Driving & Car Ownership in inZOI: A Comprehensive Guide

Getting around the vibrant cities of Dowon and Bliss Bay is a key part of your Zois' daily lives in inZOI. While public transport like subways and buses exist, owning and driving a personal vehicle offers a customized mode of transport and a touch of style. This guide covers everything you need to know about acquiring, driving, and interacting with cars, as well as upcoming vehicle types like motorcycles.

How to Get a Car

Purchasing a vehicle for your Zoi is done through their smartphone:

1. Open Smartphone: Access the phone interface ([P] key or UI icon).
2. Open Dream Car App: Tap the "Dream Car" app icon (usually an orange car symbol).
3. Browse Vehicles: Explore the available car models. Currently, options include generic types like "Z-Car," "Sedan," "SUV," and potentially licensed models like the "Hyundai IONIQ 5" or "Hyundai AZERA".
4. Select and Purchase: Click on the desired car. You can usually select a color during checkout. Confirm the purchase using your household's Meow funds.
5. Delivery: The purchased car will typically appear parked near your Zoi's current residential lot shortly after purchase.

(Image: The Dream Car app interface showing available vehicles)

Driving Your Car: Manual vs. Automatic

inZOI offers two main ways to use cars for travel:

Manual Driving (Direct Control)

This allows you to personally pilot the vehicle around the city.

• Enable Setting: Manual driving might be disabled by default. To enable it, go to Options (Esc) > Gameplay > Driving and toggle "Enable Manual Driving" to ON.
• Enter Car: Click on the car and select "Get in Car (Driver's Seat)". Only the Zoi who owns the car (or potentially designated family members) can drive.
• Controls: Use the standard driving controls (see table below).
• Gameplay: Offers a more immersive experience. Allows you to explore freely but requires active control. Be aware that manual driving can lead to accidents if you collide with other vehicles or Zois.

Automatic Driving ("Drive Here" / Fast Travel)

This functions more like a directed fast travel option using the car.

• Initiate Travel: Open the City Map ([M]). Select a destination lot or point on the map. Choose the "Drive Here" option (this appears if the active Zoi owns a car).
• Process: Your Zoi will automatically walk to their car (it often summons nearby if not close), get in, and the game will simulate the drive, usually fading out and loading you near the destination much faster than manual driving would take.
• Benefit: Convenient for getting places quickly without needing to navigate traffic manually. Less risk of accidents initiated by your Zoi.

Driving Controls (Manual Mode for Cars)

Input	Action	Notes
[W]	Accelerate
[S]	Brake / Reverse
[A] / [D]	Steer Left / Right
[Left Mouse Click] (while driving)	Honk Horn	Confirmation needed if this persists in final build
[Tab]	Switch Camera Perspective	Toggles between 3rd person (outside) & 1st person (inside)
Click Car/Interact (when stopped)	Get Out / Other Interactions

See Full Controls List (Controls for motorcycles may differ slightly upon their release).

Car Interactions & Features (Beyond Driving)

Cars in inZOI aren't just for transport; they have several interactive elements:

• Get In/Out: Zois can enter specific seats (Driver, Passenger, Rear Seats).
• Open/Close Trunk: Interact with the front or rear trunk. (Functionality for storage TBD).
• Wash Car: Clean a dirty car to restore its appearance.
• Repair: Fix the car if it becomes damaged (likely after accidents, though damage mechanics are minimal).
• Take Selfie With Car: A social/hobby interaction that may boost Media Production skill.
• Roll Windows Up/Down: Individually control window positions.
• Toggle Lights: Turn headlights, emergency lights, and turn signals on/off.

Vehicle Customization & Future Additions

• Color: You can typically select the car's primary color during purchase via the Dream Car app.
• Upcoming Customization: The developers have stated that vehicle personalization features are in development and are a high priority, planned for release around the August 2025 update. This suggests that future updates will introduce more ways to personalize vehicles (e.g., wheels, accessories, paint finishes, possibly performance tuning - though this is speculative).
• New Vehicle Type - Motorcycles: Excitingly, motorcycles are planned to be introduced as a new, smaller vehicle type, also around the August 2025 update. These will offer a different driving experience, enhancing the atmosphere and storytelling possibilities.

Important Limitations & Considerations

• Ownership: While purchased via the smartphone, car ownership seems tied to individual Zois. How household sharing works precisely is still being refined.
• Age Restriction: Children cannot drive cars. Driving is typically available from the Teenager stage onwards. Similar restrictions will likely apply to motorcycles.
• Accidents & Consequences: Manual driving allows for collisions.
  • Minor Collisions: Often result in the drivers getting out, arguing briefly, and then continuing.
  • Hitting Zois: Colliding with pedestrian Zois (Street Zois or playable ones) can cause injury or death. This can have significant Karma implications and potentially lead to the driving Zoi being arrested (especially with upcoming Karma system enhancements including jail time). See Can You Murder Zois?
• Physics & Damage: Car physics are simplified. Don't expect realistic driving simulation or detailed vehicle damage models. This will likely apply to motorcycles as well, with a focus on feel over complex physics.
• Getting Stuck: A known bug sometimes prevents Zois from exiting the car. If this happens, use the Emergency Rescue option in Psycat's Guide (book icon in UI) to reset the Zoi outside the vehicle. See Emergency Rescue Guide.
• Other Vehicle Types: Currently, only standard cars are confirmed for the initial Early Access. Motorcycles are the next planned addition. Boats, planes, etc., are not confirmed features.

Conclusion

Cars in inZOI add a layer of realism, personalization, and an alternative travel method. While the driving mechanics themselves are relatively simple, the ability to own, customize (color currently, more to come), and manually drive provides engaging roleplaying opportunities. The upcoming addition of motorcycles and deeper vehicle personalization will further enhance this aspect of the game. Just remember to drive carefully if you choose manual control, as the consequences of accidents can be significant!