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DayZ Vehicles Guide

Learn how to find, repair, protect, and maintain vehicles in DayZ. Vehicles provide fast travel, storage, and major survival advantages.

Vehicle Overview

Vehicles in DayZ are essential for transportation, storage, and long-distance travel. They spawn near towns, industrial zones, and military areas in varying states of damage and may be missing key components.

Before a vehicle can be used, survivors often need to install parts, repair damage, and fill it with fuel and water. Once operational, vehicles persist on the server until destroyed, abandoned for long periods, or moved outside map boundaries.

Most land vehicles use manual transmission requiring gear shifting:

  • PC: Q (downshift) / E (upshift)
  • PlayStation: X / Circle
  • Xbox: A / B

The M1025 Humvee is the only vehicle with automatic transmission.

Essential Parts to Get Running

  • Wheels
  • Battery
  • Spark Plug
  • Radiator
  • Fuel
  • Water (for radiator)

Doors, hood, and trunk are optional for driving but provide protection.

Repair & Maintenance

Maintaining your vehicle reduces breakdown risk and extends its lifespan.

  • Wheels: Repair using a Tire Repair Kit.
  • Engine: Repair with a Blowtorch (with gas).
  • Battery: Repair using an Electrical Repair Kit.
  • Radiator: Replace if damaged - leaks drain water quickly.
  • Spark Plug: Cannot be repaired; must be replaced.
  • Body Parts: Repair doors, hood, trunk using Blowtorch or Epoxy Putty.
Important: If the spark plug is ruined, the engine will not start.
Bumpers Matter: Bumpers absorb crash damage and protect the engine and frame.

Engine Warning Signs

  • Check engine light = engine damage
  • Steam from hood = radiator leaking
  • Vehicle overheating = low radiator water

Protecting Your Vehicle

Vehicles are valuable and frequently stolen. Secure parts to prevent theft.

  • Doors, Hood, Trunk: lock with a Wrench
  • Battery, Radiator, Spark Plug: lock with a Screwdriver
  • Wheels: lock with a Tire Iron

Locked components cannot be removed without the correct tool.

Vehicle Storage & Persistence

  • Vehicles provide large mobile storage.
  • They persist until destroyed or abandoned.
  • Vehicles do not transfer between servers.
  • Storing vehicles inside bases reduces theft risk.

Vehicle Repair & Usage Guide

Watch how to repair, maintain, and operate vehicles in DayZ.