Rockstar Lead Says GTA 6 Car Refueling Takes About 10 Seconds and “You Can’t Complain About That”

Grand Theft Auto 6 will require players to keep an eye on their vehicles’ fuel, and Rockstar North co-studio head Rob Nelson appears to know the feature could divide players. The mechanic reportedly surfaced in leaked footage and has since become one of the more debated additions to Rockstar’s upcoming open-world game.

New details about the system come from Australian creator TGG, who was invited to Rockstar North for an extended preview of GTA 6. According to TGG, players can visit gas stations to either repair their vehicle or refuel it, with the latter involving a short interactive sequence. 

GTA 6’s Fuel System Will Not Take Long

The refueling sequence reportedly lasts around 10 seconds when filling an empty tank, with an accompanying animation rather than an instant refill. Electric vehicles will also require charging, giving the new vehicle system an additional layer of realism.

The mechanic could potentially become important during long drives across Leonida or after stealing a vehicle during a mission. TGG noted that running low on fuel could become particularly inconvenient when attempting to escape after a robbery, although he suggested fuel should not normally become a major problem for players who pay attention to their vehicles.

Nelson also directly acknowledged that players may have mixed feelings about the addition. After TGG questioned why Rockstar decided to include the feature, Nelson reportedly responded,

“We’ll see what people say. Do you think people are going to like it?”

During the demonstration, Nelson subsequently highlighted how quickly the process could be completed, saying,

“Hey, that’s pretty fast for a fill-up. You can’t complain about that.”

The feature has not appeared in Rockstar’s official GTA 6: An Extended Look, meaning the current information comes from the creator preview rather than footage publicly demonstrated by Rockstar. Rockstar has confirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.