Leasing Vehicles
Oh, you can't afford it? Let's see...

Let's get more drivers on the road!

Lease vehicles for X cost per month.

You gotta turn it back in in perfect condition if you stop paying. Otherwise you're automatically unauthorized at the end of the month.

Oh, you can't afford the repairs? You're just gonna leave it somewhere? It was 'stolen?' Looks like you got yourself a bounty.

Vehicle Mechanics can add towing out-of-date leased cars to their job duties and score promotions.

Other stuff: Something about leased vehicles being stowed in private garages… other balancing factors... blah blah...

What do y'all think?

Like Ranger said, they're a really cool milestone and bragging rights once you get them.

There are definitely a good amount (relative to the playerbase) that own a vehicle. If you're talking about cars specifically, the number goes lower because cars are more expensive and offer a different method of transport with their advantages and disadvantages. But again, when you look at the wide picture, once again any character that knows how to hustle definitely also does own a car.

I don't think the assumption that people don't bother is true at all. Bikes especially are a big milestone for newer characters that are just starting out, for example.

Owning and using vehicles are two very different things though. While ownership may be adequate, the utility of vehicles is very narrow, and really wouldn't support leasing anyway.

Though leasing TOPSIDE would be themely as fuck. Why own last years model, when you can just lease a new Ferrari every twelve months?

One problem with leasing is that players can, will, and have just taken the fuck off before. With vehicles they had access to no less. Maybe after someone proved themselves reliable enough… but then they'd just have the money, wouldn't they?

Credit is something largely removed from SD theme due to these reasons.

Loans? Well... FOIC :P