Learn how to unlock vehicles in Borderlands 4, when you get your first ride, vehicle controls, and how to summon them anywhere on the map.
TL;DR
You unlock your first vehicle in Borderlands 4 during the 3rd main mission “Down and Outbound” – available right after meeting Claptrap. Once unlocked, press X (PC) or Left D-Pad (console) to summon your ride anywhere on the map. All vehicles are cosmetic variations with identical performance featuring boost, jump, and combat capabilities.
Gone are the days of Scooter’s iconic Catch-a-Ride stations, but Borderlands 4 brings vehicle gameplay into the modern era with instant summoning and open-world exploration. Whether you’re tired of walking across Kairos or just want to launch yourself off the nearest cliff in style, getting your wheels is one of the first priorities in your Vault Hunter journey.
The good news? You won’t be hoofing it for long. Borderlands 4 gets you mobile much faster than previous entries, and the vehicle system is more convenient than ever.
When You Get Your First Vehicle: Mission 3
Your first vehicle unlocks during “Down and Outbound” – the 3rd main story mission. This becomes available immediately after completing “Recruitment Drive,” where you meet everyone’s favorite robot, Claptrap.
Here’s the progression:
- Recruitment Drive (Mission 1) – Meet Claptrap, learn the basics
- Mission 2 – Brief story progression
- Down and Outbound (Mission 3) – Vehicle unlock!
Pro tip: Don’t get distracted by the newly opened map areas once you finish Mission 1. Rush straight to “Down and Outbound” first – it’s an easy mission that takes maybe 10-15 minutes, and having instant vehicle access makes everything else so much smoother.
I learned this the hard way by spending an hour exploring on foot before realizing I was just a few minutes away from getting wheels. Trust me, get the vehicle first, then explore to your heart’s content.
How Vehicle Summoning Works
Once you’ve completed “Down and Outbound,” vehicle access becomes incredibly convenient:
Summoning Controls:
- PC: Press X key
- Console: Press Left D-Pad
Key Features:
- Summon anywhere – No need to find specific stations
- Instant deployment – Vehicle appears within seconds
- No cooldown – Summon as often as needed
- Map-wide access – Works in all regions you’ve unlocked
This is a massive quality-of-life improvement over previous Borderlands games. Remember hunting for Catch-a-Ride stations every time your vehicle exploded? Those days are over.
What Your Vehicle Can Do
Your basic Borderlands 4 vehicle comes loaded with features that make traversal both practical and incredibly fun:
Movement Abilities:
- Boost – High-speed bursts for crossing large distances
- Jump – Launch over obstacles and gaps
- Drift slide – Stylish cornering and evasive maneuvers
- Standard driving – Reliable transportation across all terrain types
Combat Features:
- Interchangeable rockets – Decent damage for clearing enemies
- Mounted turrets – Continuous fire support
- Ramming damage – Drive straight through weaker enemies
- Limited health pool – More fragile than you’d expect
Performance Reality Check: Your vehicle isn’t a tank. It’s designed for fast traversal and light combat support, not prolonged firefights. Think of it as a mobility tool that can fight in a pinch, rather than a primary combat platform.
Vehicle Varieties: All About the Looks
Here’s something that might disappoint completionists but will please balanced gameplay enthusiasts: all vehicles in Borderlands 4 are purely cosmetic variations.
What This Means:
- Identical performance across all vehicle types
- Same boost, jump, and combat stats regardless of appearance
- No vehicle tier system or upgrade paths
- Pure customization – pick what looks coolest to you
How to Unlock More Vehicles:
- Story missions – Several vehicles unlock through main quest progression
- Challenges – Complete specific gameplay objectives
- Exploration rewards – Some tied to discovering locations or completing activities
This design choice makes sense in an open-world context. Instead of forcing players to hunt for “better” vehicles, you can focus on finding the style that matches your personality and stick with it.
Vehicle Strategy Tips
For New Players:
- Prioritize the unlock – Rush Mission 3 before extensive exploration
- Learn the controls – Practice boost timing and jump distances in safe areas
- Don’t rely on combat – Use vehicles for positioning, not prolonged fights
- Summon liberally – No penalties for frequent summoning
For Exploration:
- Boost management – Boost has a cooldown, so time your usage
- Jump combinations – Boost + jump covers incredible distances
- Terrain reading – Some areas are better approached on foot
- Quick escapes – When overwhelmed, summon a fresh vehicle and drive away
Combat Applications:
- Hit and run tactics – Drive by shooting, then retreat
- Crowd control – Ram through groups of weaker enemies
- High ground advantage – Use jump ability to reach elevated positions
- Emergency extraction – Summon when you need to leave an area quickly
Platform Access & Controls
Ready to start your vehicle adventures?
Full Control Breakdown:
- PC: X to summon, WASD for movement, Space for jump, Shift for boost
- Console: Left D-Pad to summon, standard driving controls vary by platform
Common Vehicle Questions Answered
A: Simply press the summon button again. No penalties, no waiting period, no repair costs.
A: Yes! Each player can summon their own vehicle, and passenger seats are available for shared rides.
A: No, vehicle performance remains consistent throughout the game. They’re designed as utility tools rather than power progression items.
A: The base vehicle comes with rocket and turret options, but these aren’t upgradeable. Performance stays constant.
Integration with Open-World Design
Borderlands 4’s vehicle system makes perfect sense when you consider the shift to open-world gameplay. Previous games used vehicles primarily for specific sections or areas, but now they’re integral to the entire experience.
Why This Matters:
- Faster mission completion – No more 10-minute walks between objectives
- Enhanced exploration – Reach hidden areas and high vantage points
- Improved pacing – Less downtime between action sequences
- Quality of life – Simply more fun to play
The instant summoning system particularly shines during late-game content when you’re bouncing between different regions frequently. Having immediate access to transportation keeps the momentum going.
Related Guides
Master every aspect of your Borderlands 4 journey:
- Borderlands 4 Beginners Guide: Essential Tips
- Your First Steps in Borderlands 4: A New Player’s Survival Guide
- Borderlands 4 Character Guide: Vault Hunter Breakdown
- Borderlands 4 Level Cap: Maximum Level Progression Guide
- Borderlands 4 Twitch Drops Complete Guide
The Bottom Line
Getting your first vehicle in Borderlands 4 should be your immediate priority after the opening tutorial. The “Down and Outbound” mission is quick, easy, and transforms your entire gameplay experience from that point forward.
The beauty of Borderlands 4’s vehicle system lies in its simplicity and convenience. No complex upgrade trees, no fuel management, no hunting for stations – just instant access to fun, functional transportation whenever you need it. Whether you’re a series veteran missing Scooter’s charm or a newcomer wondering how to get around this massive world, the vehicle system delivers exactly what you need without unnecessary complications.
So get out there, complete that third mission, and start exploring Kairos in style. Those psychos aren’t going to run themselves over, and those cliffs aren’t going to launch you into the stratosphere on their own. Time to get mobile, Vault Hunter!
