Salvage County looks open-ended because it is, but the game underneath is simple and rewarding once the loop clicks. This guide takes you from the character screen to your first successful sale, and points out the mistakes that cost new players time and money.
1. Choose your player
When you launch the beta, create an account or load an existing one, then choose your character. Your account is what saves your money, your owned vehicles, and your progress, so it's worth setting up properly on the first run rather than playing as a guest and losing your work.
2. Select a starter truck
Your truck is your entire business. The starter truck has a modest bed, which is a good thing while you learn — it forces you to make real choices about what to carry. Before you drive off, get a feel for two things: how much fits in the bed, and how the truck handles when it's loaded versus empty. A full bed changes braking and cornering.
3. Search the city
Scrap spawns around the map in believable places: alleys behind buildings, dumpsters, empty lots, and neglected structures. On your first few runs, don't sprint across the whole county. Pick one district, learn where material tends to appear, and build a short, repeatable route. Familiar routes are faster than exploration once you know what you're doing.
As you drive, start reading scrap at a glance. You'll learn to recognize the difference between a heavy, low-value steel piece and a compact, high-value find. That instinct is the single biggest skill in the game.
4. Load what fits
Pick scrap up and place it into the truck bed. The bed detects what's actually inside it, so items need to sit in the cargo area — not balanced on the tailgate or wedged against a wheel. Bigger items take more space, so pack deliberately: flat, heavy pieces on the bottom, awkward shapes fitted around them.
- Pack low and central so the load doesn't bounce out on rough roads.
- Leave the tall, unstable item for last — or skip it if it'll cost you the rest of the load.
- Know when to stop. A slightly under-packed bed you deliver beats an overloaded one you spill.
5. Sell at the scrapyard
Drive your haul to the scrapyard and pull onto the scale/selling area to convert it into fictional in-game Salvage County Dollars. Different scrap types are worth different amounts, so pay attention to which loads pay best — that tells you what to prioritize on your next run.
6. Save your progress
Before you close the game, use the save and logout system. Because the game is in beta, saving is being actively improved — building the habit of saving before you leave protects your run from any hiccups.
Common beginner mistakes
- Overloading and spilling. A dropped load on the highway is worse than a smaller, safe one.
- Driving loaded like it's empty. Brake earlier and corner slower with weight in the bed.
- Wandering with no route. Learn one district first; expand once it's automatic.
- Forgetting to save. Save and log out properly so progress sticks.
Where to go next
Once the loop feels natural, level up your decision-making with the Economy Guide (what's actually worth carrying) and the Vehicle Guide (loading and handling in depth). Playing solo? See the Single Player Guide. Want to test hosted worlds? Read the Multiplayer Guide.