American Truck Simulator Mods (2025): Best ATS Mods, How to Install, and Safe Download Guide

American Truck Simulator (ATS) is already a fantastic game out of the box, but mods are what turn it into a deeply customized trucking sandbox. From 4K graphics and realistic weather to new trucks, trailers, and huge map overhauls, ATS mods can completely transform how the game looks and feels.

SCS Software officially supports modding and even integrates it through the Steam Workshop, making it easier to find and manage community creations.

This guide covers:

The best types of ATS mods to use in 2025
Trusted sites to download American Truck Simulator mods
A simple step-by-step install guide
Important safety tips
FAQs about ATS mods on PC and consoles

Why Use Mods in American Truck Simulator?

Mods let you:

Add new trucks and brands, or tune existing ones
Upgrade visuals with better weather, lighting, and textures
Expand the game world with unofficial maps
Make traffic, fuel prices, and the economy more realistic
Personalize interiors, sounds, UI, and AI traffic

SCS Software actively encourages modding and has built tools and forums for creators and players to share their work.

If you’re fascinated by how players uncover hidden assets and tweak the game’s behavior, you might enjoy going one step further and creating your own modifications. Stardew Valley has one of the most active modding communities in gaming, and getting started is easier than most players think. Here’s a complete beginner-to-advanced tutorial:
👉 How To Create Custom Mods In Stardew Valley: Most Awaited Guide.

Best Places to Find Safe ATS Mods (2025)

When it comes to mods, where you download from is as important as what you download. For safety and stability, stick to trusted sources:

1. Steam Workshop (PC – Steam version)

If you own ATS on Steam, this is the easiest and safest place to start.

Go to the American Truck Simulator Workshop on Steam.
Browse Top Rated, Most Subscribed, or use search filters.
Click Subscribe on any mod to add it to your game automatically.

Steam Workshop keeps mods up to date and integrates directly with the in-game Mod Manager.

2. Official SCS Forums

The SCS Software forums have dedicated ATS mod sections where creators share free-to-use mods and provide support. Posting is restricted to public, non-paywalled mods.

This is a great place to find:

High-quality truck and trailer mods
Map expansions and realism tweaks
Technical guides and compatibility info

3. Reputable Mod Sites

Several long-running sites curate ATS mods:

ATSmods.lt – Large library with categories like trucks, trailers, maps, tuning, sounds, AI traffic, and more.
ATSmod.net – Thousands of ATS mods sorted by type: maps, trucks, tuning details, trailers, sounds, etc.
ModsATS.com – Easy browsing with screens and descriptions for each mod, aimed at enhancing gameplay and personalization.

Always read user comments, ratings, and compatibility notes before installing.

Best Types of American Truck Simulator Mods in 2025

Instead of listing a random wall of mods, it’s more helpful to understand categories and grab a few highly regarded examples.

A recent roundup of the best ATS mods in 2025 highlights how powerful the mod scene is: everything from weather overhauls to realistic gas prices and traffic behavior continues to evolve with each game update.

1. Graphics and Weather Mods

These mods make ATS look modern and cinematic:

Weather & Effects packs – Improved storms, fog, rain effects, clouds, and skyboxes.
Lighting reshades – More natural lighting, better sunrise/sunset colors, sharper shadows.
Texture overhauls – Higher-resolution road surfaces, vegetation, and building textures.

Look for mods that specifically mention support for the latest major game version (e.g., 1.56 or 1.57 as of late 2025).

2. Realism & Economy Mods

Want a more realistic simulation? Try mods that tweak:

Fuel prices and tolls to match real-world rates
Traffic density by time of day and region
AI behavior, such as more realistic lane changes and braking
Economic balance, making jobs pay more or less depending on difficulty

Players often recommend packs like real companies, gas stations & billboards, and real-world signs & logos to replace fictional brands with real ones.

3. Truck and Trailer Mods

Truck mods are the heart of ATS modding:

New or improved models of US trucks (e.g., reworked interiors, more tuning options)
Vintage or custom trucks with unique dashboards and accessories
Detailed trailer packs with realistic brands and cargo types

Community favorites often include upgraded versions of existing trucks and truck accessory packs that add more mirrors, lights, bumpers, and interior details.

