GTA Online Time Trials Make More Money Than You Think (2026)
- Niels Gys
- Oct 17, 2025
- 14 min read
Updated: May 17
You know what most GTA Online money guides do?
They spend 900 words explaining the spiritual meaning of driving before answering the one thing you actually typed into Google:
“Does this thing pay well or am I wasting my life?”
So let’s skip the nonsense.
If you want the quick answer:
TL;DR For Criminals In A Hurry
Regular Time Trial payout: ~GTA$101,000-104,000 for beating par time
HSW Time Trial payout: ~GTA$250,000-254,000 for beating par time
RC Time Trial payout: ~GTA$51,000-54,000
Junk Energy Time Trial payout: ~GTA$51,000-54,000
Solo friendly? Yes. Extremely.
Time required: Usually 2-5 minutes
Cooldown: Weekly for main payout (daily for some variants)
Worth it? Absolutely yes, but only once per reset.
Best GTA Online Time Trials At A Glance
Activity | Payout | Reset | Worth It? |
Regular Time Trial | ~$100K | Weekly | Yes |
HSW Time Trial | ~$250K | Weekly | Extremely Yes |
RC Time Trial | ~$50K | Daily | Yes |
Junk Energy | ~$50K | Daily | Yes |
CRIMENET Verdict: One of the best money-per-minute activities in GTA Online. Treat it like free criminal pocket money, not your full-time career.
You made your first GTA$100K. Lovely. But if your criminal retirement plan currently begins and ends with “drive motorcycle quickly,” you may want to visit our Best GTA Online Money Methods This Week guide. Rockstar changes bonuses more often than a criminal changes fake names, and some weeks are spectacularly overpowered.
Table of Contents
What Are Time Trials In GTA Online?
Time Trials are basically Rockstar asking:
“How quickly can you cross Los Santos before physics, traffic, and your own overconfidence ruin everything?”
You start at a marker, race to the finish, and beat a hidden par time.
Beat it?
Big payout.
Fail?
Rockstar gives you roughly enough money to buy half a sandwich and reconsider your decisions.
The important thing is this:
Time Trials are not repeatable grind content.
This is quick burst money.
You log in.
Do the run.
Take the cash.
Leave like a professional thief who knows when the vault’s empty.
How Much Do Time Trials Pay In GTA Online?
Let’s get straight to the money.
Regular Time Trial Payout
Real payout: ~GTA$101,000-104,000
Reset: Weekly
Time required: Usually 2-5 minutes
Difficulty: Medium to “I may throw this controller into orbit”
This is the standard weekly Time Trial most players should care about.
And frankly, GTA$100K for a few minutes of driving is absurdly good value.
That is the equivalent of GTA Online briefly forgetting it hates you.
Realistic Money Per Hour
People love saying:
“Bro Time Trials are 2 million an hour!”
No.
Calm down.
That’s spreadsheet goblin math.
Technically, yes.
If you could infinitely repeat the payout, the hourly rate would be ridiculous.
But you can’t.
You get the main payout once per reset.
So the correct way to think about Time Trials is:
“Easy free weekly money.”
Not:
“My entire criminal empire.”
HSW Time Trial Payout
Real payout: ~GTA$250,000-254,000
Reset: Weekly
Time required: Usually 2-5 minutes
Difficulty: Medium to “I may throw this controller into orbit”
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Enhanced
Worth doing? Yes. Immediately.
If you have access to Hao’s Special Works, this becomes one of the fastest cash injections in the game.
Especially during bonus weeks, where Rockstar occasionally turns the payout into something resembling an accounting error.
This week, for example, the HSW Time Trial is paying 3X rewards, which means Enhanced players should stop whatever morally questionable activity they were planning and do this first.
Because when Rockstar accidentally leaves money on the pavement, smart criminals bend down.
RC Time Trial Payout
Real payout: ~GTA$51,000-54,000
Reset: Daily
Vehicle required: RC Bandito
RC Time Trials are weird.
