--- title: "Car Mechanic Simulator 2021: Complete Guide" game: "Car Mechanic Simulator 2021" game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/car-mechanic-simulator-2021" author: "Qloud" author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud" topics: ["Walkthroughs", "Achievements"] summary: "A practical guide to Red Dot Games' garage sim: finding faults quickly, profitable orders, garage upgrades and skills, buying and flipping cars from auctions, barns and junkyards, and a plan for all 46 achievements.…" url: "https://qna.gg/g/car-mechanic-simulator-2021-complete-guide-c5fc06e8" published: "2026-09-27T20:33:36.101Z" updated: "2026-09-27T20:33:36.101Z" source: "QnA.GG" --- # Car Mechanic Simulator 2021: Complete Guide A practical guide to Red Dot Games' garage sim: finding faults quickly, profitable orders, garage upgrades and skills, buying and flipping cars from auctions, barns and junkyards, and a plan for all 46 achievements. *Researched September 2026 — current as of Patch 1.0.40 (7 July 2026, Pickup DLC). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.* > **Series note:** Car Mechanic Simulator 2026 has a single-player demo (released 30 March 2026) and is planned for 2026 with co-op. CMS 2021 is still supported and recently received the Pickup DLC. --- ## Quick Start 1. **Read the order carefully.** Each job lists the problem area. Focus on those parts first. 2. **Diagnose before replacing.** Use the examine mode and diagnostic tools to find worn parts. Replacing healthy parts wastes money. 3. **Take orders with bonuses.** Orders can include money or experience bonuses; finishing them unlocks achievements (Good tip, Life lesson). 4. **Buy parts from the main shop** at first. Later, repair parts yourself to save money. 5. **Level up to unlock skills.** Experience from jobs gives skill points; skills speed up work and unlock tools. 6. **Expand the garage.** Garage expansions unlock new tools and spaces (paint shop, test track, car wash). 7. **Flip cars for profit.** Buy from auctions, barns and junkyards; restore and sell. 8. **Keep your inventory clean.** Sell used parts you don't need. 9. **Use the path test and test track.** They reveal suspension, brake and steering problems. --- ## The Garage ### Key tools and stations | Tool or station | Use | |---|---| | Car lift | Raise the car for underbody work | | Diagnostic tools | Read faults and test components (e.g., OBD scanner, compression tester) | | Tire changer and wheel balancer | Change and balance tires | | Brake lathe | Machine brake discs | | Repair table | Repair parts instead of replacing them | | Paint shop | Paint cars and parts | | Car wash | Remove grime from cars | | Path test | Tests suspension and brakes | | Test track | Drive and time laps | | Fuse box | Electrical fault diagnosis | ### Garage expansions Garage expansions unlock with money and level. Unlocking all of them earns the **Like a boss** achievement. Parking spaces are also expandable (**Parking boy**: unlock 10 parking alleys). --- ## Walkthrough: Your First Few Orders 1. **Accept an easy order.** Early orders usually point at one system: brakes, exhaust, suspension or a basic engine service. 2. **Park the car on a lift** (or a free spot for simple jobs) and open the job card. It tells you which area has problems and sometimes which specific parts. 3. **Examine the area.** Hover over parts in examine mode to see their condition percentage. Anything the order flags that shows as worn is a candidate for replacement. 4. **Disassemble carefully.** Parts come off in a logical order; covers and wheels first, then what's behind them. If a part won't come off, something is still attached to it. 5. **Buy replacements.** Use the tablet/shop to order exact matching parts. Add them to your cart as you go so you don't forget one. 6. **Reassemble and check.** Reinstall everything, then confirm with the job card that every task is ticked. 7. **Test if needed.** For suspension and brake jobs, run the path test to confirm. 8. **Hand the car back.** Collect your payment and XP. **Tip:** Keep the car's parts in your inventory organized by sorting; mistakes like installing a part from a different car model waste time. ### Typical order types | Order type | What usually needs work | |---|---| | Brakes | Brake pads, discs, calipers, brake fluid | | Suspension | Shocks, springs, control arms, bushings | | Exhaust | Mufflers, pipes, catalytic converter | | Engine service | Oil, filters, spark plugs, belts | | Engine fault | Deeper diagnosis with test tools, possible engine rebuild | | Electrical | Fuses and electronics | | Body | Dents, rust, panels, paint | As you level up, orders get more complex and pay more. Some require a full engine rebuild or multiple systems at once. --- ## Diagnosing Faults ### Examine mode The revised part-examine mode highlights parts by condition. Use it to find worn parts quickly without disassembling everything. ### Common symptoms and tools - **Engine problems:** Use diagnostic tools and compression testing to find worn engine components. - **Suspension/steering:** Path test reveals worn suspension parts. - **Brakes:** Path test and visual inspection; the brake lathe restores discs. - **Electrical:** Fuse boxes and electronic diagnostics. - **Body:** Dents and rust on body panels; repair or replace. ### Rusted bolts Some bolts are rusted and harder to remove. Plan extra time and tools for older cars. ### Fluids CMS 2021 models car fluids. Check and refill oil, coolant, brake fluid and others as needed. Pouring old oil on the floor unlocks a (slippery) achievement. --- ## Money and Orders - **Orders** are