in a crew with friends or an active community provides tangible benefits:
You earn a 10% RP bonus playing with friends and a 20% RP bonus playing with crew members.
Many missions and heists are designed for teamwork and are significantly easier with coordinated crews.
Crew colors and emblems allow for some personalization on your vehicles and clothing.
Most players use private crews for their core group of friends. Large public crews can be useful for finding players to join activities, but the coordination is usually lower. Being in a good crew is often considered the best way to enjoy the game and make consistent money.
What Are Jobs and Game Modes, and Which Should I Do?
"Jobs" is the umbrella term for all structured activities. You can access them through the pause menu, your phone, or by receiving calls from contacts like Lester or Martin. There are hundreds, including:
Contact Missions: Short, story-based PvE missions. These are excellent starter activities for earning cash and RP.
Heists: Multi-part, complex missions requiring 2-4 players. These offer the biggest payouts but require coordination.
Adversary Modes: Varied PvP game modes, often with double cash and RP rewards on a weekly rotation.
Races & Deathmatches: Standard PvP competitions.
For new players, the standard advice is to run Contact Missions from your phone (start with ones from Gerald or Simeon) to build your bank account and skill. Keep an eye on the weekly update bonuses, which highlight specific game modes paying double rewards—this is how most players farm cash efficiently.
How Do Vehicles and Insurance Work?
This is a critical system. Any vehicle you drive off the street can be stolen and used, but only certain, lower-value vehicles can be taken to Los Santos Customs, fitted with a tracker and insurance, and made into a "Personal Vehicle."
High-End Vehicles (like Super Cars): Must be purchased legitimately from websites like Legendary Motorsport to become a personal vehicle.
Insurance: This is mandatory. Once you buy a car or insure a stolen eligible one, it's permanently insured. If it's destroyed, you call Mors Mutual Insurance to get it back for free. If another player destroys it, they pay the fee.
Passive Mode: A key feature. It prevents you from damaging other players and them from damaging you. On modern platforms (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S), you are even "ghosted" to others while in a vehicle. It's used by players who want to explore, customize cars, or simply avoid conflict.
What Are Daily Objectives and Events?
These are your consistent, smaller-scale money-makers.
Daily Objectives: Three simple tasks (e.g., "Participate in a Deathmatch," "Rob a Store"). Completing all three each day starts a streak that leads to large weekly and monthly bonuses. Many dedicated players try to keep their streak alive.
Weekly Events: Every Thursday, Rockstar updates the game with new limited-time discounts and double/triple rewards on specific modes. The player base generally rotates to these activities each week to maximize income. This is also how seasonal content (like Halloween or Christmas items) returns.
In practice, the game evolves through these free weekly events and larger DLC updates. The core loop for most established players involves checking the new weekly bonuses, running profitable activities with their crew, and working towards their next major property or vehicle purchase.
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