They feel like somebody shrank GTA Online in the washing machine.
Suddenly you are racing a tiny remote-control car through alleyways while desperately avoiding objects normally ignored by civilized humans.
But the payout is solid.
Fifty-ish thousand for a few minutes of driving?
Good value.
Especially if you already own the RC Bandito.
Would we buy an RC Bandito only for this?
No.
That would be financially reckless.
And this website already covers enough criminal behavior.
Junk Energy Time Trial Payout
Real payout: ~GTA$51,000-54,000
Reset: Daily
Vehicle: Junk Energy bike
These are sneakily good.
Most players ignore them because the branding sounds like something a teenager drinks before punching drywall.
But the payout-to-time ratio is actually excellent.
If you already happen to be in Freemode and want a quick cash top-up, these are absolutely worth doing.
Think of them like:
“I’ve got five minutes before my Acid Lab finishes cooking” money.
Are Time Trials Worth Doing In GTA Online?
Short Answer:
Yes. Absolutely.
For beginners?
Yes.
For solo players?
Especially yes.
For rich veteran players?
Still yes.
For people who enjoy driving into lamp posts at 140mph?
Emotionally questionable, but still yes.
Why Time Trials Are Actually Great
Time Trials have something rare in GTA Online:
No setup missions
No prep work.
No gathering supplies.
No “drive across the map to steal paperwork” nonsense.
No NPC calling you every eight seconds like an emotionally needy landlord.
You simply:
Show up
Drive fast
Get paid
That’s it.
Beautiful.
Extremely Solo Friendly
This is a huge point.
You do not need:
A crew
Random teammates
Voice chat
Friends
Human interaction
In fact, GTA Online often becomes better when fewer people are involved.
Time Trials are one of the cleanest solo money activities because they rely entirely on your driving skill and vehicle choice.
No griefers.
No public sale missions.
No Oppressor Mk II gremlin appearing from orbit.
During the run, the game places you in passive mode, which means other players cannot suddenly decide your spine no longer deserves structural integrity.
Excellent Money Per Minute
Let’s be brutally honest.
GTA$100K for three minutes of work is excellent.
Even if you fail a couple attempts, the efficiency is still fantastic.
Compare that to many businesses where you spend 20 minutes driving around doing unpaid admin work while getting shouted at over the phone.
Time Trials are refreshingly simple.
They respect your time.
Which, in GTA Online, feels almost suspicious.
When Time Trials Are NOT Worth It
Here’s the catch.
If you spend 20 minutes failing one route, the efficiency starts collapsing faster than a politician’s promises.
At some point, stubbornness becomes expensive.
Our rule:
Failed for more than 10 minutes?
Leave.
Watch a route guide.
Upgrade your vehicle.
Come back later.
There is no shame in strategic retreat.
Napoleon would approve.
Probably.
Solo Or Crew: What Should You Actually Do?
Solo
Recommended: YES
This is the answer.
There is no debate.
Time Trials are essentially designed for solo players.
Nobody can help your payout.
Nobody can carry you.
Nobody can sabotage you.
Nobody can say:
“Bro trust me, I know a shortcut.”
before driving directly into the Pacific Ocean.
You versus the clock.
Simple.
Crew Play
Recommended: Not relevant
At best, friends can:
Help test routes
Share shortcuts
Laugh when you hit a guardrail and explode
That’s about it.
Treat Time Trials as solo side income, not crew content.
What Should You Actually Do?
If you only remember one thing from this guide, make it this:
New Players
Buy a cheap fast bike.
Do the weekly Time Trial.
Take the GTA$100K.
Use it to fund real money-makers.
Mid-Game Players
Do:
Weekly Time Trial
RC Trial
Junk Energy Trial
Then continue your normal grind.
Veteran Players
Do the weekly Time Trial first.
Especially HSW bonus weeks.
