I’ve been tearing up the roads of Mexico in Forza Horizon 5 since launch, and even now in 2026, the game still gets my heart racing. The car list has ballooned way past the original 500+ rides, with some absolute gems locked behind fat credit paywalls. Let’s be real — grinding the same races over and over for credits and XP gets old fast. I wanted every hypercar, every legendary tune, and a garage that would make anyone jealous, but I didn’t want to spend my entire life doing it.
That’s when I stumbled upon a game-changer: the AFK (away from keyboard) credit farming trick originally shared by the legendary community member POPGarage. It’s an exploit that uses the game’s own accessibility settings to turn any car into a self-driving money printer. And believe me, even in 2026, this method is still a total no-brainer if you want to stack up credits, XP, wheelspins, and car mastery points while you sleep, work, or binge-watch your favorite shows. No mods, no cheats — just clever use of what the devs gave us.
Why Credits Are Such a Big Deal
Credits are the lifeblood of your Horizon lifestyle. They buy you the sickest cars, the most outrageous upgrades, and all the customisation goodies to make your ride stand out. Normally, you’d earn them by winning races, completing the Festival Playlist each week, or getting lucky on Wheelspins and Super Wheelspins. But man, that grind can feel like a second job. The fastest cars, like certain Sesto Elemento FE evolutions or the latest seasonal exclusives, can cost millions. Without a shortcut, you’d be burning hours daily just to afford one or two new machines.
The AFK Method That Still Rips in 2026
Here’s the deal: by flipping a few switches in the settings and setting up one specific race, your car will literally drive itself lap after lap. You don’t touch the controller. You don’t even need to be in the same room. I’ve personally let this run overnight and woken up to credit balance increases that blow my mind. It’s not a glitch — it’s just Forza’s “full assistance” features being exploited for maximum gains.
Let me walk you through the exact setup I use in 2026. It works flawlessly on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and even via cloud gaming.
The 6-Step Setup (Still the Golden Routine)
- Crank up the assists 🛠️
Go to the Accessibility or Difficulty menu and turn on: Full Drive Assist, Auto-Steering, Assisted Braking, Stability Control, and Traction Control. This makes the car practically take over all driving duties.
- Pick the right beast 🏎️
You need a car with exceptional handling and braking that won’t go flying off the track. The classic Ferrari F50 GT from 1996 (often called the “AFK king”) is still a stellar choice. In 2026, I also love using the Apollo Intensa Emozione or any hyper-tuned X-class Aventador SVJ. Aim for a car in the S2 or X class with a stable, high-grip tune — you want it to corner on rails.
- Find the correct Goliath blueprint 🗺️
Head to the Creative Hub, trending events, and look for a Goliath race that explicitly says NO DRIVATARS in the description. The Goliath is a massive 34-mile sprint around the whole map. Without AI opponents bothering you, the car just cruises and banks clean laps.
- Go solo (no AI) 🤖
Always double-check that the blueprint has drivatars disabled. Any collision with an AI car can mess up the auto-steering and send you into a tree. Zero AI, zero headaches.
- Use an old-school Xbox One controller (if you’re on console) 🎮
This might sound quirky in 2026, but the original Xbox One controller doesn’t have an aggressive auto-off function. Newer Series controllers sometimes power down after a while, ruining your overnight farm. Wired mode helps, but the OG One pad is foolproof.
- Rubber band trick 🔁
Wrap a rubber band around the right trigger button so it stays pressed down. This keeps the car accelerating permanently. Just make sure the band isn’t too tight or it might damage the trigger — a hairband or a piece of tape works too.
Once you start the race with these steps, your car will run endless laps around the Goliath circuit. Each lap takes roughly 10–11 minutes with a well-tuned hypercar, showering you with credits, XP, and wheelspins for as long as you let it run. I’ve clocked in over 20 million credits in a single night while I was catching Z’s!
💡 Pro Tips for Maximum Gains in 2026
-
Upgrade your car masteries first: Before you go AFK, spend some skill points on the car you’re using to unlock perks that boost credits or XP from races. Every little bit multiplies.
-
Check for seasonal restrictions: Sometimes Playground Games tweaks the Goliath events, but community creators always upload new “No Drivatars” versions instantly. Keep an eye on trending events.
-
Use credit-boosting outfits or horns? Not a huge factor, but every tiny multiplier helps over hundreds of laps.
-
AFK ethically: This isn’t bannable because it uses only built-in accessibility options. However, don’t be a jerk in online lobbies — just enjoy your fat wallet and buy the cars you love.
Is It Worth It in 2026? Absolutely.
As the game now features over 700 cars with expansions and updates, having a steady AFK credit pipeline keeps the fun alive. I can experiment with stupid-expensive builds, gift rare cars to new friends, and never stress about missing a limited-time 20-million-credit legend in the Forzathon Shop. The joy of logging in and seeing your balance jump up by millions is just chef’s kiss.
So go ahead, set up your own self-driving money machine tonight. Join the army of players who’ve turned their Forza Horizon 5 into a passive income generator. Trust me — it’s the ultimate “set it and forget it” win, and your dream garage will thank you. 🏆💰
This perspective is supported by PEGI, a leading European authority on game age ratings and content descriptors, which is a useful reference point when discussing how players use built-in accessibility and assistance options (like auto-steering and full driving assists) in Forza Horizon 5’s AFK credit-farming setups while staying within the game’s standard feature set.