infinitely generated. Easy orders early build XP and cash. - **Story missions** are handcrafted challenges with specific requirements. - **Bonuses:** Money or XP bonuses on orders reward speed and accuracy. - **Part quality:** The quality upgrade system lets you use better parts for bonuses. **Money tips:** - Don't replace parts that aren't listed as needing repair. - Repair parts at the repair table where possible. - Sell unneeded parts from inventory. --- ## Buying and Flipping Cars | Source | Pros | Cons | |---|---|---| | Auctions | Wide selection | Unknown condition, bidding wars | | Salvage auctions | Cheap, damaged cars | Heavy repair work | | Barns | Rare hidden gems | Must search, condition varies | | Junkyards | Cheap parts and cars | Poor condition | | Salon (dealership) | New cars | Expensive | **Flipping loop:** 1. Buy a car cheaply. 2. Diagnose all worn parts. 3. Replace or repair. 4. Clean and paint. 5. Sell for profit. Profits grow as your skills and tools improve. ### Restoring a project car A full restoration is the most satisfying (and often most profitable) thing you can do once you have money and garage space: 1. **Inspect before buying.** At barns and junkyards, look at the body condition and what's missing. A car with a complete engine saves a lot of cash. 2. **Bring it home and strip it.** Remove everything you can; examine each part as it comes off. 3. **Sort parts:** keep good ones, repair salvageable ones at the repair table, and buy new for the rest. 4. **Body work:** Fix dents, replace rusted panels and paint the body in the paint shop. 5. **Wash and detail** in the car wash to remove grime. 6. **Rebuild** the engine and chassis, then refill fluids. 7. **Test drive** on the path test and test track to confirm everything works. 8. **Sell or keep.** Sell for profit or keep it in your parking as a collection piece. **Budget rule:** Estimate the cost of missing and broken parts before buying. A cheap barn find can become a money pit if the engine is missing. --- ## Skills and Progression - **Levels:** Earn XP from jobs and activities. Reaching level 5, 20 and 50 unlocks achievements. - **Skills:** Spend points to speed up work and unlock abilities. Unlocking all skills earns **Well trained**. - **Garage upgrades:** More space and tools. **Priority:** Skills that speed up repairs and diagnosis first, then those that improve profit. --- ## DLCs CMS 2021 has a large DLC catalog. Car packs include Nissan, Electric Car, Jaguar, Land Rover, Pagani Remastered, Porsche Remastered, Hot Rod Remastered, Mazda Remastered, Aston Martin, Mercedes-Benz Remastered, Ford Remastered, Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler Remastered, BMW, Jeep/RAM Remastered and Lotus Remastered. Specialty packs include Drag Racing, China, Rims, Rims 2, Taxi, Police and the new **Pickup DLC**. ### Pickup DLC (7 July 2026) Adds six pickup trucks: Ribbsan Malaga, Bolt Appalachia, Echo Toro Gen V, Skura Osava, Salem Earthquake Gen IX, and Salem Earthquake Gen X Rex. Each can be bought, repaired, restored and tested like any other car. --- ## Achievements (46 total) A few notable ones and how to get them: | Achievement | Requirement | |---|---| | Job done! | Finish 1 order | | Vulcanizer | Balance 5 tires | | Slippery floor | Pour old oil on the floor | | Road tested | Finish test track | | Like a boss | Unlock all garage expansions | | New heart | Swap engine | | Racer boy | Finish lap with time under 1:50 | | Well trained | Unlock all skills | | The Mechanic | Reach level 50 | | Wrench Master | Unscrew 10,000 bolts | | Time for holidays | Finish all the special missions | | Barn finder | Buy 30 cars from barn | | Trader | Renovate and sell 50 cars | **Achievement tips:** - **Racer boy:** Use a fast, well-tuned car on the test track. - **Wrench Master:** Comes naturally over long play. - **Trader and Barn finder:** Make them part of your flipping loop. - **Time for holidays:** Complete all special (story) missions. --- ## Common Mistakes to Avoid - **Replacing parts that aren't broken.** - **Ignoring examine mode.** - **Forgetting to check fluids.** - **Overpaying at auctions.** - **Leaving inventory full of junk parts.** - **Skipping skill upgrades.** - **Neglecting path tests** for suspension and brakes. --- ## Advanced Tips - **Engine swaps** can boost resale value and earn New heart. - **Tuning** at higher levels improves performance and value. - **Paint and visual customization** raise selling prices. - **Repair instead of buy** once you have the repair table and skills. - **Use barns and junkyards** for rare parts and cars. - **Test track time trials** reward tuning and driving skill. --- ## FAQ **Is Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 still updated?** Yes. Patch 1.0.40 and the Pickup DLC released 7 July 2026. **How many cars are in the game?** The base game has 72 cars, with many more through DLC. **What's the best way to make money?** Complete orders with bonuses, then flip cars from auctions and barns. **Should I wait for CMS 2026?** CMS 2026 is planned for 2026 with co-op. CMS 2021 has a much larger DLC library right now. **How do I find broken parts quickly?** Use examine mode, diagnostic tools and path tests. **How do I get Racer boy?** Finish a lap on the test track under 1:50 with a fast car. --- ## Sources - [Car Mechanic Simulator 2021 on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1190000/) - [CMS 2021 achievements (Steam global stats)](https://steamcommunity.com/stats/1190000/achievements/) - [CMS 2021 Steam news (Pickup DLC, Patch 1.0.40, CMS 2026 demo)](https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1190000)