Customizing your ride in Watch Dogs 2 transforms standard San Francisco street cars into personalized getaway machines. While Marcus Holloway spends most of his time hacking ctOS 2.0 with his jumper and drone, driving across the Bay Area requires a reliable set of wheels that stands out from NPC traffic. Paint jobs give you complete control over your vehicle's aesthetic, letting you match your outfit or make a statement during a high-speed police chase.
Getting custom paint jobs unlocked and applied across San Francisco isn't immediately obvious when you start the game. San Francisco features dozens of vehicles spread across multiple classes, from low-end sedans to high-performance hypercars. This guide covers how vehicle customization works, where to find paint shops, how to unlock every paint job, and the best cars to customize in Marcus's garage.
How Vehicle Customization Works in Watch Dogs 2
Vehicle customization in Watch Dogs 2 revolves around specific physical locations scattered across the game map rather than an instant menu option. You cannot change your car's color on the fly from your smartphone. Instead, you must locate dedicated automotive shops or use the 3D printer at DedSec headquarters to access vehicle delivery services.
When you pull a personal vehicle from your app or visit a shop, you gain access to a selection of preset colors and finishes. The game categorizes vehicle customization into three primary areas: More analysis by Bloomberg delves into related perspectives on this issue.
- Paint colors and metallic finishes
- Performance tuning (acceleration and top speed tweaks)
- Vehicle acquisition and delivery
Every car in the game has a specific set of compatible colors. You cannot apply a matte black finish to a vehicle that only supports gloss coats, so checking individual car compatibility at a shop helps plan your aesthetic.
Finding and Using Paint Shops Across San Francisco
San Francisco is divided into distinct districts, including Silicon Valley, Oakland, Marin, and the City of San Francisco. Vehicle customization shops operate as independent garages or custom car lots marked on your map with a specific icon once discovered.
To paint a vehicle, drive your chosen car directly into the garage bay of any customization shop. A prompt will appear allowing you to enter the customization menu. If you are driving a civilian car stolen off the street, you can still bring it in to change its appearance temporarily, but you cannot save stolen cars to your permanent personal fleet.
Personal vehicles ordered through your phone's Car On Demand app automatically spawn with whatever custom paint job you last applied at a shop. If you switch vehicles or buy a new car, you will need to drive it to a shop to customize it for the first time before it saves your preferred color profile.
Unlocking Paint Jobs and Vehicle Upgrades
Unlike clothing items that you purchase with DedSec Followers or cash at standard retail stores, vehicle paint options unlock through a mix of in-game currency and exploration.
Earning Money for Customization
Paint jobs cost varying amounts of cash depending on the rarity and class of the vehicle. To fund your garage makeover, you need to hack bank accounts, complete side operations, and locate money bags hidden throughout the open world. Early game funds should prioritize core hacking skills, but mid-game players can easily spare cash for vehicle aesthetics.
Finding Hidden Vehicles
Many of the rarest vehicles in Watch Dogs 2 feature unique factory paint jobs that you cannot replicate on standard models. These special vehicles are hidden in restricted zones, underground garages, or scenic lookouts across the map. Finding these vehicles automatically adds them to your Car On Demand lineup, saving you cash and granting access to exclusive visual styles.
The Best Vehicles to Customize
Not all cars handle the same way in Watch Dogs 2. Upgrading the paint on a slow, boxy sedan might look funny during a mission, while customizing a high-end sports car makes getaway driving much smoother.
- The ZT Distant: A nimble sports car that handles tight turns through San Francisco's steep hills exceptionally well. It takes bright neon and metallic paint jobs cleanly.
- The Dangermobile: A classic van that leans into DedSec's chaotic street art aesthetic. Customizing this vehicle with wild paint schemes fits Marcus's anarchist vibe.
- The Mountain King: An off-road truck built for tearing through dirt trails in Marin County. Matte and tactical paint styles look best on this heavy chassis.
Using the Vehicle Hack skill tree is essential here. Upgrading your remote control capabilities allows you to manipulate parked cars, steer empty vehicles away from cops, or floor the gas pedal to create roadblocks. Driving your custom car is fun, but remotely hacking a customized getaway vehicle adds an extra layer of tactical gameplay.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Many players run into frustrating roadblocks when trying to build their dream garage in Watch Dogs 2. Avoiding these common mistakes saves time and in-game cash.
- Trying to save civilian cars: You cannot permanently store random cars stolen off the street in your garage. Only vehicles purchased or unlocked through world exploration stay in your Car On Demand app.
- Ignoring vehicle handling classes: Supercars look amazing with custom paint, but they spin out easily on sharp turns. Balance your aesthetic choices with vehicles you can actually control at high speeds.
- Forgetting shop locations: Pinning a GPS waypoint to the nearest custom garage before starting a long mission prevents you from getting stuck with a stock factory color scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I paint my car anywhere on the map?
No. You must drive your vehicle to a designated custom garage or automotive shop in the game world to change its paint job.
Do paint jobs improve car performance?
No. Paint jobs are purely cosmetic and have no impact on speed, armor, or handling.
How do I get more cars in my garage?
You can purchase vehicles from the Car On Demand app using in-game cash or discover hidden vehicles parked in specific locations across the open world.
Can I use custom paint jobs in multiplayer?
Yes. Any custom paint job applied to your personal vehicles in single-player carries over to online co-op sessions and multiplayer invasions.
Why won't the game let me paint a stolen car?
Stolen civilian vehicles are temporary. The customization system only saves changes made to vehicles registered in your official Car On Demand lineup.
