Car Mechanic Simulator 2018: Beginner-to-Advanced Guide

How to run a profitable garage in CMS 2018: taking and diagnosing jobs, tools and garage upgrades, skill priorities, making money with barn finds, the junkyard, and auctions, plus DLC advice and where the series is heading.

Researched September 2026 — current as of the final PC build (last Steam update July 2025; free-to-keep week 21-27 May 2026). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.

Context (September 2026): CMS 2018 (Red Dot Games, PlayWay, released 28 July 2017) is finished and supported only with small fixes. In May 2026 it was free to keep on Steam for a week (21-27 May), which brought a wave of new players; PlayWay reported the game's all-time player peak was broken by almost 300%. Over the years it received 21 DLC releases. The next entry, Car Mechanic Simulator 2026, is announced with co-op and is wishlistable. CMS 2021 is the current full sequel.

Quick Start

Take jobs you can finish. Early jobs list the problem or the parts to replace. Stick to those until you understand the car layouts.
Use Examine mode. It shows part conditions by color; worn or broken parts are what you replace.
Unscrew in order. Many parts sit behind others (e.g., brakes behind wheels). Remove outer parts first.
Buy parts from the shop, not blindly. Check the part name and the car model before you buy.
Level up. XP from jobs gives skill points; early skills speed up everything.
Don't overspend on garage upgrades before you need them. Buy tools when jobs require them.
Explore money makers after the basics. Barn finds, the junkyard, and auctions are where real profit is.
Save before risky decisions. For example, before buying a car at auction.

The Core Loop

Accept a job from the order list.
Diagnose: read the description, then use Examine mode, test tools, and test drives.
Disassemble the parts you need to reach.
Buy or repair replacement parts.
Reassemble in reverse order.
Complete the job and collect money and XP.

Tip: Some jobs contain optional extras. Finishing the full list pays more.

Your First Few Hours

Stage	Focus	Goal
First jobs	Simple jobs with named parts (brakes, exhaust, suspension parts)	Learn Examine mode and disassembly order
Early levels	Spend skill points on speed and the repair table	Cut time and parts cost
First savings	Buy the diagnostic tools that jobs start asking for	Unlock better-paying job types
Mid game	Second lift, parts warehouse	Run two jobs at once and keep spares
Late game	Barn finds, junkyard, auctions, paint shop	Flip cars for large profits

Reading a job

Jobs come in two broad styles:

Named repairs: the customer tells you which parts to replace. Check the list, replace exactly those parts, and finish.
Find-the-fault jobs: the description gives a symptom. Use the matching tool (Path Test for suspension noises, OBD scanner for engine and electrical faults, compression tester for engine performance) to find the bad parts.

If a job's description mentions a symptom you can't diagnose yet, skip it; better jobs will appear.

Disassembly habits

Work from the outside in. Wheels come off before brakes; suspension parts often need the wheel and brake assembly out of the way.
Engine work may mean pulling the engine. Some parts are only reachable with the engine out on a stand; that is a garage upgrade.
Use the lift. Many undercarriage parts need the car raised.
Don't forget to refill fluids if you replaced parts that hold them.

Diagnosis Tools

Tool / area	What it tells you
Examine mode	Condition of visible parts; highlights bad ones
OBD scanner	Electrical and engine faults
Compression tester	Engine cylinder problems
Path Test	Suspension problems
Test Track	Overall car condition and driving issues
Race Track	Performance testing
Shock absorber tool	Tests shocks
Battery charger	Battery condition and charging
Dyno (with free Tuning DLC)	Horsepower and torque

Many of these are unlocked through garage upgrades and levels.

Garage and Upgrades

The garage starts small and can grow to a full workshop with three lifts. Key upgrades:

Upgrade	Why it matters	When
Extra lift	More cars at once	Once you have steady jobs
Parts warehouse	Store parts for later	When you start flipping cars
Paint shop	Paint cars and liveries	For restorations and paint jobs
Repair table (skill)	Repair parts instead of buying new	Early, big money saver
Test tools	Diagnose problems without guessing	As jobs require
Multilevel parking	Store your cars	When you own multiple cars

Skills

Leveling gives skill points. Skills change by version, but priorities are:

Priority	Skill type	Why
1	Faster unscrewing / efficiency	Saves the most time
2	Repair table and repair abilities	Saves money on parts
3	Discounts on parts	Profit margin
4	Tools that unlock new job types	More income
5	Quality-of-life perks	Comfort

Making Money

Jobs

The simplest income. Early levels offer easy jobs; higher levels offer harder, better-paying jobs. Watch time limits and pay.

