• Car customization games let players live out auto fantasies for a fraction of the price.modern sports car image by terex from Fotolia.com
  
  From developers Mekada and automotive tool company Snap-on, Gearhead Garage is a video game for the Microsoft Windows operating platform. In Gearhead Garage, players repair and customize late-model cars and trucks. In a garage environment, gamers tweak their virtual rides via paint, decals and custom parts. Though Gearhead Garage is popular in its genre, similar games present their own takes on virtual car customization.
  
  

Pimp My Ride

• Publisher Activision and developer Eutechnyx present Pimp My Ride, based on the popular MTV reality show. This game presents players with virtual characters in need of help; these characters all need the player to "pimp"—or customize—their rides. Just as he does on the television show, rapper Xzibit guides gamers through the proceedings as they customize 16 different vehicles—15 from virtual customers and one special featured ride of Xzibit's choice. Throughout five boroughs, players traverse a free-roaming three-dimensional environment to purchase racing gear and customized part from 15 different suppliers. In addition to traditional modifications, such as paint jobs, rims, interiors and radios, players add over-the-top items like hot tubs, turntables and mechanical surf racks to their cars. Activision offers Pimp My Ride for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 2, Nintendo Wii and Sony PSP gaming platforms. The Entertainment Software Ratings Board rates this game T for Teen, due to its strong musical lyrics.
  
  

Juiced

• Released in 2005, Juice is a customization-focused car game published by THQ Incorporated and developed by Juice Games Limited. Like Gearhead Garage, Juiced offers a large number of vehicle customization options; players modify a variety of 52 real-world cars with parts from more than 30 aftermarket brands, creating a total of more than 7.5 trillion car customization possibilities. In addition to their vehicles, players create their own custom crews and build their careers by participating in circuit races, point-to-point races, drag races and show-off events. Gamers use the money earned from these events to purchase new cars, parts and upgrades. Players take on a social element as well, making calls, challenging virtual opponents and even gambling. The Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation 2 and Windows operating platform all feature versions of Juiced, which the ESRB rates T for Teen.
  
  

Create-A-Ride

• For gamers on a budget, Create-A-Ride is a free-to-play browser-based online game. In this two-dimensional animated game, players begin with a plain white car of their choice. They can customize the paint job, ride height, type of wheels and body kit and add things like spoilers, new headlights, calipers, exhausts, decals and window tint. Once complete, gamers show off their rides by cruising the city, testing them out to the drag strip or exhibiting them at the car show. Players can save their creations. Create-A-Ride is free to play at its official website.