Car Radio

The Car Radio is a deployable car accessory that allows players to stream music while a car is turned on. Facepunch added electricity components in the Electric Anniversary update on the 7th of December, 2018, with many items like this coming with the Voice Props DLC patch in July of 2021. The Car Radio was added much later than either of these, coming in the December 2024 patch.

Players may deploy the Car Radio on any chassis-based vehicle they possess and have unfettered access to.

Full instructional information about how to craft and install the Car Radio is listed below. Only players with the blueprint may craft these devices, but anyone may use or deploy them. Players must have access to a tier 1 workbench to craft them.

How to craft a Car Radio in RUST

In order to craft the Car Radio, you must first own the Voice Props Pack DLC, then take the following steps:

1. Gather the necessary crafting materials, which are 120 Metal Fragments
2. Verify the crafting materials are in your inventory.
3. Standing next to a Level 1 Workbench, press the Q key to open the crafting screen.
4. Now, type “Car Radio” in the search bar and click on the applicable icon.
5. Then, in the lower right-hand corner, press the Craft button.
6. Wait for 15 seconds, and you’ll have crafted a Car Radio.

Once the Car Radio has finished crafting, it will appear inside your inventory, ready for use.

How to use a Car Radio in RUST

To use a Car Radio in RUST, you must:

1. Add the Car Radio to any hot bar slot.
2. Click on the hot bar location to activate the slot.
3. Next, approach a fully constructed vehicle that is either locked or you have the authorization code to use.
4. Pressing the Left Mouse Button while next to the vehicle will ‘equip’ the Car Radio onto the car’s dashboard.
5. Being seated in the vehicle, players should notice the radio on the dashboard.  
6. The Car Radio is only usable while the vehicle is on and may be toggled and changed by either the driver (hopefully while stationary) or the passenger. 
7. Players may also remove the radio with a Hammer while inside the vehicle.
8. With the vehicle running, look at the Car Radio until a prompt appears, and hold down the E key.
9. Pressing Play will play the last station this Car Radio was on or the default station.
10. Pressing Change Station allows players to pick any of the pre-programmed stations available on that particular server. Once selected, press Save.
11. Repeat the process and press Play this time, and the station will play if properly tuned in.
12. Pressing the E key again will stop the music.