DayZ Vehicles: How to Find & Repair Cars

A working car in DayZ is a huge advantage — fast travel, storage on wheels, an escape vehicle. But getting one running is a project. This guide covers how to find and repair vehicles in DayZ.

Finding a vehicle

Cars (sedans, the Olga and Gunter hatchbacks, the ADA 4×4, trucks) spawn around the map, often near towns and roads — but almost always missing parts. Finding the shell is the easy bit; making it drive is the work.

The parts you need to drive

To get a car running you need, at minimum:

• Car Battery
• Spark Plug
• Car Radiator (and water to fill it)
• At least 3 wheels/tyres to move it
• Fuel in the tank

The best place to find these parts is industrial buildings — garages, factories and warehouses.

How to repair

Look at the vehicle and use your action button to open the repair menu. Equip a toolkit (wrench/screwdriver/etc.) and replace or repair the broken parts — engine parts, the fuel tank, wheels. Damaged parts can sometimes be repaired rather than replaced. Once battery, spark plug, radiator (with water), wheels and fuel are sorted, the engine will start.

Driving tips

• DayZ vehicle physics are notoriously twitchy — drive carefully, especially over bumps and at speed.
• Carry spare parts and a toolkit; you will have breakdowns and crashes.
• Hide your car when parked — other players will take it.

Vehicles on your own server

Want more (or modded) vehicles, like helicopters? DayZ Expansion adds them, and on your own DayZ server you can boost vehicle and parts spawns.

Frequently asked questions

How do you repair a car in DayZ?

Open the repair menu on the vehicle, equip a toolkit, and add the missing parts: car battery, spark plug, radiator (with water), at least 3 wheels, and fuel.

Where do you find car parts in DayZ?

Industrial buildings — garages, factories and warehouses.

Why won’t my DayZ car start?

You’re missing a part (battery, spark plug, radiator), the radiator has no water, or there’s no fuel. All are required to start the engine.