The reliable way to clear a wanted level in Grand Theft Auto V story mode is a respray at Los Santos Customs. Change your vehicle’s appearance and the stars are gone.
The condition people miss: if the police see you approaching, the garage door will not open. You have to break line of sight first.
Reading the Mini-Map
The game tells you exactly when you are visible.
If your mini-map is flashing red and blue, the police can currently see you. While it is flashing, nothing will help: you cannot enter the garage, and the search will not narrow.
When it stops flashing, you have broken their cone of vision and the search shifts to hunting your last known position. That is your window.
So the whole skill is getting the flashing to stop, then moving.
Where to Break Line of Sight
Open roads are the worst possible choice, because patrol cars simply follow.
What works:
- Tunnels and underground routes, which are among the safest options at higher wanted levels since police vehicles struggle to follow
- Narrow alleys, too tight for a pursuit
- Parking garages, which break sightlines on multiple levels
- Bridges and elevation changes, which cut vision even when you are technically nearby
- Bushes, which work better than they sound for breaking a foot pursuit
Los Santos has a lot of vertical geography, and using it is far more effective than outrunning anyone in a straight line.
The Full Sequence
- Get out of the cone of vision. Head for a tunnel, alley or garage.
- Wait for the mini-map to stop flashing.
- Drive to Los Santos Customs without being spotted again.
- Enter and respray. Wanted level cleared.
Step three is where most attempts fail. Being seen once on the way resets you to flashing and the door stays shut.
Tips Most Players Miss
- The garage will not open while you are visible. It is not a bug, it is the condition.
- Tunnels beat speed. Outrunning helicopters on open road does not work at high stars.
- A respray is cheap compared to dying and losing your weapons.
Police pursuit is one of the systems GTA 5 models most carefully, and understanding the cone of vision changes how you plan escapes. Our guide to shooting while driving covers the other half of a chase, and our full GTA guides cover the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you lose a wanted level in GTA 5? Break the police cone of vision, then respray your vehicle at Los Santos Customs.
Why won’t the Los Santos Customs door open? The police can still see you. The garage refuses entry while you are being observed.
How do you know if the police can see you? Your mini-map flashes red and blue while you are in their cone of vision.
Where are the best places to hide? Tunnels and underground routes, narrow alleys, parking garages, and areas with elevation changes.