Getting Your First Vehicle
When you first join the server, you do not have a vehicle. That is normal. Everyone starts on foot. You have a few options for getting around until you can afford your own car.
Your Options
- Buy from a dealership - Walk into any dealership, pick a vehicle, and buy it with cash or a loan.
- Buy from another player - Some players sell their vehicles privately. You might find a good deal this way.
- Use public transport - Buses run routes around the city for free. Good enough while you save up.
- Request an Uber - Another player can pick you up and drive you where you need to go.
There are no restrictions on buying a vehicle. You do not need to apply or get approval. If you have the money (or qualify for a loan), you can buy any vehicle that is available at a dealership. It is that simple.
Dealerships
There are multiple dealerships spread across the city. Each one specializes in different types of vehicles, so it is worth visiting more than one to see what is available.
How to Buy a Vehicle
- Walk into a dealership.
- Browse the available vehicles on display or through the dealership menu.
- Choose the vehicle you want.
- Pay the full price from your bank account, or apply for a loan if you do not have enough.
- The vehicle is now yours. Drive it away.
The whole process is self-service. There is no salesperson to negotiate with, no waiting period, and no admin approval needed. Prices vary depending on the type of vehicle. Economy cars are affordable for most players. Sports cars and trucks cost significantly more.
Start with an affordable vehicle. A cheap economy car gets you from point A to point B just as well as an expensive sports car. Save the flashy purchases for when you have a comfortable financial cushion.
Vehicle Ownership
When you buy a vehicle, it is permanently yours. It does not disappear when you log off. It does not reset after a server restart. Your vehicle persists in the world and will be exactly where you left it when you come back.
Key Things to Know
- Parking: Park your vehicle somewhere and it stays there. Choose a sensible spot so you can find it later.
- Locking: Press
Lto lock and unlock your vehicle. Only you can unlock it (unless someone breaks in through roleplay). - UCP access: Your vehicles show up in the User Control Panel, so you can view your fleet and their details from outside the game.
- Multiple vehicles: You can own more than one vehicle. There is no limit on how many you can have.
Always lock your vehicle when you leave it. An unlocked car is an easy target for thieves. If someone steals your unlocked vehicle during roleplay, that is on you.
Insurance
Vehicle insurance is one of the most important things you can get after buying a car. It protects you financially if your vehicle is stolen, destroyed, or badly damaged.
How to Get Insurance
- Visit any insurance office in the city.
- Select the vehicle you want to insure.
- Choose a coverage level that fits your budget.
- Pay your first premium and you are covered.
What Insurance Covers
- Vehicle theft
- Vehicle destruction
- Accident damage
Different coverage levels are available. A basic plan costs less per month but may not cover everything. A higher plan costs more but gives you better protection. The choice depends on how much your vehicle is worth and how much risk you are comfortable with.
Why Insurance Matters
- With insurance: Your vehicle gets destroyed. You file a claim, pay a small amount, and get it replaced.
- Without insurance: Your vehicle gets destroyed. You have to buy a brand new one at full price out of your own pocket.
Get insurance as soon as you buy a vehicle. Do not put this off. One bad accident or one theft without insurance can wipe out a huge chunk of your savings.
Custom License Plates
Every vehicle comes with a standard license plate. But if you want to personalize your car, you can get a custom plate with text of your choosing.
How to Get a Custom Plate
- Use the
/platecommand in-game to change your plate text. - You can also visit the DMV to get a custom plate.
- Choose any text that follows the server rules.
Custom plates are a nice way to make your vehicle stand out and add some personality. Many players use them to match their character's name, business, or personal style.
Keep in mind that license plates are used by police to identify vehicles. If you plan on doing anything illegal, a memorable custom plate like "CRIME1" might not be the smartest choice. Standard plates are harder for witnesses to remember.
Vehicle Loans & Finance
If you cannot afford to buy a vehicle outright, you can apply for a loan at the dealership. Loans let you drive away with a car today and pay for it over time.
How Loans Work
- Visit a dealership and pick the vehicle you want.
- Choose the financing option at checkout.
- The loan is processed and you receive the vehicle.
- Regular repayments are automatically deducted from your bank account.
Loans include interest, which means you will end up paying more than the vehicle's sticker price over the life of the loan. This is the cost of convenience. You get the vehicle now, but you pay a premium for that privilege.
If you miss your loan repayments, the vehicle will be repossessed. That means the dealership takes it back, and you lose the vehicle along with whatever money you already paid towards it. Do not take out a loan unless you are confident you can keep up with the payments.
Before taking a loan, do the math. Make sure your regular income comfortably covers the repayment amount. If you are not sure, it is safer to save up and buy the vehicle with cash.
