---
title: How to Install ELS (Emergency Lighting System) on Your FiveM Server
description: Improve emergency vehicle lighting in FiveM! Learn how to install ELS (Emergency Lighting System) for realistic police, fire, and EMS lights.
source: "https://nodecraft.com/support/games/fivem/resources/how-to-install-els-emergency-lighting-system-for-a-fivem-server"
image: "https://dynamic-assets.nodecraft.com/signedurl/w7vokBAexMnVlnMZ1Q/image.jpg?modifications=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&s=eb52ed46ec5c84c4a5c62dc3cb1d105712eede2adcc93e18b0b1d4487a6dc2b4"
published: "2025-03-10T14:38:56.000Z"
updated: "2025-02-05T23:38:00.000Z"
---

# How to Install ELS (Emergency Lighting System) on Your FiveM Server

Improve emergency vehicle lighting in FiveM! Learn how to install ELS (Emergency Lighting System) for realistic police, fire, and EMS lights.

Emergency Lighting System (ELS) enhances emergency vehicles in FiveM by providing realistic lighting effects, sirens, and controls. While FiveM does not support ELS natively like in single-player GTA V, you can install ELS-like functionality using ELS-compatible vehicles and scripts. Follow these steps to install and configure ELS on your FiveM server.

**Note: Be sure that your FiveM server is fully stopped before making any configuration changes or setting updates!**

---

## Download the Required Files

1. Download the ELS files: [https://github.com/MrDaGree/ELS-FiveM](https://github.com/MrDaGree/ELS-FiveM)
2. Go to a modding website such as:

  - [GTA5-Mods](https://www.gta5-mods.com)
  - [FiveM Forums](https://forum.cfx.re)
  - [LCPDFR](https://www.lcpdfr.com)
3. Download an **ELS-compatible** vehicle pack.

## Create the Required Folders

1. Open the **Server Files** tab in your Nodecraft Control Panel.
2. Go to the `resources` folder.
3. **Create** a new folder named `[ELS]`.
4. **Create** another folder named `[cars]`.  
  The ELS and cars folders can be named anything you want, the names we've chosen are for organization purposes.![Creating the folders needed to install ELS and compatible vehicles for a FiveM server](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/1904x414/f8430cfabc/create-folders-els.png/m/1000x0/smart)

## Add the ELS and Vehicle Files

1. Upload and then Unzip the ELS zip/rar files into the `[ELS]` folder.![Unzipping the ELS files for FiveM in Nodecraft Control Panel](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/1900x341/c3aaafd2f9/unzip-els.png/m/1000x0/smart)
2. Navigate to the `[cars]` folder that you made, and here is where you want to create another folder for whatever vehicle you're adding.  
  In this example, we're making a folder called `machezoll` for the type of car.
3. Upload your extracted ELS-compatible vehicle files into that new car folder. ![Car addon files for a FiveM server](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/1899x481/96cb0a7a0b/car-addon-files.png/m/1000x0/smart)

### Create the stream and `.lua` file (if applicable)

If you're adding new vehicles to your server, more than likely the addon author has already done the following steps for you, and you're able to skip this step.  
If your vehicle files are replacements of the game's base car models, like these BMW files we're adding, then you'll want to follow this section.

1. **Create** a folder in `[cars]` called `bmw` ![Creating a bmw vehicle folder for FiveM](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/1900x291/ca450ba007/create-car-folder-bmw.png/m/1000x0/smart)
2. In that folder, **create** another folder called `stream`.
3. Also, in the `bmw` folder, **create** a file called `fxmanifest.lua` (In the past is was previously called, `__resource.lua `so you may see other guides/instructions with that name).![Creating the stream folder and fxmanifest.lua file for a car for FiveM](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/1902x366/46e6272bde/stream-and-fxmanifest-create.png/m/1000x0/smart)
4. Inside the `fxmanifest.lua` file, add the following code and Save:

  ```language-lua
  resource_manifest_version '44febabe-d386-4d18-afbe-5e627f4af937'

  files {
  	'data/carcols.meta',
  	'data/carvariations.meta',
  	'data/handling.meta',
  	'data/vehicles.meta',
      --'data/contentunlocks.meta',
      --'data/vehiclelayouts.meta',
      --'data/shop_vehicle.meta',
  }


  data_file 'CARCOLS_FILE' 'data/carcols.meta'
  data_file 'VEHICLE_VARIATION_FILE' 'data/carvariations.meta'
  data_file 'HANDLING_FILE' 'data/handling.meta'
  data_file 'VEHICLE_METADATA_FILE' 'data/vehicles.meta'

  --data_file 'CONTENT_UNLOCKING_META_FILE' 'data/contentunlocks.meta'
  --data_file 'VEHICLE_LAYOUTS_FILE' 'data/vehiclelayouts.meta'
  --data_file 'VEHICLE_SHOP_DLC_FILE' 'data/shop_vehicle.meta'


  --client_script { 'client/vehicle_name.lua' }
  ```
5. Upload into the `stream` folder the `.ytd` and `.yft` files for the vehicle.![Uploading car replacement files for a FiveM server](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/1893x338/c7bdac8fa3/bmw-car-files.png/m/1000x0/smart)

### Add the Compatible Vehicles to ELS

1. If your ELS vehicle files are not already added, do the following:
2. Go to the `vcf` folder within your `ELS-FiveM` files. (Full path `/resources/[ELS]/ELS-FiveM/vcf`).
3. Move the `.xml` file provided by the vehicle files into `vcf`, there may already be an existing one there, you can replace it with the new one.![The location needed to upload the xml file for ELS](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/1888x475/fd0833f5e4/xml-upload-location-els.png/m/1000x0/smart)

## Add ELS to Server Configuration

1. Open `server.cfg` (located in the main folder in Server Files).
2. Add the following lines at the bottom:

  ```language-lua
  ensure ELS-FiveM
  ensure bmw
  ensure machezoll
  ```

  `ELS-FiveM`, `machezoll`, and `bmw` will correspond to the folders we made/uploaded, so yours may be different from our examples.
3. Save and close the file.![Ensuring ELS and ELS-compatible vehicles in the server.cfg file for FiveM](https://cms-a.nodecraft.com/f/133932/196x97/4c89441e1a/ensure-els.png/m/)
4. Start your FiveM server.
5. Spawn an ELS-enabled vehicle using whatever spawning method you prefer.

---

## Troubleshooting

1. If ELS does not work, check the following:

  - Ensure `ensure ELS-FiveM` and `ensure (vehicle folder name)` is in `server.cfg`.
  - Verify `.xml` vehicle config files are placed correctly.
  - Check the server Console for any error messages.

---

## Conclusion

By following these steps, you can install and configure ELS for your FiveM server, allowing emergency vehicles to have realistic lighting and siren controls. If you run into issues, double-check your folder structure and file placements. Now, you can enjoy immersive emergency response gameplay! 🚓🚨

## Need Help?

If you have questions or run into any issues, our support team is here to help! Reach out using the support widget on our website or visit our **[support center](https://nodecraft.com/support)** for further assistance.