# Quick Start Guide

<p align="center">
  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/XelaNull/FS25_UsedPlus/master/gui/icons/lightbulb.png" width="96">
</p>


## Key Controls

| Action | Control |
|--------|---------|
| **Finance Manager** | **Esc** → Finance Manager |
| **Search Used Vehicles** | **U** in shop |
| **Repair/Repaint Vehicle** | Click owned vehicle on map |
| **Buy/Lease Land** | Click unowned field on map |

---

## Buying Your First Vehicle

### Option 1: Finance (Recommended for expensive equipment)

1. Go to the **Shop**
2. Select any vehicle
3. Click **Buy** → Opens Unified Purchase Dialog
4. Choose **Finance** mode
5. Adjust:
   - **Down Payment** (0-50% depending on credit)
   - **Loan Term** (1-15 years)
   - **Cash Back** (optional, for working capital)
6. Click **Confirm**

Your monthly payment will be deducted automatically.

<p align="center">
  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/XelaNull/FS25_UsedPlus/master/screenshots/purchase_vehicle_finance.png" alt="Purchase Dialog - Finance Mode" width="80%">
  <br><em>Unified Purchase Dialog showing Finance options with trade-in capability</em>
</p>

### Option 2: Lease (Lower monthly payments)

1. Same as above, but choose **Lease** mode
2. Lower monthly payments than financing
3. At lease end: Return, Buyout, or Renew

### Option 3: Search for Used

1. Press **U** in the shop (or click "Search Used")
2. Choose an **Agent Tier**:
   - **Local** ($500) - 5% discount, small selection
   - **Regional** ($2,000) - 15% discount, medium selection
   - **National** ($5,000) - 30% discount, best selection
3. Wait for search to complete
4. **Inspect** the vehicle to check quality
5. **Negotiate** the price
6. Purchase with Cash, Finance, or Lease

<p align="center">
  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/XelaNull/FS25_UsedPlus/master/screenshots/search_for_used_equipment.png" alt="Search for Used Equipment" width="70%">
  <br><em>Agent selection - higher tiers find better deals but cost more upfront</em>
</p>

---

## Managing Your Finances

Press **Esc** and select **Finance Manager** to open it.

### Finances Tab
- View all active loans and leases
- Make payments (Skip, Minimum, Standard, Double, Custom)
- Early payoff with interest savings
- See payment history

### Credit Report Tab
- Your credit score (300-850)
- Payment history breakdown
- Credit factors explained

### Searches Tab
- Active agent searches
- Found vehicle listings
- Pending inspections

### Sales Tab
- Vehicles listed for sale
- Incoming offers
- Accept/decline/counter

---

## Repairing & Repainting Vehicles

Keep your equipment in top condition to maintain reliability and resale value.

### How to Repair/Repaint

1. **Open the Map**
2. **Click on your vehicle**
3. **Select "Repair" or "Repaint"**
4. Choose full or partial service
5. Finance the cost if needed

<p align="center">
  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/XelaNull/FS25_UsedPlus/master/screenshots/mechanical_repair.png" alt="Mechanical Repair" width="70%">
  <br><em>Repair options - choose full or partial repair based on budget and vehicle condition</em>
</p>

<p align="center">
  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/XelaNull/FS25_UsedPlus/master/screenshots/repaint_vehicle.png" alt="Repaint Service" width="70%">
  <br><em>Repaint options - full or partial repaint to restore appearance and value</em>
</p>

<p align="center">
  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/XelaNull/FS25_UsedPlus/master/screenshots/maintenance_report.png" alt="Maintenance Report" width="70%">
  <br><em>Service summary showing detailed breakdown of repairs, parts replaced, and costs</em>
</p>

**Pro Tip:** Regular maintenance prevents costly [[Malfunctions|malfunctions]] and maintains [[Vehicle-DNA|DNA]] performance potential.

---

## Building Credit

**Start:** 650 (Fair)
**Goal:** 750+ (Excellent)

> **Credit builds SLOWLY but drops FAST** - The system was rebalanced in v2.9.6 to require long-term consistency. Excellent credit takes 5+ years of perfect payments to achieve.

<p align="center">
  <img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/XelaNull/FS25_UsedPlus/master/screenshots/credit_report.png" alt="Credit Report" width="70%">
  <br><em>Your credit report shows score, tier, and complete payment history</em>
</p>

| Action | Credit Impact |
|--------|---------------|
| On-time payment | **+2 points** (base) + streak bonus |
| Pay off loan early | **+15 points** |
| Late payment | **-15 points** |
| Miss a payment | **-45 points** (3x worse than late) |
| Vehicle repossessed | **-175 points** (devastating!) |
| Loan defaulted | **-200 points** (catastrophic!) |

**Recovery time after one missed payment:**
- One miss = -45 points
- Recovery at +2 per payment = **23 months** of perfect payments

Better credit unlocks:
- Lower interest rates (3.5% vs 12%)
- Longer loan terms (up to 20 years for land, 15 years for vehicles/buildings)
- Lower down payment requirements
- Building financing (750+ required)

---

## Tips for New Players

1. **Start small** - Finance a cheap tractor first to build credit
2. **Never miss payments** - The credit hit is severe
3. **Inspect before buying used** - DNA determines long-term reliability
4. **Check the weather** - Negotiate on bad weather days for better deals
5. **Don't insult sellers** - Lowball too hard and they walk away forever

---

## Next Steps

- Learn about [[Credit Scoring]] to maximize your financial power
- Understand [[Vehicle DNA]] to avoid buying lemons
- Explore the [[Used Marketplace]] for deals