Barn finds

The Barn Find module lets you search abandoned barns for cars and parts. Buy a barn, look for cars (some classic), and haul them to your garage. Also check sheds for parts.

Barn cars need extensive repair.
Some are rare classics worth a lot after restoration.

Junkyard

Scavenge for parts and rusty cars. Parts can be cheap, and rusty cars can be restored for profit.

Auctions

Car auctions let you buy cars for resale or collection. Bid carefully; other bidders compete.

Flipping rule of thumb

Buy low (barn, junkyard, auction).
Restore only what raises value (engine, body, paint).
Repair parts at the repair table instead of buying.
Sell when repairs reach diminishing returns.

A first restoration, step by step

Your first flip is where most players lose money. A simple routine keeps it profitable:

Pick a common car. Parts for everyday models are cheaper and easier to find than for rare classics. Save the rare barn finds for when you have cash and skills.
Inspect before you commit. Use Examine mode on the car in the barn, junkyard, or your garage and note what is rusted, worn, or missing.
Price the job. Add up the parts you would need from the shop, then compare against what the car sells for restored. If the margin is thin, walk away.
Strip only what you are fixing. Every part you remove is one more to reassemble.
Repair before you buy. Put worn parts on the repair table first; only buy new when a part can't be repaired.
Fix the big value items first: engine, suspension, and body. Cosmetic extras rarely pay for themselves.
Paint last, and only what needs it.
Test it on the Test Track and Path Test so nothing obvious drags the value down, then sell or keep it in your parking.

Where your money should go

Stage	Best spend	Avoid
Early	Tools that jobs ask for, repair-related skills	Expensive garage expansions you can't fill
Middle	A second lift, parts warehouse, paint shop	Rare cars you can't afford to finish
Late	Barn finds, auctions, full restorations	Overpaying at auctions out of habit

Repairs and Parts

Repair vs replace: Repairing is cheaper but requires skills and the repair table.
Tires and rims are separate in CMS 2018; you can mix and match.
Seats, steering wheels, benches, and windows are exchangeable parts.
Paint full cars or single parts.
Parts warehouse stores extra parts.

Car Editor and Mods

A Car Editor lets modders add cars to the game, and the community has built a large library of modded cars. Mods can affect stability; back up saves before installing them.

DLC

CMS 2018 has 21 DLC releases, mainly licensed car packs (Mazda, Dodge, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and others) plus themed packs like Wheeler Dealers, Vans & Campers, Hot Rod Custom Cars, and US Classic 60s. The Tuning DLC is free and adds cosmetic/performance parts and a dyno. Start with Tuning (free), then pick car packs you like.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Buying the wrong part. Double-check the car model.
Replacing everything. Only replace worn or broken parts the job needs.
Ignoring the repair table. It saves money.
Overbidding at auctions. Calculate restoration costs first.
Upgrading the garage too fast. Buy what you need.
Forgetting to reassemble. A job won't hand back cleanly with parts left off; use the parts list to see what is missing before you try to finish.
Chasing a problem by swapping random parts. Diagnose with the right tool first; guessing burns money fast.

Advanced Tips

Use the parts list. It shows what is missing.
Keep common parts in the warehouse. Brake pads, filters, and spark plugs are often needed.
Restore classics. Rare barn finds can sell high.
Test drive to confirm fixes.
Paint only parts that need it to save money.

CMS 2018 vs CMS 2021 vs CMS 2026

	CMS 2018	CMS 2021	CMS 2026
Status	Finished, still sold	Current sequel	Announced, wishlistable
Co-op	No	No	Yes (announced)
Notes	Barn finds, junkyard, auctions, 21 DLC releases	Refined systems, often described as similar to a remaster	Co-op is the headline feature

FAQ

Is CMS 2018 still worth playing? Yes, especially if you got it free in May 2026. It has a large DLC library and a mature mod scene.

Is CMS 2018 free? It was free to keep for a limited week (21-27 May 2026). Outside that window it is a paid game.

Should I buy CMS 2018 or CMS 2021? CMS 2021 is the newer game with refined systems; CMS 2018 is cheaper and has its own DLC cars.

What is the best way to make money? Jobs early; barn finds, junkyard cars, and auctions later.

Is there multiplayer? No. Co-op is announced for CMS 2026.

Do mods work? Yes, via the Car Editor and community cars. Back up saves.