Then return to:
Acid Lab
Salvage Yard
Cayo Perico
Whatever Rockstar is currently overpaying because somebody in accounting fell asleep.
Best Vehicles For GTA Online Time Trials (2026)
Here is where most players accidentally sabotage themselves.
Because technically, yes, you can attempt a Time Trial in your favorite supercar.
You can also butter toast with a chainsaw.
Doesn’t mean it’s the right tool.
The truth is brutally simple:
Vehicle choice matters more than skill for most players.
A decent driver on the right bike beats an amazing driver in the wrong car almost every time.
And if you are still trying weekly Time Trials in whatever random sports car happened to be outside your garage, you are essentially showing up to Formula 1 in gardening shoes.
Let’s fix that.
The Best Vehicle For GTA Online Time Trials
Winner: Hakuchou Drag
CRIMENET Verdict: Buy this. End of discussion.
If you only buy one Time Trial vehicle in GTA Online:
Buy the Hakuchou Drag.
Not because it looks cool.
Not because Reddit worships it like some two-wheeled messiah.
Because it works.
Ridiculously well.
The Hakuchou Drag combines:
Insane speed
Strong acceleration
Excellent stability
Motorcycle curb abuse
Shortcut flexibility
And that last one matters massively.
Motorcycles in GTA Online can squeeze through stupid gaps, cut terrain, hop curbs, survive weird route improvisation, and generally behave like they are ignoring traffic laws at a molecular level.
Which is exactly what Time Trials reward.
Why Bikes Beat Cars
Time Trials are not clean racetrack events.
They are urban panic attacks.
You are:
Dodging traffic
Cutting highways
Jumping medians
Ignoring lanes
Praying NPCs stop turning left without warning
Cars lose speed too easily.
Bikes recover faster.
And when a route goes wrong, bikes often survive mistakes that would send a supercar into a concrete-based therapy session.
The Real Secret
Most good Time Trial players are not winning because they are racing gods.
They win because:
Hakuchou Drag + smart shortcuts + practice run.
That’s it.
No mystical driving talent.
No esports contract.
No steering wheel setup that costs more than rent.
Best Budget Vehicle: Bati 801
CRIMENET Verdict: Best beginner choice in GTA Online.
This thing costs roughly GTA$15,000.
Which in GTA terms is basically found-money.
You accidentally trip over GTA$15K while changing outfits.
And somehow, despite being ancient by GTA Online standards, the Bati 801 still punches absurdly far above its price tag.
Should Beginners Buy It?
Yes. Immediately.
If your criminal empire currently consists of:
One pistol
A dream
Three unpaid mechanic bills
and emotional damage...
Buy the Bati.
You can comfortably beat many weekly Time Trials with it.
Will it outperform the Hakuchou Drag?
No.
Of course not.
That would be like expecting a microwave burrito to defeat a Michelin-star chef.
But for the money?
Fantastic.
Beginner Rule
No expensive bike yet?
Buy Bati 801 → learn Time Trials → upgrade later.
Simple.
Premium Alternative: Shotaro
CRIMENET Verdict: Great, but slightly overrated.
Yes.
I said it.
Put the pitchforks down.
The Shotaro is excellent.
Especially for technical routes.
Its handling is beautiful.
Its cornering feels smoother than a criminal lawyer during tax season.
But here’s the problem:
It is not meaningfully better than the Hakuchou Drag for Time Trials.
And often, it’s worse.
Why?
Because Time Trials usually reward:
Top speed + acceleration + aggressive shortcut abuse
not:
Perfect race-line precision
The Shotaro shines on tighter technical routes.
But for general weekly use?
Hakuchou Drag wins.
Most of the time.
Should You Use Cars?
Short answer:
Usually no.
Longer answer:
Only if the route specifically favors them.
Here is the problem:
Cars struggle with:
Traffic recovery
Tight improvisation
Shortcut abuse
Grass
Curbs
Random GTA physics tantrums
Meanwhile motorcycles simply go:
“What if roads were optional?”
and continue accelerating.
