Off the track
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the community's most common questions.
Starting and keeping the game running
Is the game free?
Yes. You can play for free on Steam. Additional content is optional.
How do I open a part's options?
Right-click an item in the regular or Steam Inventory, or an equipment slot in the Garage, to open its available options.
Can I drive or control the car?
In championships, driving is automatic: your role is to prepare the car, choose equipment, and develop Mastery. To drive yourself, use Driving Mode, which doesn't count toward championships and gives no rewards.
Can I leave it running while I work or sleep?
Yes, with the game open and connected. You keep racing. Available Depot and Inventory space limits how many crates and parts you can keep.
Is there offline progress?
You can receive Credit and Mastery while away after unlocking each benefit in the Mastery tree. These rewards do not simulate races or advance championships. Progress already earned is preserved.
Does closing and reopening the game reset my progress?
No. Your Garage, Mastery, Collection, and Tour progress are preserved. Returning before a race ends lets you resume it; returning afterward does not recover rewards lost through absence.
How do I change my name?
In the Garage, click your name or the flag at the top and use Edit Profile. Name and country can be edited every 7 days.
Is the soundtrack from Top Gear?
No. Desk Top Racer has its own soundtrack. The soundtrack pack lets you access it through Steam.
Tour and League
I finished ten races. Why didn't I advance?
You need to finish in the top three overall in the championship. Completing ten races outside that range keeps you on the same stage.
If I don't qualify, do I go back to the previous country?
No. You play another championship on the current stage and continue earning resources from eligible races.
Can I return to an earlier stage to farm?
You cannot select or return to stages. After completing the Tour, you enter the League, where a country is selected randomly for each championship.
How many stages are there?
The Tour has 32 stages. Each championship has 10 races.
How long does it take to finish the Tour?
There is no fixed duration: your car's performance changes race length, and you may need to repeat championships. Use the map to track your current stage and those still ahead.
Why did another country appear after New Zealand?
Completing New Zealand finishes the Tour and unlocks the League. League championships use randomly selected countries; this does not reset your Tour.
Where can I see the League rankings?
Open the trophy icon. After the Tour, the League offers Overview, History and Standings. Full Leaderboard opens the complete website list and is available even while the League is locked.
How are championship standings different from League rankings?
Championship standings combine the points from ten races. League rankings use MMR, updated from each championship's final result.
How does the game find opponents?
In the Tour, matchmaking brings together players on the same stage. In the League, the range is fixed at ±150 MMR around the room's reference and never widens with waiting time. After up to 60 seconds, any remaining slots are filled with racers of a matching level.
Why did I start the League at 0 MMR?
Every newcomer enters the League at 0 MMR and climbs through their own results, instead of landing straight among veterans.
What does the daily weather change?
Each weather type gives one stat 30% more weight in that day's races; Mild is neutral. It doesn't change the races' reference length, Power, points or rewards.
When does the weather change?
At midnight UTC, for all players at the same time. A race that has already been formed finishes in the weather it started in.
Why do some racers appear without a flag?
The flag shows the racer's profile country: the one they chose in Edit Profile or, if they haven't chosen, the country from their Steam connection. A racer with no country on record appears without a flag.
I just joined the League. What opponents will I face?
In the early League tiers, rooms gather opponents close to your car's performance. Players arriving from the Tour compete in the middle of the table and have opponents to overtake; a better car climbs faster. We follow community feedback to keep the League as fair as possible.
How long can matchmaking take?
The formation window can last up to 60 seconds. It ends sooner when the required player quota is met.
Is there an extra reward for winning the championship?
There is no additional Credit or Mastery prize for the overall standings. Each race awards its own rewards. The championship result determines Tour advancement or League MMR changes.
Does each country have a different track?
Yes. Each stage has its own layout, environment, and music. Straights and corners favor different stat combinations.
Are teams or private leagues available yet?
They are not part of the current game modes. The game has Tour, Standard League and Season. Follow official announcements for news.
What is the Season?
It is a two-month competition within the League in which everyone races in the same Class. Each championship gives a score based on the real players you beat, and your average score sets your position and your division, from Bronze to Legend.
Does the Season affect my MMR?
No. While you race in the Season, your Standard League MMR is paused. The rewards from each race are the same as in the Standard League.
Why don't I see the POINTS block in the Garage?
The block only appears when you are racing in the Season and your car's Performance is above the Season's Class. The first point comes at 425 Performance.
Crates, storage, and automation
Do crates arrive on a timer?
No. They are awarded at the end of eligible races according to your crate chance.
What is the chance of receiving a crate?
The permanent base chance is 50% per race, reaching 60% with both crate-chance Mastery nodes. Equipped Gizmo Goodfind adds the bonus for its level. Check your total under Profile → Benefits.
