Auto Shop robbery contracts, added with the Los Santos Tuners DLC, are the most accessible high-income method in the game for beginners. There's no submarine to buy, no scope mission, no prep chain — you walk into your Auto Shop, accept a contract from the workbench, and go straight into the job.
Each contract pays between $160K and $200K and takes around 12 minutes to complete with a duo. There's no cooldown between runs, no prep cost, and no setup missions to grind through first. At 4–5 contracts per hour with a partner, you're clearing $600K+ each with minimal stress and almost no financial buy-in beyond the shop itself.
The contracts rotate between six different job types, each sending you after a different target vehicle in a different location. You won't always get the fastest job on the rotation, but even the slower contracts stay well ahead of most other early-game income methods on a $/hr basis.
No setup needed — just walk into the Auto Shop, accept the next contract, and go. The moment you deliver the target vehicle, walk back in and accept another. There's no cooldown timer to plan around, so the loop is as fast as you and your partner can physically run it.
Auto Shop robbery contracts rotate between six different job types, and each one sends you after a different target vehicle in a different location around the map. You don't scope anything in advance — the contract briefing at the workbench tells you where to go and what you're stealing.
Of the six, the Union Depository Contract is the fastest to run. The vault code location is consistent between runs and the escape route out of the depository is straightforward, so once you've memorised it, this job type turns into a very quick contract.
Don't destroy the target vehicle during the job — you need it driveable to deliver it back to the Auto Shop at the end. And once you have it, drive clean: vehicle damage on the way back reduces the final payout.
Auto Shop contracts don't have the multiple entry approaches that classic heists do, but there are a few ways the jobs vary in practice worth knowing about before you start grinding.
Auto Shop contract payouts don't scale with loot the way a heist does — every player who completes the contract earns the full listed amount. Here's what each contract tier pays out.
| # | Contract Type | Payout | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Platinum Contract | $200,000 per player | Best-tier contract reward |
| #2 | Standard Contract | $160,000 per player | Base contract reward |
| #3 | Hourly Rate (Duo) | ~$600,000 each | At 4–5 contracts per hour |
Because there's no cooldown, an Auto Shop grind is just back-to-back 12-minute contracts for as long as you want to run them. Here's what a solid 1-hour duo session looks like.
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- The Union Depository Contract is the fastest job on the rotation — the vault code location is consistent and the escape route is straightforward. Memorise it and you'll shave real time off every run where it comes up.
- Duo splits equally, not in half — both players earn the full contract amount. A Platinum Contract pays $200K to each player, not $100K each. Don't skip bringing a partner thinking it dilutes the payout.
- Bring a Weaponized Tampa or Oppressor Mk II for the harder contracts — some jobs throw heavy NPC resistance at you, and a fast, armed vehicle makes the difference between a clean run and a messy one.
- Don't destroy the target vehicle during the heist — you need it driveable to deliver at the end. Blowing it up mid-job can fail the contract outright.
- Keep your distance from explosives — a stray rocket or grenade near the target vehicle can total it, or damage it enough to hurt your payout on delivery.
- Deliver the vehicle clean — vehicle damage reduces the final payout, so drive defensively once you've secured the target rather than powering through traffic.
- Drive carefully on the final delivery leg — this is where most damage happens. Slow down, avoid collisions, and don't cut the run short by wrecking the car two blocks from the shop.
- Stack contracts with Nightclub passive income — same strategy as running Agency work. Let the Nightclub generate goods in the background while you grind contracts, then sell during downtime.
- Learn the six job rotations so you can plan around the slower ones — not every contract is worth grinding at full intensity solo. If you draw a longer job and you're alone, it's fine to slow down rather than force a rushed run.
- Since there's no cooldown, don't waste time in menus between runs — the fastest sessions come from accepting the next contract the instant you finish delivering the last one.