how to get car in starfield

[DeEsther]

Getting your first ship in Starfield is a core part of the game's freedom. Essentially, you acquire ships through four main methods: purchase, quest rewards, theft, and building. The most straightforward way for a new player is to simply follow the main questline, which rewards you with a capable starter ship early on.

The primary method is purchasing ships from vendors located at major spaceports like New Atlantis on Jemison or Akila City on Akila. You'll need a substantial amount of Credits. Another common method is earning ships as rewards for completing major faction quests or specific missions; these are often more powerful than early-game purchases. For the adventurous, you can attempt to commandeer ships by docking with them in space or finding them on planets, but this requires mastering the targeting control systems skill to disable engines. Finally, the ultimate end-game goal is building a custom ship from scratch at a ship services technician, which involves gathering massive resources and credits.

Here’s a comparison of some early-game acquisition methods:

Method	Ship Name (Example)	Approximate Cost (Credits)	Key Advantage	Major Disadvantage
Main Quest Reward	The Frontier	Free	Available immediately, introduces core mechanics	Basic stats, limited upgrade potential
Purchase (New Atlantis)	Rambler	~ 40,000	Slight upgrade over starter ship	Costs all early-game money, minor improvement
Faction Quest Reward	Star Eagle (Freestar Collective)	Free (upon quest completion)	Exceptional shield and weaponry for mid-game	Requires significant time investment in questline
Theft (Hostile Ship)	Va'ruun Hymn	Free (after registering)	Instant access to a different ship class	Requires combat/boarding skills, registration fee is high

Before you can fly any ship you acquire, you must register it. This can be done instantly from your ship menu, but it costs a significant portion of the ship's value. Registration essentially makes the ship legally yours, allowing you to sell or modify it. Always factor the registration fee into your decision to steal a ship, as it can sometimes cost more than the ship is worth.

[CharlotteFitz]

Save your credits at the beginning. The ship you get from the main story, the Frontier, is perfectly fine for the first dozen hours. Instead of blowing your hard-earned money on a minor upgrade, invest in better gear or ship parts. I found that by the time I had enough for a worthwhile ship, I was already getting a much better one for free by just helping out the Freestar Collective. Stealing ships is fun, but the registration fee is a killer.

[OPhoebe]

Head to a major city's spaceport and talk to the Ship Services Technician. You can browse and buy ships directly from them. It's the safest and most straightforward legal method. Just be prepared for the price tags; decent ships cost a small fortune. I'd recommend getting a feel for the game with your starter ship first, so you know what kind of upgrades you actually want to pay for later.

[VanElisa]

Don't overlook the faction quests. I focused on the Freestar Ranger missions in Akila City, and the ship they give you as a reward—the Star Eagle—is an absolute beast. It has strong shields and cargo space that handled everything I needed for the middle part of the game. It felt way more rewarding than just grinding for credits, and you get a great story along with it. It's like getting paid with a top-tier vehicle instead of a cash bonus.

[Herb]

The real endgame is ship building. Once you have the credits and resources, you can build something truly unique. You start with a basic frame and add Habs for living space, different engines, weapons, shields, and a grav drive. It's a deep system. My advice is to use a ship you earn or buy as a template. Tinker with it, see what parts work together, and then you'll be ready to design your own perfect ship from the ground up.