Does 50% guarantee one crate every two races?
No. The permanent probability is not an alternating delivery schedule. You can have several races with a crate or several without one.
What's the difference between Inventory and Depot?
The Depot stores unopened crates. The Inventory holds unequipped parts and consumables such as DTR Coin. Equipped parts do not occupy those inventory slots.
How many crates can I store?
5 initially, plus 5 from Mastery and 10 from the Depot expansion: up to 20 with both.
What happens when the Depot is full?
The new crate is not stored. You still receive Credit and Mastery from eligible races.
What if my Inventory is full when I open a crate?
The opening is refused and the crate is not consumed. Free up space before trying again.
Can I expand my Inventory?
Yes. The base capacity is 10 unequipped parts. Capacity nodes in Mastery increase it, and the Warehouse terminal node has repeatable levels.
How does automatic opening work?
Automation opens one crate every 7 eligible, settled races. The four Conveyor levels reduce that interval to 3 races. It is not a timer.
Does automation open every crate at once?
No. It opens one crate when it reaches the interval. If there's no crate or Inventory space, it waits for an opportunity; it doesn't save up openings to use all at once.
Do premium cars increase crate chance?
No. Premium cars differ in stats. The car pack does not add crate chance.
Does advancing to a new country increase crate chance?
Progression unlocks new equipment rarities. The permanent chance of receiving a crate includes the base, Mastery and equipped-mascot bonus; it is separate from the probability of each rarity.
When do I unlock Rare and Epic?
Rare unlocks in Colombia, stage 5. Epic unlocks in South Africa, stage 20. Legendary, Mythic and Exotic become available in the League.
Can I still get Common parts after advancing?
Yes. Later phases add possibilities, but Common parts remain available.
What are the chances for each rarity and for [M]?
Use the drops table: select your stage and check the rarity distribution and conditional [M] chance. They are separate rolls.
Cars, equipment, and Collection
Do other racers see my scenery?
No. Only you see the scenery, behind the track and the mascot. The car's paint, neon and plate are visible to everyone.
How do I unlock new colors for my car?
Keep racing with the car: each mileage level gives one paint point, and each point unlocks one color. Click the car in the Garage to open the Workshop, use the car's Customize button and open the Paint tab.
Do paint, neon or plates change the car's performance?
No. They are purely cosmetic and don't change attributes, Power, performance or rewards.
Do Credit cars have different stats?
No. They share the same base stat distribution. Choose the look and build performance with parts, upgrades, Mastery, Collection and your equipped mascot.
What's different about DLC cars?
The three Premium Car Pack cars have their own stat distributions. The pack unlocks all three while ownership remains active.
Do several cars race at the same time?
No. Only the active car participates. Each car keeps its own Condition, paint, neon, plate and mileage; parts live in the loadouts, which work for every car.
Do my parts work for every car?
Yes. Parts live in up to three loadouts, and any car can use any loadout. Switch loadouts with the 1, 2 and 3 buttons in the Garage.
Can I use the same part in two loadouts?
No. A part sits in one loadout at a time. To use it in another, unequip it first.
Does switching cars strip my equipment?
No. The activated car keeps the loadout it last used; if it has never raced, it starts with the loadout that was in use.
Does buying a car activate it?
Yes. A car you buy becomes your active car right away, with the loadout that was in use. To go back to another car, use Activate in the Workshop.
When does a car, loadout or equipment change take effect in a race?
When the next race is formed. An already-formed race keeps the car, parts, stats, and Condition it started with.
How do I get Scrap?
Dismantle unequipped parts from the right-click menu or choose Scrap in Plincar. Dismantling grants the rarity's base yield plus 25% of the total standard Scrap upgrade costs, without Mastery discounts.
How do I upgrade a part?
Choose Upgrade from the item's menu and confirm the cost. Upgrading consumes Credit and Scrap.
Is there an upgrade limit?
Part upgrades have no level cap. Costs increase with level; Mastery can improve efficiency and discounts.
What do Rush, Surge, Anchor, Vector, and Flow mean?
They are archetypes: Speed, Acceleration, Braking, Stability, and Aerodynamics, respectively. A part's type and archetype determine its stats.
Why doesn't Zephyra Flow exist?
The part already has Aerodynamics as its primary stat. A combination that would repeat that stat does not exist; the archetype is not converted to another stat.
Which part should I prioritize?
Fill empty equipment slots and compare stat gains and losses. Then tailor your specialization to the track. No single stat is best for every straight and corner.
Does Collection turn parts into a rarer part?
No. You contribute parts to complete a set and receive a permanent stat bonus.
Can I complete the same set more than once?
Yes. Completing a set raises its level and frees the slots so you can complete it again. Each level adds 10% of the set's base bonus, with no level cap.
