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

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

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

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 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
• CMS 2021 achievements (Steam global stats)
• CMS 2021 Steam news (Pickup DLC, Patch 1.0.40, CMS 2026 demo)