To shoot while driving in Grand Theft Auto V, hold the aim input to bring your weapon up, then press fire: Right Mouse to aim and Left Mouse to fire on PC, LB then RB on Xbox, L1 then R1 on PlayStation. It only works if you are carrying a weapon the driver can use, which in practice means a pistol or a compact SMG such as the Micro SMG.
The inputs are the same in story mode and GTA Online, on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Enhanced PC versions as on the older ones. Below we cover the controls step by step, which weapons work from the driver’s seat, how motorcycles and passengers differ, and what to check when the gun simply will not come out.
The Drive-By Controls on Every Platform
| Action | PC (keyboard and mouse) | Xbox | PlayStation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aim out of the car | Right Mouse (hold) | LB (hold) | L1 (hold) |
| Fire | Left Mouse | RB | R1 |
| Accelerate while aiming | W | RT | R2 |
- Equip a pistol or small SMG before you set off (more on why below).
- Hold aim. Your character brings the weapon up, and a reticle appears.
- Move the camera with the mouse or right stick to pick a target. You can aim to the sides, behind you, and forward through the windscreen.
- Fire. Keep aim held the whole time; letting go lowers the gun.
Order matters. Pressing fire without holding aim first either does nothing or, on controller, uses the handbrake, because RB and R1 are the handbrake whenever you are not aiming. That is why so many players spin out the first time they try this.
If your inputs do not match the table, open the pause menu, go to Settings and then Controls. Rockstar Support notes the vehicle controls can be customized, and a changed layout (or a remapped key on PC) is the usual reason the default buttons stop working. Player reports also describe a controller option there that changes drive-by behavior, so that LB or L1 alone both raises the gun and fires, instead of the aim-then-fire split above. If LB or L1 starts shooting the moment the gun comes out, that option is set.
Which Weapons Work From the Driver’s Seat
This is the part that decides whether drive-bys work at all. The driver can only use one-handed and compact weapons. Community weapon lists agree on:
- Pistols, including the AP Pistol, the best drive-by weapon because it is fully automatic.
- The Micro SMG, available early in story mode and the standard answer for most players.
- In GTA Online, a few more compact options, such as other small SMGs and the Compact Rifle, per community weapon lists.
Full-size rifles, shotguns and the regular SMG cannot be used by a driver. Take a Carbine Rifle into a car chase and nothing will come up when you press aim. That is why players sometimes decide drive-bys are broken when they are simply holding the wrong gun.
Throwables are an exception worth knowing: grenades, sticky bombs and similar can be dropped from a moving car to deal with pursuers behind you.
Motorcycles, Passengers and Special Cases
On a motorcycle or bicycle, you can aim forward far more comfortably than in a car, and the Sawed-Off Shotgun also works on bikes.
As a passenger, you are free to aim all around, and in GTA Online passengers riding in pickup beds, the back of vans, or hanging off the side of certain vehicles can use rifles too. If a friend drives, you do the shooting.
Franklin’s special ability slows time while driving, which makes aimed drive-bys much easier during story missions. Our guide to switching characters in GTA 5 covers moving to him mid-mission.
Weaponized vehicles in GTA Online have mounted guns that use their own controls and ignore these rules entirely.
When the Gun Will Not Come Out
- Wrong weapon equipped. Switch to a pistol or Micro SMG on the weapon wheel (Tab on PC, hold LB or L1 on controller) before getting in.
- Passive Mode in GTA Online. You cannot fire at players or NPCs while it is on.
- A mission restriction. Some story missions and GTA Online jobs lock weapons for set pieces.
- Remapped or changed controls. Check the vehicle section of Settings > Controls.
- No ammo for the equipped gun, which quietly skips it.
Tips for Better Drive-Bys
- Carry the Micro SMG or AP Pistol at all times. Swap before chases, not during.
- Drive first, shoot second. Short bursts on straight roads beat spraying through corners.
- First-person view can make forward shots through the windscreen easier to line up.
- Heists and getaways are where this matters most; our guide to doing a heist in GTA 5 covers those, and when the chase is over our guide to losing a wanted level finishes the job.
The mechanic has changed a lot since the older games: our guide to shooting while driving in GTA 3 shows how limited it used to be. Every other guide we have for the series is on our GTA guides hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you shoot while driving in GTA 5? Hold aim (Right Mouse, LB or L1) to bring up your weapon, then fire with Left Mouse, RB or R1. It only works with a weapon the driver can use, such as a pistol or Micro SMG.
Why can’t I shoot while driving in GTA 5? Usually because you have a rifle, shotgun or full-size SMG equipped, which drivers cannot use. Switch to a pistol or Micro SMG before getting in.
Can you shoot forward while driving in GTA 5? Yes. Unlike older GTA games, you can aim forward and fire through the windscreen with an eligible weapon.
What is the best gun for drive-bys in GTA 5? The AP Pistol, for its automatic fire, with the Micro SMG as the easy early option.
Why does my car handbrake when I try to shoot? On controller, RB and R1 are the handbrake unless you are holding aim. Hold LB or L1 first, then fire.