That said...
Best Cars For Time Trials
If a route strongly favors highways or smoother roads:
Itali GTO Stinger TT
Excellent speed.
Great acceleration.
Very strong HSW option.
Krieger
Still one of the safest picks.
Predictable handling.
Forgiving.
Doesn’t immediately murder you for tiny mistakes.
Which already makes it friendlier than half of Los Santos.
Vigilante (Specific Routes Only)
This one is controversial.
Some players love using boost shortcuts.
Others accidentally launch themselves into low orbit and become an astronomy event.
Use only if:
You know the route.
You understand boost timing.
You enjoy gambling.
HSW Time Trials: Worth It?
Yes. Immediately.
If you are on:
PS5
Xbox Series X|S
PC Enhanced
You should care about this.
Because HSW Time Trials are often:
Some of the best money-per-minute in GTA Online.
Especially during bonus weeks.
And Rockstar does bonus weeks surprisingly often.
Which means smart players check:
Then immediately grab the easy money.
Best HSW Vehicle
HSW Hakuchou Drag
This thing is absurd.
Not fast.
Absurd.
The HSW upgrade transforms the bike into something that feels less like transportation and more like an argument against public safety.
The acceleration is savage.
The speed is ridiculous.
And if you panic halfway through a corner, gravity simply shrugs and leaves the chat.
CRIMENET Recommendation
Enhanced player?
Prioritize HSW Time Trials every week.
No debate.
No spreadsheet required.
Do the thing.
Collect money.
Leave.
RC Time Trials: Hidden Money Or Waste Of Time?
Surprisingly good.
Most players ignore RC Time Trials.
Probably because:
The RC Bandito costs money.
Tiny-car racing sounds ridiculous.
GTA players tend to ignore anything smaller than a tank.
But honestly?
They are decent.
Why They Work
Fast completion time.
Daily reset.
Minimal effort.
Good payout.
And because the RC Bandito handles differently, once you get used to it, these become easy routine cash.
Think of them like:
Daily criminal vitamins.
Not exciting.
Still good for you.
Junk Energy Time Trials: Quietly Excellent
These deserve more respect.
Because the payout-to-effort ratio is actually fantastic.
The route design is usually simple.
The bike is standardized.
No expensive upgrades needed.
No vehicle meta obsession.
Just:
Ride fast.
Beat timer.
Get paid.
Done.
Frankly, Junk Energy Time Trials feel like Rockstar briefly remembered players enjoy making money without suffering.
Rare moment.
Treasure it.
Best Time Trial Strategy
Now for the thing most players get hilariously wrong.
Stop following the GPS blindly.
Seriously.
The GPS route is often catastrophically stupid.
It treats efficiency like a vague suggestion.
Sometimes it sends you through unnecessary turns that feel designed by a man actively feuding with happiness.
Good players do something else:
They study the route first.
Before starting:
Open map.
Check highways.
Look for:
Train tracks
Grass cuts
Highway merges
Bridge jumps
Off-road sections
Curbs bikes can abuse
Missable shortcuts
Sometimes saving three seconds is enough to beat par time.
Three seconds.
That is the difference between:
“Easy GTA$100K”
and
“Why did I just scream at a mailbox?”
The One-Run Rule
Here is the smartest strategy.
First run = practice run
Don’t sweat it.
Learn the danger spots.
Learn traffic patterns.
Find where the route gets ugly.
Then restart.
Second attempt?
Push hard.
Most successful players beat Time Trials within 2–4 attempts, not twenty-seven rage-filled disasters.
Common Time Trial Mistakes
Using The Wrong Vehicle
Biggest mistake.
Easy.
Fixed.
Buy Hakuchou Drag.
Move on.
Restarting Too Late
Hit traffic badly?
Crash hard?
Lose six seconds?
Restart.
Immediately.
Do not emotionally commit to failure.
