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How to Buy New Cars in Iracing

New to iRacing? Learn how to buy new cars in iracing, choose the right car for your series, and save money with smart discounts—clear, simple steps for beginners.

If you’ve opened the UI and thought, “Wait… where do I actually buy cars?”, you’re not alone. The store can feel like a maze when you’re new to iRacing. Take a breath—this is simpler than it looks, and I’ll guide you through it calmly so you buy the right car the first time.

Quick Answer: how to buy new cars in iracing

You buy cars through the iRacing app’s Store: open the UI, go to Store > Cars, pick your car, add it to cart, and check out. The car downloads automatically and is ready to drive in Test Drive, AI, or your chosen series. You only need to own the car you’ll drive and the tracks on the schedule.

Simple Step-by-Step Guide

  1. Open the iRacing UI and go to Store > Cars
    Filter by discipline (oval/road/dirt), license level, or series.

  2. Open the car’s page
    Read the overview, check difficulty notes, and look at “Used In” to see which series run it this season.

  3. Add to Cart and review pricing
    Volume discounts often apply (buying multiple items in one checkout can reduce the price). Confirm your total before you pay.

  4. Check out securely
    Pay with your saved card or PayPal. Purchases are permanent on your iRacing account (you keep content even if your membership lapses, but you need an active membership to use it).

  5. Download and drive
    The car downloads inside the UI. Use Test Drive or create an AI session to get comfortable before entering official races.

Why This Matters for Beginners

Here’s how iRacing works in practice: each official series uses specific cars and tracks on a weekly schedule. iRacing beginners often assume they must buy a lot of cars at once. You don’t. Start with the car for the one series you actually plan to run next (and make sure you own the tracks on that schedule). This keeps costs down and your learning focused.

Quick Pro Tips

  • Pick a series first, then buy the car for that series. It’s the most budget- and learning-friendly path.
  • Check the season schedule: you need to own the tracks to race every week. Plan purchases around the tracks you’ll actually use.
  • Use volume discounts: group a car plus a few tracks in one checkout to save.
  • Unsure between cars in the same class? Watch a few onboard laps on YouTube and choose the one that looks stable and forgiving.
  • New to iRacing and want easy learning? Start with fixed-setup series—less tuning, more driving.

Common Mistakes (and easy fixes)

  • Buying “what pros drive” instead of what fits you: choose the calmer, more stable option while you learn.
  • Owning a car but not the tracks: you’ll sit on the sidelines on race night. Always cross-check the series schedule first.
  • Spreading thin across categories: focus on one discipline for a few weeks to build speed and consistency.

When to Ask for Help

If you’re stuck choosing, hop into a friendly iRacing Discord community or the official forums and ask, “I’m new to iRacing—planning to run [series]. Which car is most beginner-friendly?” You’ll get quick, real-world feedback without guesswork.

FAQs

  • Do I need to buy every car in a series?
    No. You only need to own the car you’ll drive and the tracks on the schedule. You don’t need to own your competitors’ cars.

  • Are purchases permanent?
    Yes. Cars you buy stay on your account. You need an active membership to use them, but you don’t lose content when your membership expires.

  • Can I buy through Steam?
    Your content is attached to your iRacing account and is purchased via the iRacing Store in the UI/member site. That’s where you manage everything.

  • How can I save money?
    Plan purchases around one series, bundle items in one checkout for volume discounts, and watch for seasonal sales or promotions.