Fuel System
Vehicles in Roleplay Project use fuel. When you drive, your fuel goes down. When it runs out, your vehicle stops. Keeping your tank topped up is part of owning a vehicle.
How to Refuel
- Find a gas station. They are marked on your map.
- Drive up to a fuel pump.
- Press
Fto start refueling. - Wait for the tank to fill, then drive off.
Fuel Consumption
Different vehicles use fuel at different rates. A small economy car sips fuel slowly and can go a long time between fill-ups. A large truck or a high-performance sports car burns through fuel much faster. Keep this in mind when choosing a vehicle, especially if you drive a lot.
Fuel Usage by Vehicle Type
- Economy cars: Low fuel consumption. Great for daily driving.
- Sedans and SUVs: Moderate fuel consumption. A good balance.
- Sports cars: High fuel consumption. Fast but thirsty.
- Trucks: High fuel consumption. Built for work, not efficiency.
Keep an eye on your fuel gauge. Running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere is inconvenient at best and dangerous at worst. Top up whenever you pass a gas station, especially before long trips.
Driving Licenses & the DMV
You should get a driving license. While you can technically drive without one, having a license keeps you out of trouble with the law.
How to Get a License
- Visit the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles). The location is marked on your map.
- Take the driving test.
- Pass the test and receive your license.
Why It Matters
If you drive without a license and a police officer pulls you over, you will get fined. Having a valid license means one less thing to worry about during a traffic stop. It is a simple process and there is no good reason to skip it.
With License vs Without License
- With a license: You can drive freely. If pulled over, the officer checks your license and you are good to go (assuming you were not breaking any other laws).
- Without a license: You can still drive, but if you get pulled over, you will receive a fine for driving without a license on top of whatever else the officer stopped you for.
Get your license early. Visit the DMV before you even buy your first car. That way, you are legal from the moment you drive off the dealership lot.
Vehicle Impound
Under certain circumstances, your vehicle can be impounded. This means it is taken away and held at the impound lot until you pay a fee to get it back.
Why Vehicles Get Impounded
- Abandoned vehicles: If you leave your car in an unusual or obstructive location for too long, it may be towed.
- Crime involvement: If your vehicle is used in a crime and identified by police, it can be seized and taken to the impound.
- Traffic violations: Serious or repeated traffic violations can result in your vehicle being impounded on the spot.
Getting Your Vehicle Back
Go to the impound lot, pay the release fee, and your vehicle is returned to you. The fee varies depending on why it was impounded. Vehicles involved in criminal activity tend to have higher impound fees.
Park your vehicle in sensible locations. Do not leave it in the middle of the road, on train tracks, or blocking entrances. These are the kinds of situations that lead to your car being towed.
Public Transport
If you do not have a vehicle yet, or if you just prefer not to drive, public transport is available throughout the city.
Buses
Buses run fixed routes around the city. They are free to use, which makes them a great option for new players who have not bought a vehicle yet. Just find a bus stop, wait for the next bus, and hop on. Bus routes cover most major areas of the city.
Uber Service
The Uber system connects riders with driver players. If you need a ride, you can request one and a player who is working as an Uber driver will come pick you up and take you to your destination. You pay a fare for the trip.
Uber is a good option when you need to get somewhere specific that bus routes do not cover well, or when you need a faster and more direct ride.
Public transport is not just for new players. Even if you own a car, taking the bus or an Uber can be useful when your vehicle is in the impound, out of fuel, or parked on the other side of the city.
Vehicle Tips
Here are some practical tips to help you get the most out of vehicle ownership and stay out of trouble on the road.
Quick Reference
- Always lock your car. Press
Levery time you step out. It takes half a second and prevents theft. - Park in sensible locations. Do not block roads, entrances, or other players. Bad parking can get your vehicle towed.
- Get insurance immediately. Before you do anything else with your new vehicle, get it insured. One accident without coverage can be devastating.
- Drive responsibly. Reckless driving attracts police attention. If you speed, run red lights, or crash into things, expect to get pulled over and fined.
- Keep your tank full. Running out of fuel is avoidable. Top up when you pass a gas station.
- Get your license first. Visit the DMV before buying a car. Driving without a license is an easy fine to avoid.
- Use loans wisely. A vehicle loan is helpful when you need a car quickly, but only if you can keep up with the repayments. Missed payments mean losing the vehicle.
- Start cheap. Your first car does not need to be expensive. An economy car does the job while you build your savings.
Owning a vehicle opens up a lot of possibilities. You can take on delivery jobs, drive for Uber, get to locations faster, and generally have more freedom. Take care of your vehicle and it will take care of you.