Best Export Settings for Car TikToks & Reels (2026)

For short-form car content, export vertical 9:16 for Reels/TikTok/Shorts and 4:5 for your Instagram feed — full-resolution, no letterboxing. Getting the format right is half the battle; the algorithm punishes cropped, low-res and mis-sized clips.

Which aspect ratio to use

• Reels 9:16 (1080×1920): the native full-screen format for TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Always export a dedicated 9:16 — never a cropped square.
• Feed 4:5 (1080×1350): the tallest allowed in-feed post. It takes up more vertical space than a square, so it stops the scroll better on the grid.
• Square 1:1: still useful for a tidy grid or a cross-post, but it's no longer the best-performing option on its own.

ModDrip's animated export offers all three from the same result, so you can post the 9:16 to Stories and the 4:5 to the feed without re-rendering.

Format: video vs GIF

Choose video (MP4) for anything you'll upload to a social platform — it's smaller, sharper and plays with sound support. GIF is handy for a forum post, a DM or a signature, but it's larger and lower-fidelity. ModDrip auto-selects MP4 where the browser supports it and falls back to WebM.

Length and the first second

• Keep the loop short — 3–5 seconds reads as a clean reveal, not filler.
• Hold the "before" for a beat, then wipe. The reveal is your hook, so don't bury it.
• Add a trending sound and one line of text. Let the transition carry the visual.

Quick checklist

1. Build the look on your own car in the studio.
2. Export Reels 9:16 (and Feed 4:5 if you'll post the grid).
3. Video/MP4 for social; GIF only for chat/forums.
4. Score it with a trending sound and a single question caption.

Open the studio, stack your mods, and export a correctly-sized clip in seconds.