Used Cars Simulator update cycles from developer DreamWay Games and publisher PlayWay S.A. have introduced major overhauls spanning visual optimizations, gameplay mechanics, and new sandbox activities. The development roadmap transitioned through dozens of weekly devlogs and numbered patches, leading through Season 1, Season 2, and the full version launch out of Steam Early Access.
Whether you are tracking newly introduced vehicles, adjusting to police chase balancing, or fine-tuning performance settings, this comprehensive guide outlines all verified additions, patch milestones, and gameplay updates.
Major Content Milestones Across Numbered Updates
The developers structured early support around rapid numbered patches to address community requests, add missing utility tools, and expand garage features.
| Patch Version | Key Additions and Mechanical Changes | Primary Performance and Technical Fixes |
|---|---|---|
| Update #1 | Hospital bill alerts when fainting while driving; UsedBay questline fix | Vegetation LOD distance adjustments; West Hill pink rock texture fix |
| Update #2 | In-menu Save button; quest tracking toggle; UsedBay packages delivered exclusively to the shed; water available at Gas Station | Headlights and side mirrors detach less easily; VSync auto-toggle fixed; dealer car towing to avoid overlapping spawns |
| Update #3 | Less frequent police checks; shortened Lake Camp quest; analog gamepad inputs for throttle and brake | Pickable banknote money exploit patched; MSAA removed in favor of updated anti-aliasing options |
| Update #4 | Tow truck physics overhaul to prevent cars sliding off; stolen car spawn corrections | Shadowcaster reductions on distant trees and vegetation; optimized beer bottle assets |
| Update #6 | Police hiding spots with distance meters; license plate display shelf behind shed poster; full restoration pricing display | Significant FPS gains from reflection optimization; car part inventory memory leak patched |
| Update #7 | Economy balancing so restored car values reliably exceed listing costs; fixed nitro pricing discrepancies | Vegetation optimization and memory leak fixes |
| Update #8 | Part selling added (50% value from inventory, reduced payout for stolen items); full-screen camera mode | Nvidia DLSS integration; material memory leak fixes |
| Update #9 | Camborghini Lountach vehicle added; Steam Trading Cards, badges, and emoticons introduced | Fixed floating delivery packages; corrected mechanic paint preview glitch |
| Updates #11–#29 | Time Attacks, Rally Shop, Car Auctions, Car Containers, Rust Removal Tool, and buying residential houses | Continuous occlusion culling, camera behavior fixes, and controller support expansions |
Core Gameplay and System Additions
Throughout development, Used Cars Simulator expanded beyond basic vehicle repairs into a broader survival and crime sandbox.
Vehicle Theft and Police Chases
Stealing vehicles evolved from basic lockpicking into a multi-step mechanic. Players must obtain a hotwire kit and complete an ignition minigame before driving off. To balance the economy, Update #30 and Update #35 adjusted police chase parameters:
- Escaping officers requires breaking line of sight or reaching designated hiding spots.
- Directional UI indicators and map markers track approaching police cruisers during pursuits.
- The Restricted Area in Lost Angeles features higher police patrols guarding high-value opportunities.
- Vehicles left too long at the dealer will be towed to the police parking lot to avoid overlapping spawns.
Garage Upgrades and Customization
The player's base of operations received multiple utility and aesthetic upgrades across the update timeline:
- Base Expansion: Players can upgrade the shed roof, reinforce exterior fences, and display license plates on a hidden shelf behind the wall poster.
- Visual Detailing: Update #16 and Update #35 introduced customizable steering wheels, interior colors, and buyable car decals via the UsedBay online store.
- Tool Maintenance: Tools such as hammers, angle grinders, and baseball bats have durability ratings that degrade with use, requiring players to replace them or purchase sturdier variants.
- Tire and Rim Mechanics: Dedicated stations allow swapping wheels, altering rim designs, and cleaning grime with upgraded powerwash nozzles.
Survival and Character Needs
Routine character maintenance directly impacts gameplay. Neglecting physical needs introduces distinct penalties:
- Collapsing from sleep exhaustion leaves the player vulnerable to robbery and results in waking up with an itemized hospital bill.
- Failing to use the restroom causes hygiene accidents that impact character status.
- Drowning after falling into deep water forces a costly respawn at the city hospital.
- Interactive map icons track designated rest zones, toilets, and fuel stops across regions like Saint City and Lake Camp.
Graphics Settings and Technical Optimizations
Performance optimization remained a primary focus across both weekly updates and test branches.
Rendering and Upscaling
- Nvidia DLSS: Added in Update #8 to boost frame rates at high display resolutions. Enabling DLSS overrides standard anti-aliasing settings.
- Reflection and Occlusion Tuning: Successive passes in Update #6 and Update #7 reworked road reflections, interior shop lighting, and occlusion culling near the monastery and West Hill zone.
- Display Customization: Players can toggle all on-screen UI elements using the right bracket key (
]), turn off driving hints, and toggle vehicle handling between Arcade, Drift, and Simulation modes directly in the pause menu.
System Requirements and Hardware Support
Official Steam specifications provide the baseline hardware requirements for running the updated build:
| Specification | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-4130 @ 3.3 GHz / AMD FX-8350 | Intel Core i7-9700 @ 3.6 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / AMD Radeon R9 280 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 / AMD Radeon RX 5700 |
| Storage Space | 20 GB available space | 24 GB available space |
| Additional Notes | Partial controller support; adjustments made for Steam Deck playability | System requirements subject to adjustments during continuous development |
Community Testing and Reported Issues
DreamWay Games maintains a public Discord server where players can download test builds to evaluate upcoming mechanics before public release. Historical beta branches allowed testing for 11 distinct Time Attack routes, interior vehicle coloring, and shed container emptying mechanics.
On the official Steam community forums, players frequently report and discuss ongoing balance concerns:
- Vehicle Valuations: Early builds had issues where fixed cars generated low offers under $200 or matched the unrestored purchase price. Patch updates recalibrated these profit margins for lower-tier cars.
- Regional Performance: Community threads frequently discuss frame drops around denser locations, such as the Lake Camp settlements and Saint City streets, prompting ongoing LOD and vegetation adjustments.
- Save Integrity: If updates cause launch errors, the developers advise verifying local game files through the Steam library properties menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you hide the HUD and user interface in Used Cars Simulator?
Press the right bracket key (]) on your keyboard to instantly toggle the HUD off or on. You can also disable vehicle hints and alert notifications through the in-game settings menu.
Can you sell spare or salvaged car parts?
Yes. Update #8 introduced the ability to sell spare car parts directly from your inventory. Standard parts sell for 50% of their base value, while stolen parts sell for significantly less.
Where do packages ordered from UsedBay arrive?
Following player feedback in Update #2, ordered UsedBay car parts and packages are delivered directly to your workshop shed rather than requiring a pickup trip to the commercial port.
How do vehicle handling modes work?
You can choose between Arcade, Drift, and Simulation modes in the settings menu or change them on the fly while driving. Each vehicle in the game has individual physics handling values tuned for these three presets.