Do the parts I contribute toward the next level already give a bonus?
No. The bonus only increases when all the set's slots are filled and the level goes up. Until then, the current level's bonus applies.
Can I recover a part contributed to Collection?
No. Contributing consumes the part and its upgrades. Equipping and contributing to Collection are different actions.
Does the Collection bonus apply to every car?
Yes, to your current and future cars. It affects races formed after the set is completed.
Does an [M] part give a bigger Collection bonus?
No. Compatible normal and [M] parts fill the same slot and provide the same set bonus.
Can the car only break down at zero Condition?
No. Lower Condition raises the risk. Maximum Condition prevents breakdowns; minimum Condition forces one. Check the risk shown on the bar.
Am I unable to race if I have no Credit after a breakdown?
No. Breakdown recovery repairs your car for the next race and charges no more than your available balance. This is different from preventive Mastery auto-repair.
How do manual repair, auto-repair, and breakdown recovery differ?
Manual repair is a paid action. Auto-repair is an upgrade that checks Condition at race end and needs sufficient funds. Breakdown recovery lets you continue and caps the charge at your available balance.
Steam and rewards
How do I recognize a part that can go to Steam?
It has [M] in its name and a Steam-item label. Being a duplicate or high rarity is not enough.
Does [M] only appear on rare parts?
No. All seven rarities have [M] versions, including Common.
Is there a minimum level to obtain [M]?
There is no minimum stage for an [M] version of an already available rarity. The marker can appear even on a Common part.
Is [M] the same as the normal version?
No. It has its own fixed stat distribution and a higher total stat value than the normal version of the same rarity.
Does the item automatically go to Steam Inventory?
No. It appears in the in-game Inventory first. To send it, it must be unequipped; open its menu and choose the Steam transfer.
Are upgrades kept on Steam?
No. Transferring to Steam removes upgrades. Importing also brings the part in without upgrades.
Can I bring a Steam item into the game?
Yes, if there's Inventory space and the item is available. An item sent from the game to Steam has a 4-hour return cooldown.
Does buying an item on the market equip it?
No. Refresh Steam Inventory in-game, select the available item, send it to the in-game Inventory, then equip it on the car you want.
How do I find a part's market listing?
In Steam Inventory, right-click a unit and choose Open Steam Market. You can also open that listing from the menu of an empty Collection slot. To see all the game's items, use the Steam Market button at the top of Steam Inventory.
What is Credit used for?
Buying Credit cars, repairing vehicles, and upgrading and recalibrating parts. Upgrades and Recalibrations also cost Scrap.
Do rewards increase in each country?
Base rewards are the same across Tour stages. The League has its own higher reward table. Mastery and your equipped mascot can add bonuses.
Do second and third place get the same base reward?
Yes. They belong to the same race-reward tier in both the Tour and League.
Selling parts and Plincar
How can I get Credit besides racing?
You can sell unequipped parts in your Inventory or choose Credit as the reward for a Plincar play. Selling consumes the part; each Plincar play costs 1 DTR Coin.
Can I sell or dismantle several parts at once?
Yes. Select parts with the checkbox in the card's corner or with Ctrl + click (Cmd + click on macOS), then use Sell or Dismantle on the batch bar below the Inventory. A batch is all or nothing, and the total is the sum of what each part would yield on its own.
How do I protect a part from being sold by mistake?
Right-click it and choose Lock. A locked part cannot be sold, dismantled, used in the Collection, sent to Steam or selected for a batch, but it can still be equipped and upgraded. Unlocking is free.
Should I sell or dismantle?
Selling grants Credit; dismantling grants Scrap. Check the part's values and choose the resource you need. You cannot use the same part for both actions.
Does an upgraded part sell for more?
Yes. In addition to the rarity's base price, it returns 25% of its total standard Credit upgrade costs, without Mastery discounts and with the final bonus rounded down.
Does the return depend on what I paid with discounts?
No. It uses the current table's standard costs for the part's rarity and level. Equivalent parts return the same amount.
Does selling an [M] part list it on the Steam Market?
No. Selling in the game consumes the local part and grants in-game Credit. Transferring to Steam and trading on the market are separate actions.
Does Plincar cost any resources?
Yes. Each play costs 1 DTR Coin from the game Inventory. It does not charge Credit, Scrap or Mastery.
Do I earn free spins by racing?
No. Races do not generate spins. If your panel shows free spins, they remain valid until you use them.
I have free spins in Plincar. How do they work?
They do not expire and are used first, without spending a coin. When they run out, the panel shows the cost in DTR Coin.
Can I choose the slot or control the car?
No. You choose the resource before playing. The route and final slot are automatic.
How do I view the full leaderboard?
