How to Get and Use Patrol Car Key in Arc Raiders

If you’ve been playing Arc Raiders for a while, chances are you’ve already stumbled across a Patrol Car Key and thought, what exactly is this for. You toss it into your stash, forget about it, and then hours later the game finally gives you the Armored Transports quest and suddenly it all makes sense.

I’ve been there. Sitting on two or three keys before I even knew where to use them.

This guide will walk you through how to get and use Patrol Car Key in Arc Raiders, where to find the patrol car, and how to avoid the common mistakes that can cost you the run. Whether you’re preparing for the quest or just trying to make use of extra keys, this breakdown keeps it simple and practical.

What Is the Patrol Car Key in Arc Raiders

The Patrol Car Key is a quest item used to unlock the rear door of a MANTIKOR armored vehicle. Inside, you’ll find a weapon crate with solid loot, and if you’re on the Armored Transports quest, opening it completes the objective.

The game doesn’t explain much beyond that. No map marker, no waypoint, just a vague description.

That’s why so many players get stuck.

When Do You Need the Patrol Car Key

Technically, you don’t need to wait for the quest.

You can use the Patrol Car Key anytime you have one. But it becomes essential when you reach:

• Armored Transports quest

If you’re planning ahead, this is actually one of those rare cases where early preparation pays off. Holding onto a key means you can complete the quest in a single run without backtracking.

Patrol Car Location in Arc Raiders

Let’s get straight to the point. If you’re trying to use the Patrol Car Key in Arc Raiders, here’s where you need to go.

Blue Gate map is your target

The patrol car is located in:

• Outer Gates area

• Specifically inside the Traffic Tunnel underground

How to get there

• Head toward Outer Gates on Blue Gate

• Look for entrances leading underground

• Navigate into the traffic tunnel system

Once inside, you’ll see multiple abandoned vehicles scattered around.

How to Identify the Correct Patrol Car

Not every vehicle is the one you’re looking for.

Here’s what to watch for:

• Dark armored vehicle

• Marked with MANTIKOR branding

• Rear door that is locked, not open

You’ll probably notice some vehicles already opened by other players. Ignore those.

You need one with a locked rear door so you can use your Patrol Car Key.

How to Use Patrol Car Key in Arc Raiders

Once you’ve found the right vehicle, the process is simple.

Step by step

• Approach the rear door of the patrol car

• Interact using the Patrol Car Key

• Open the door

• Loot the weapon crate inside

That’s it. If you’re on the quest, it completes instantly.

What Rewards Are Inside the Patrol Car

The reward is a weapon crate, which usually contains:

• Weapons

• Crafting materials

• Useful gear

The loot isn’t always the same, but it’s consistently worth grabbing, especially early to mid progression.

Even outside the quest, it’s a solid loot run if you already have a key.

Patrol Car Key Location in Arc Raiders

Now let’s talk about how to actually find the Patrol Car Key in Arc Raiders.

This is where things get a bit RNG heavy.

Primary location

The most reliable place is:

• Checkpoint area southwest of Outer Gates

Look for:

• A row of security booths

• Small structures you can search

The key often spawns inside these booths.

Secondary Patrol Car Key Spawn Locations

If you don’t find it at Checkpoint, try these spots:

• Booth just inside Outer Gates entrance

• Headhouse area containers

• Village buildings on Blue Gate

It’s not guaranteed, but these locations have been consistent across multiple runs.

Important Tip Do Not Lose the Key

Here’s something a lot of players learn the hard way.

If you die while carrying the Patrol Car Key and don’t have it secured, you might struggle to find another one.

What you should do

• Immediately place the key in your safe pocket

• Treat it like a quest critical item

• Avoid unnecessary fights until it’s secured

This alone can save you hours of frustration.

Best Strategy to Complete Armored Transports Quest

If you want to clear the quest smoothly, here’s the approach I recommend after multiple runs.

Step 1 Prepare before deployment

• Bring a safe pocket augment

• Clear some inventory space

• Plan your route to Outer Gates

Step 2 Head straight to Checkpoint

• Search booths quickly

• Grab the Patrol Car Key

• Secure it immediately

Step 3 Move into the Traffic Tunnel

• Avoid open fights on the surface

• Enter underground safely

Step 4 Locate the patrol car

• Scan vehicles quickly

• Look for locked rear doors

Step 5 Open and loot

• Use the key

• Grab the weapon crate

• Complete the objective

Step 6 Extract safely

• Don’t linger

• Head to the nearest extraction point

Enemy Threats You Should Watch For

The Traffic Tunnel is not a safe zone.

From experience, you’ll likely encounter:

• Heavy Arc enemies

• Patrol units

• Other players farming loot

One of the biggest threats here is the Bastion, which can shred you if you’re not careful.

How to deal with it

• Stay mobile

• Use cover constantly

• Avoid prolonged fights

Remember, your goal is to complete the objective, not clear the area.

Solo vs Squad Tips

Solo players

• Move quietly and avoid attention

• Use timing instead of brute force

• Prioritize extraction over combat

Squad players

• Split roles for faster searching

• One player watches for threats

• Communicate vehicle locations

Both approaches work, but solo requires more patience.

Why Players Get Stuck on This Quest

The Patrol Car Key in Arc Raiders confuses players for a few reasons:

• No clear directions in the item description

• Multiple spawn locations for both key and vehicle

• High player traffic in the area

• Risk of losing the key on death

Once you understand the flow, though, it becomes one of the easier quests to complete.

Is It Worth Farming Patrol Cars

Short answer yes.

If you already have extra keys, running patrol cars is a decent way to get:

• Consistent loot

• Weapon upgrades

• Crafting resources

It’s not the best farming method in the game, but it’s reliable and low effort if uncontested.

Final Thoughts

The Patrol Car Key in Arc Raiders guide process might feel unclear at first, but once you know the route, it becomes second nature.

Here’s the quick recap:

• Find the key at Checkpoint or nearby areas

• Store it safely immediately

• Head to Outer Gates Traffic Tunnel

• Locate a locked MANTIKOR patrol car

• Open it and grab your rewards

• Extract without taking unnecessary risks

That’s the entire loop.

If you’re trying to speed up your progress or improve your survivability, having better Arc Raiders items can make a noticeable difference, and many players look toward platforms like PvPBank when gearing up.

At the end of the day, Arc Raiders rewards smart decisions more than aggressive play. Stay focused, secure your objectives, and get out clean.

Good luck out there.