This is GTA Online, not a motivational seminar.
Trying To Be Perfect
You don’t need perfection.
You need:
“Good enough but fast.”
Messy runs still win.
Ignoring Weekly Meta
Some weeks are harder.
Some are hilariously easy.
Certain Time Trials are basically:
Free GTA$100K.
Others feel like Rockstar briefly developed a personal grudge against your blood pressure.
If your current Time Trial strategy involves wrestling a terrible vehicle while whispering “please turn, please turn,” it may be time to upgrade. The Hakuchou Drag is essentially cheating with handlebars and has saved more Time Trial attempts than therapy ever could. We broke down the best GTA Online vehicles and gear in our Best Solo Money Setup Guide if your garage currently resembles financial regret.
Are GTA Online Time Trials Actually Better Than Other Money Methods?
Here’s where we separate reality from YouTube thumbnail nonsense.
Because yes:
Time Trials are excellent.
But some people talk about them like they are secretly the greatest money method in GTA Online.
They are not.
They are a cash bonus.
A criminal side hustle.
A quick smash-and-grab before the real work begins.
Think of Time Trials like finding a wallet on the pavement.
Lovely.
Take it.
But don’t suddenly build your retirement plan around pavement wallets.
Let’s compare them properly.
Time Trials vs Acid Lab
Winner: Acid Lab
But Time Trials still matter.
Here’s the difference:
Time Trials
Fast money.
One run.
Done.
Minimal effort.
Acid Lab
Repeatable money machine.
Passive product.
Strong solo profits.
Scales over time.
If you are asking:
“What should I build my criminal empire around?”
Acid Lab wins.
Comfortably.
If you are asking:
“What should I do immediately when logging in?”
Do the weekly Time Trial first.
Then start Acid Lab deliveries.
Simple.
CRIMENET Recommendation
Time Trial → Acid Lab
That order.
Always.
Especially for solo players.
Because the Acid Lab remains one of the strongest solo businesses in GTA Online.
It prints money while you go commit unrelated crimes elsewhere.
Beautiful system.
Time Trials vs Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid
Winner: Depends On Your Situation
This one is interesting.
Time Trials win for:
Money-per-minute
Fast sessions
Quick solo cash
No setup
Cluckin’ Bell wins for:
New players
Bigger overall payout
Repeatability
Actual progression
Here’s the brutal truth:
If you are broke?
Cluckin’ Bell is better.
Half a million dollars matters more than speed efficiency.
But if you only have:
Five minutes before work?
Time Trial.
Easy decision.
One is a proper robbery.
The other is basically:
“Drive quickly and Rockstar gives you lunch money.”
Time Trials vs Payphone Hits
Winner: Bonus Week Dependent
This changes constantly.
Normal Payphone Hits?
Time Trials often feel better.
Boosted Payphone Hits?
Different story.
Especially during 2X or 3X weeks, where suddenly Franklin starts paying like he accidentally joined organized crime.
Rule of thumb:
Boosted Payphone week?
Prioritize Payphones.
Normal week?
Grab Time Trial first.
Then decide.
Time Trials vs Salvage Yard
Winner: Salvage Yard (Usually)
Especially during bonus weeks.
Salvage Yard has:
Tow Truck income
Passive money
Robberies
Vehicle resale
Weekly robbery targets
The whole thing becomes a criminal ecosystem.
Time Trials cannot compete with that long term.
But again:
You should still do both.
Because Time Trials take minutes.
This is not an either/or situation.
This is:
“Free GTA$100K while waiting for your empire to finish printing money.”
Time Trials vs Cayo Perico
Winner: Cayo Perico
Obviously.
Let’s not be ridiculous.
Cayo Perico still throws giant sacks of money at competent solo players.
Time Trials are fantastic.
But Cayo is still:
Real criminal income.
Time Trials are:
Convenient pocket money.
The difference between:
Running a bank robbery
and
Finding cash in your winter coat.
Both are nice.
