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How to change the vehicle settings of your Project Zomboid server

Project ZomboidUpdated Oct 18, 20265 min read

The Vehicles group decides whether cars exist on your server and how they behave: how many there are, how much fuel they start with and use, how often they are locked, how damaged they are and whether crashes hurt players.

Open the editor

  1. Open your server in the panel and click the Settings tab.
  2. In the list on the left, under Config files, click Sandbox Settings. The file name is shown at the top.
  3. If the list says No config files yet, start the server once. The game writes its sandbox file the first time it runs.
The Config files list on the Project Zomboid Settings page with Server Settings and Sandbox Settings

The editor only saves while the server is stopped. Stop the server, change the settings below, then click Save only or Save & start. The full steps are in How to change Project Zomboid sandbox settings in the panel. Headings such as Vehicles appear in capitals in the editor. The editor shows Build 42 files only: on a Build 41 server it opens with a message that the file is from a different build, see Project Zomboid Sandbox Settings says the file is from a different build.

Every setting in Vehicles

SettingWhat it doesValuesA new server starts with
VehiclesIf vehicles will spawn.On or offOn
How many vehiclesHow frequently vehicles can be discovered on the map.None, Very Low, Low, Normal, HighLow
Vehicles with fuelThe chance of finding a vehicle with gas in its tank.Low, Normal, HighNormal
Starting fuelHow full the gas tank of discovered vehicles will be.Very Low, Low, Normal, High, Very High, FullLow
Endless fuel at gas stationsIf enabled, gas pumps will never run out of fuel.On or offOff
Fuel consumptionHow gas-hungry vehicles are.A number from 0 to 1001.0
Locked vehiclesHow likely cars will be locked.Never, Extremely Rare, Rare, Sometimes, Often, Very OftenSometimes
Vehicle conditionGeneral condition discovered vehicles will be in.Very Low, Low, Normal, High, Very HighNormal
Crash damage to vehiclesThe amount of damage dealt to vehicles that crash.Very Low, Low, Normal, High, Very HighNormal
Players hurt in crashesIf the player can get injured from being in a car accident.On or offOn
Car alarmsHow frequently discovered vehicles have active alarms.Never, Extremely Rare, Rare, Sometimes, Often, Very OftenRare
Traffic jamsIf traffic jams consisting of wrecked cars will appear on main roads.On or offOn
Easy vehiclesWhether found vehicles are locked, need keys to start etc.On or offOff
Cared-for vehiclesWhether a player can discover a car that has been cared for after the Knox infection struck.None, Low, Normal, HighLow

If the server lags

Many vehicles in the world cost memory and processing. If a small plan struggles, lower How many vehicles or turn Vehicles off, then watch the Usage card. See Why is my Project Zomboid server lagging.

Good to know

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