4. UI, Sound, and Quality-of-Life Mods

These smaller mods can make a big difference:

Route advisor and HUD tweaks for cleaner UI
Engine sound mods for deeper, more realistic audio
AI traffic sound packs so cars, trains, and environment feel more alive
Improved guardrails, road markings, and signs

A popular example from players is SiSL’s Mega Pack (huge set of cabin accessories and UI tweaks) and route advisor mods that declutter the interface.

5. Map and Environment Mods

Beyond official DLC states (like Iowa and other additions), map mods can:

Add new regions, cities, and highways
Redesign existing areas with more detail
Adjust road layouts for realism

For stability, always check if a map mod:

Is compatible with your current game version
Requires specific DLC (many do)
Needs to be loaded in a specific load order

The Stardew Valley community doesn’t just stop at discovering secrets — thousands of players actively build new content every day. If you’re inspired to design your own characters, events, or gameplay tweaks, this guide will walk you through the complete mod creation process:
How To Create Custom Mods In Stardew Valley: Most Awaited Guide

How to Install Mods in American Truck Simulator (PC)

A. Installing Mods via Steam Workshop

Open Steam and go to the ATS Workshop page.
Find a mod you like and click Subscribe.
Launch ATS.
On the main menu, click Mod Manager.
Move subscribed mods from the left panel to the active list on the right.
Confirm, then load or create a profile and start playing.

Steam will automatically update those mods when creators release new versions.

B. Installing Mods Manually (.scs files)

For mods downloaded from sites like ATSmods or SCS forums:

Download the mod file (usually .scs, sometimes zipped).
If it’s a compressed file (.zip, .rar), extract it first.
Place the .scs file in:
Documents\American Truck Simulator\mod
Start the game and open Mod Manager.
Activate the mod(s) and confirm.

SCS’s own modding guide explains the same core process: place .scs files in the mod folder and enable them in Mod Manager.

C. Using Mods in Multiplayer / Servers

If you host or join a Convoy/dedicated server, all players must have the same mod set enabled. Hosting providers like BisectHosting and others outline this process:

Enable mods via Mod Manager in single-player.
Use the in-game console command (e.g., export_server_packages) to generate a mod list for the server.
Always confirm your host’s docs if you’re setting up a server.

Are Mods Coming to Consoles?

In 2025, SCS Software announced American Truck Simulator for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Initially, console versions will not support mods, but the plan is to add a curated official mod platform later, with “safe and approved mods” in future updates.

So for now:

Full modding is mainly a PC feature.
Console players may get limited, curated mod support sometime after launch.

Staying Safe When Downloading ATS Mods

To avoid crashes, malware, or broken saves, follow these best practices:

Use trusted sources (Steam Workshop, SCS forums, well-known mod sites).
Check compatibility with your game version (e.g., ATS 1.56/1.57).
Read comments and ratings before installing.
Avoid pirated or paywalled content re-uploads.
Backup your profiles and saves before adding a lot of new mods.
If something breaks, disable mods one by one to find the culprit.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Are American Truck Simulator mods free?

Most ATS mods are free and created by the community. Many modders accept donations or release premium versions on platforms like Patreon, but core downloads on Workshop or forums are often free to use within the community rules.

2. Will mods work after each new game update?

When ATS gets a big update (like 1.56 or 1.57), some mods may break until the creators update them. Always check:

The mod’s version number
Update notes or “compatible with 1.xx” tags
Comments from other players after a new patch release

3. Can mods get you banned?

ATS is not a competitive online shooter; there’s no anti-cheat in normal single-player. As long as you use mods from legitimate sources and within game rules, you will not be banned. However, every player in a Convoy or server must use compatible mods, or they may not be able to join.

4. Do mods work on the console versions of ATS?

Not yet. Console editions are planned to eventually support a curated selection of safe, approved mods via an official platform, but not at launch. Full, open PC-style modding is currently PC-only.

5. What are some “must-have” starter mods for beginners?

For new players, start with:

Graphics/weather pack
Real companies / gas stations / billboards
A well-rated engine sound mod
A small UI / route advisor improvement

Community threads consistently recommend sound mods, real companies, and quality-of-life UI tweaks as beginner-friendly.