Open the League and click Full Leaderboard in the top-right corner. On the website, use name search, the country filter and pagination.
Can I automatically sell or dismantle several parts at once?
Not yet. These actions are currently performed one part at a time and require confirmation. The Mastery automations available are crate opening and auto-repair.
Mascots and DTR Coin
How do I open mascot selection?
Click your mascot beside the HUD or open Activities → Mascots. The first tab shows your collection; the second opens the machine.
How do I get other mascots?
Use 1 DTR Coin from your in-game Inventory in the Mascot Machine. The first copy unlocks the character; duplicates fill the upgrade bar.
How does a mascot level up?
Upgrades are automatic. After the first copy, you need 10 copies for level 2, another 20 for level 3, another 40 for level 4 and so on.
Do all mascot bonuses stack?
No. Only the equipped mascot grants its bonus. Switching mascots or leveling up affects future races formed afterward.
Does hiding a mascot remove its bonus?
No. The head-shaped shortcut only shows or hides the figure. The character stays equipped.
Does Dex Racer provide any stats?
No. It is the starter mascot and displays No stats.
Where does DTR Coin come from?
Every crate has a 10% chance to award a DTR Coin instead of equipment. A crate gives a single item. Weekly Missions also pay DTR Coin, which stays in the game only.
Can I use a coin that is on Steam?
Only coins in your in-game Inventory pay for plays. Bring an available unit back from Steam, respecting the return cooldown.
Can I sell or dismantle DTR Coin in-game?
No. It is a consumable with no equipping, upgrades, Credit sale, dismantling or Collection contribution. You can send it to Steam to trade on the Community Market.
TrackCards
How do I get a TrackCard?
On the Tour, finishing a championship in the top three unlocks that country's card. In the League, each championship you race in a country earns a copy of that country's card.
When does my equipped set take effect?
In the next championship after you save. The championship in progress keeps the cards that were saved when it started.
Can I buy copies?
Yes. With Evolve, each copy costs 1 DTR Coin from the in-game Inventory, up to what's missing for the next rarity.
Does the in-country performance bonus always apply?
No. It only applies in championships held in the card's country. The part and attribute bonuses apply in any championship.
Can I sell a TrackCard or send it to Steam?
No. Cards stay in your collection, outside the Inventory and Steam.
Driving Mode and Weekly Missions
Does Driving Mode give rewards or points?
No. It doesn't count toward championships, points or League ranking and gives no Credit, Mastery or crates. It doesn't use up your car's Condition either.
Does my automatic race stop while I drive?
No. It keeps running in the background and earns as usual. Items obtained during that time appear when you go back to automatic.
Do my parts make a difference in Driving Mode?
No. Cars are the same for everyone and it all comes down to your driving. You drive your active Garage car with its look, including paint, neon and plate.
What do I need to start a Multiplayer race?
The room needs at least 2 players, all ready. Whoever created the room starts the race.
When do weekly missions change?
Every Monday at midnight UTC. The panel shows the time left.
Can I swap a mission?
Yes, up to 2 times per week, as long as it isn't complete yet. The new mission can come at any difficulty and progress on the old one is lost.
I completed a mission and didn't claim it. Is the reward kept?
Only until the weekly reset. After it, the whole list is replaced and the unclaimed reward is lost.
Can I sell DTR Coin from missions on Steam?
No. DTR Coin from missions stays in the game only: it pays for the same activities, but cannot be sent to the Steam Inventory or traded on the Market.
Offline rewards
How do I unlock offline rewards?
Offline Credit follows Income; Offline Mastery follows Learning. Each benefit is bought separately and applies to future absences.
Do I need to complete a full hour offline to earn rewards?
No. Rewards are proportional to your time away. You receive whole resources, while fractions are saved for later payments.
How long can rewards accumulate?
Each resource starts with a 4-hour limit per absence. Time upgrades can raise it to 6 hours. Credit and Mastery have independent limits.
What if I stay away longer than the limit?
You are paid only for the time allowed in each branch. Excess time from that absence is not saved for later.
Do I have to confirm the notification to receive my rewards?
No. Resources are added at login. Opening the Garage displays the notification; Confirm simply closes it.
Where can I see my offline earnings rate?
Under Profile → Benefits, check Offline Credit, Offline Mastery and the time limit for each resource.
Do race or mascot bonuses increase offline rewards?
No. Offline earnings use fixed rates determined by their own unlock and earning-rate nodes in the Mastery tree.
Can I receive crates, Scrap or DTR Coin offline?
No. Offline benefits grant Credit and Mastery only. They do not open crates, perform repairs, change MMR or advance the Tour.
Does an upgrade bought on return increase the previous absence's reward?
No. The period uses the rate and limit you had when you left. Purchases on return apply to the next absence.