Screw Drivers Driver's License and XP System
Level up your driver, customize your monarch, and show off your stats.
The driver’s license is the progression system added to Screw Drivers alongside the character editor. It tracks your experience, displays your stats, and gives you cosmetic rewards as you play. This guide explains how XP works, what each stat means, and how to use the character editor.
How XP works
You earn XP through two main activities: building and driving. The XP reward scales with what you do — a simple drive around the island earns a small amount, while building a complex vehicle or completing a career challenge earns much more.
Building XP rewards you for placing and configuring parts. Each part you place adds XP. Detailed work like fine-tuning suspension settings or building a multi-gear transmission earns more XP than dropping a basic car together.
Driving XP rewards you for time spent driving, distance traveled, and challenges completed. Winning races against Monarchs gives the largest XP bonuses. Multiplayer races also reward XP, so you can progress by playing with friends.
Leveling up
The drivers license has around 50 levels to unlock through XP. Each level requires more XP than the last, so progression slows as you advance. Expect a few hours of play to reach level 10, and many more hours to approach level 50.
There are no gameplay rewards for leveling up. The driver’s license is a progression tracker, not a power curve. You do not unlock stronger parts or new abilities. The benefit is the satisfaction of seeing your stats grow and unlocking cosmetic items.
The character editor
The character editor lets you customize your driver avatar. You access it from the garage by clicking Profile. The editor includes clothing, accessories, hair, and face customization options. Some options are unlocked by default, others are unlocked by reaching specific levels on the drivers license.
There are three building platform skins available. These change the appearance of the platform you stand on when building vehicles. Skins are cosmetic only and do not affect gameplay.
The character editor also includes a photo of your customized monarch on the drivers license itself. This is a fun cosmetic touch that makes your license feel personal.
DLC badges on the license
v1.0 prints badges on the license for DLC you own. They are a locker sticker, not a Steam achievement and not extra XP. Stunt Showdown and Pretty Fly show up here if they are in your library. The delisted Supporter Pack still badges if you bought it before August 20, 2026. Friends can read the card in a lobby; they cannot steal the pack from the badge.
Stats displayed on your license
The drivers license shows a handful of stats about your play history. These are read-only and update automatically as you play.
Total XP earned is the main number on the license. It shows your lifetime XP, not your current level XP. As your total XP grows, the displayed level number also grows.
Distance driven is the total distance your vehicles have traveled. This stat is tracked across all vehicles and all game modes.
Vehicles built is the count of vehicles you have created. Saving a vehicle counts toward this stat. Deleting a saved vehicle does not subtract from it.
Races won is the number of races you have finished in first place. Both single-player and multiplayer races count.
Leveling tips
Build multiple vehicles. Each vehicle you create awards XP for every part placed, so trying different designs is the fastest way to gain XP. Even failed experiments count as long as you save them.
Drive varied distances. Do not just sit in the garage. Take your vehicles out for test drives, race them around the island, and explore. All driving time counts.
Play the career mode. Career mode races reward the most XP per minute. Defeating Monarchs is the highest-XP activity in the game.
Host multiplayer sessions. Hosting and winning multiplayer races gives a flat XP bonus at the end of the session, on top of the per-race XP. Host a long session and you will see significant XP gains.
Cosmetic unlocks
The drivers license progression unlocks cosmetic items for your character and vehicles. These include new clothing, new vehicle colors, and special effects. Cosmetic unlocks do not change the gameplay, but they let you personalize your experience.
Some cosmetics are seasonal or event-based, meaning they were available during a specific period but are no longer earnable. If you see a player with an unusual cosmetic, they may have earned it during a limited event.
Related pages
- Monarchs for the career mode that gives the most XP
- Builds for vehicle designs to maximize building XP
- Multiplayer for XP gains through racing with friends
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
Does the driver's license give gameplay rewards?
No. Leveling up the driver's license is purely cosmetic. You unlock character customization items and visual flair, but no new parts, abilities, or power bonuses.
How do I open the character editor?
From the garage, click Profile to access the character editor. You can customize clothing, accessories, and appearance from there.
What is the max level on the driver's license?
There are around 50 levels available. Each level requires more XP than the last, so reaching the highest levels takes significant play time.
Can I reset my driver's license?
There is no official way to reset the drivers license. Your XP, level, and stats persist across game reinstalls because they are tied to your Steam account.