How to Repair Vehicles in Ardem
Last verified 20 August 2026 against the official Steam store page and playardem.com.
Vehicles in Ardem spawn as non-working wrecks that you repair part by part. You need the specific missing components, salvaged material such as scrap metal, and the right tools. Once running, a vehicle accepts upgrades, modules and customisable attachments — and it transforms a 64 km² map from a walking simulator into something you can actually cross.
Every vehicle in Ardem starts broken. Getting one running is a multi-session project, and it is arguably the most consequential milestone in a playthrough — more than any weapon, and more than your first wall.
The repair loop
| Stage | What you need |
|---|---|
| 1. Find a wreck | Roadsides, driveways, garages, industrial yards, campsites — detail |
| 2. Assess what is missing | Judge on missing parts, not visual condition |
| 3. Source the parts | Vehicle parts are their own loot category |
| 4. Bring material and tools | Scrap metal plus a working toolset |
| 5. Fit modules and attachments | Confirmed: upgrades, modules, customisable attachments |
| 6. Solve fuel | A running vehicle with no fuel route is stationary storage |
Where vehicle parts come from
Techtive Games confirms an innovative vehicle system with upgrades, modules and customisable attachments, and vehicle parts sit as a distinct category in the game's item structure. The natural sources follow Minnowa's confirmed location types:
- Garages and workshops. The obvious first stop, and they usually supply the tools as well.
- Other wrecks. A wreck you cannot fix is a parts donor for one you can. This is the most reliable route.
- Industrial yards. Volume, plus the scrap metal that repair also consumes.
- Farm outbuildings. Lower risk, and rural Minnowa runs on vehicles.
Because Techtive Games describes a world players permanently reshape, a wreck you strip is gone. Choose one project vehicle, then harvest the wrecks around it — rather than partially dismantling everything within a kilometre and leaving yourself no viable chassis.
Fuel is the ongoing cost
Repair is a one-off problem. Fuel is a permanent one, and it competes directly with the generator you may also want running at your base. That competition is a genuine strategic decision in Ardem, and it is the strongest practical argument for putting solar panels or wind turbines on your base so your fuel supply goes to the vehicle instead.
Before your first long drive, know where your next fuel is coming from. Running dry 6 km from base in a game with a 64 km² map is a long walk.
Why a vehicle matters more than it looks
The obvious benefit is travel speed. The real benefit is hauling capacity. Carry weight is the actual limiter on almost everything ambitious in Ardem — a serious base build, an electrical installation, a bulk scrap run. A vehicle turns three round trips into one.
Second-order benefits worth naming: you can reach the military compounds on the far side of the map and come back with the loot rather than choosing what to leave; and you gain an escape option, which matters on PvP servers.
Which vehicle to target
No stat tables have been published, so this is reasoning rather than data. Official screenshots show campervans, vans, pickups and passenger cars. A campervan doubles as mobile shelter — official screenshots show full interiors with living space — which is genuinely useful before you have a fixed base. A pickup or van is lighter on fuel and easier to keep running for hauling.
See the Ardem vehicles list for what has been confirmed so far.
Boats and aircraft
Not at launch. Techtive Games lists boats and aircraft as long-term goals in the official Steam FAQ, alongside seasons and a skill system. Minnowa has lakes and waterways, so boats arriving later implies water becomes more than scenery — but that is a roadmap ambition, not an Early Access feature.
Key takeaways
- Every vehicle starts as a non-working wreck repaired part by part.
- You need the missing components, salvaged material such as scrap metal, and the right tools.
- Judge a wreck by what is missing, not by how it looks.
- Pick one project vehicle and use nearby wrecks as parts donors.
- Solve fuel before your first long drive — it competes with your generator.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find car parts in Ardem?
Garages, industrial yards and other vehicle wrecks. Vehicle parts are a distinct loot category in the game's item structure.
Can you customise vehicles in Ardem?
Yes. Upgrades, modules and customisable attachments are confirmed by Techtive Games.
Are there boats in Ardem?
Not at launch. Boats and aircraft are listed as long-term goals.
Where do you get fuel in Ardem?
Fuel is a scavenged resource, and it competes with the generator you may also want running at your base. Techtive Games has not published fuel sources or refining, so specifics get verified during the October playtest.
Can you repair a vehicle without a garage in Ardem?
Vehicles are found and repaired where they sit, so a dedicated garage is not implied as a requirement. What you need is the missing parts, salvaged material and the right tools.