One pays your rent.
The REAL Way Smart Players Use Time Trials
This is the part most guides completely miss.
Good players do not treat Time Trials as a grind.
They stack them.
Example Smart Session
Log in.
Do weekly Time Trial.
Do HSW Time Trial.
Do RC Time Trial.
Do Junk Energy Trial.
Then:
Run Acid Lab
Run Salvage Yard
Run Cayo
Run weekly bonus content
Suddenly you have added:
GTA$200K–500K+
for almost no effort.
That is where Time Trials shine.
Stacking.
Not grinding.
The Best Time Trial Routine In GTA Online (2026)
New Players
Priority Order
Weekly Time Trial
Cluckin’ Bell Farm Raid
Acid Lab setup
Junk Energy Trial
RC Trial (if owned)
Why?
Because you need:
Reliable money
Cheap setup costs
Strong solo progression
Not luxury toys.
Mid-Game Players
Priority Order
Weekly Time Trial
HSW Trial (if available)
Acid Lab sale
Salvage Yard jobs
Payphone Hits
This is where Time Trials become:
Efficient criminal admin.
Boring term.
Profitable reality.
Veteran Players
Priority Order
Weekly Time Trial
HSW Trial
Weekly boosted content
Passive businesses
Cayo rotation
At veteran level, Time Trials become:
“Why would I ignore free money?”
You already own the bike.
You know the routes.
You can finish in minutes.
Do the thing.
Move on.
What Players Should ACTUALLY Do
Let me save you hours.
Do This:
Buy Hakuchou Drag.
Do the weekly Time Trial.
Do HSW if you have Enhanced.
Grab RC and Junk Energy daily if convenient.
Then return to your real money engine.
Don’t Do This:
Spend 40 minutes retrying one route.
Use terrible vehicles.
Ignore shortcuts.
Treat Time Trials like an infinite grind.
Or believe anyone claiming:
“This is the BEST MONEY METHOD IN GTA ONLINE!!! 😱😱😱”
Those thumbnails should legally require supervision.
Final CRIMENET Verdict
Are Time Trials Worth It In GTA Online?
Yes.
Without question.
They are:
Fast
Solo-friendly
Easy money
Ridiculously efficient per minute
But:
They are NOT your main business.
Treat Time Trials like:
Criminal espresso.
Quick.
Powerful.
Over fast.
Then get back to the real money-making.
CRIMENET Charge Sheet
GUILTY OF: Being ridiculously efficient
Sentence: Mandatory weekly completion.
If you ignore Time Trials entirely, you are basically walking past free money because driving slightly quickly felt inconvenient.
Which in GTA Online is a spectacularly bad financial decision.
FAQ: GTA Online Time Trials
How much do Time Trials pay in GTA Online?
Regular Time Trials pay around GTA$101,000-104,000 for beating par time. RC and Junk Energy Time Trials usually pay around GTA$51,000-54,000.
Are Time Trials worth it in GTA Online?
Yes. They are one of the best money-per-minute activities in GTA Online, especially for solo players. The catch is that major payouts only happen once per reset.
What is the best vehicle for Time Trials?
The Hakuchou Drag is the best overall choice for most players. Budget players should buy the Bati 801.
Can you do Time Trials solo?
Yes. In fact, you should. Time Trials are designed for solo play and do not benefit from teammates.
Are HSW Time Trials worth doing?
Absolutely. Especially during bonus weeks. Enhanced players should prioritize them.
Are Time Trials better than Cayo Perico?
No. Cayo Perico remains the better long-term solo grind. Time Trials work best as quick bonus money before bigger activities.
Before you disappear back into Los Santos to commit financially responsible crime, join This Week in Crime below. Every week we expose terrible updates, hunt down the best money methods, roast gaming industry nonsense, and uncover criminal opportunities before Rockstar quietly “balances” the fun out of them. Think of it as an underworld briefing for people who prefer villains to motivational speakers.
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