Why this matters
Vehicles are some of the most expensive purchases in the game — a tank or attack helicopter can run into five figures. Losing one to damage you could have repaired is an expensive mistake.
Steps
- Carry a Repair Tool ($150) as a matter of habit, especially if you're a Driver, Pilot, or Support player. It's a trivial cost relative to what it can save.
- Disengage to cover before repairing, if the fight allows it. Repairing in the open under fire is rarely worth it — reposition behind terrain or a structure first.
- Repair proactively at natural lulls, not only after taking heavy damage. Topping off a vehicle at 70% health during a quiet moment is cheaper than an emergency repair at 10% under fire.
- Use a FOB's Mechanical Supplies stock if one is nearby, rather than relying solely on a personal Repair Tool for larger repair jobs.
- Know when to cut losses. If a vehicle is critically damaged and the position is still hot, sometimes bailing and preserving the crew is the better call than trying to save an unsalvageable vehicle.
Common mistakes
- Never carrying a Repair Tool, turning a survivable hit into a total loss.
- Attempting repairs in the open under active fire instead of relocating first.
- Waiting until a vehicle is nearly destroyed to start repairing instead of maintaining it proactively.
- Abandoning a vehicle that could have been saved with a quick repair, wasting the cash it cost to field.
See also: Role Guide: Driver, Building and Supplying a FOB, Gear & Equipment Reference.