> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://dcc-5ccd5152.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Granting Temporary Drive Rights with BigFred Leases

> Lend control of your vehicle or train to another BigFred user with the lease system. Set an expiry time and optional speed limit, then reclaim at any time.

The BigFred lease system lets you hand temporary driving rights for one of your vehicles or trains to another user on the same layout session. Ownership never changes — you can reclaim the locomotive at any time, and the lease expires automatically when the timer runs out. Leases are the recommended way to let a club guest try your engine without giving up your account credentials or transferring your registration.

## How Leases Work

When you grant a lease:

* The **recipient (lessee)** gains the ability to select and drive the target vehicle or train from their throttle.
* You (the **owner**) keep full ownership — you can still edit the vehicle, remove it from the layout, or revoke the lease at any time.
* An optional **speed limit** caps how fast the lessee can drive: if they push the slider above the limit, BigFred silently clamps the command at the limit value.
* An **expiry time** counts down from the moment you create the lease. When it reaches zero, driving rights return to you automatically and the lessee's throttle slot is released.

A lease covers exactly one target — either a single vehicle or an entire train consist. You can hold multiple leases simultaneously (one per vehicle or train you own).

## Granting a Lease

<Steps>
  <Step title="Go to the Rentals page">
    Navigate to **Rentals** from the main menu, then click the **Granted** tab. Alternatively, open any vehicle or train card and click the **Lend** button — this pre-fills the target for you.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the Lend dialog">
    Click the **Lend** button (handshake icon) in the top-right corner of the Granted tab. The lease creation dialog opens.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the vehicle or train to lend">
    Use the **Target** dropdown to pick the vehicle or train you want to lend. The dropdown lists every vehicle and train you own that is currently on the active layout. If you opened the dialog from a vehicle or train card, the target is already selected.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the recipient">
    Start typing a username in the **User** field and select the recipient from the autocomplete list. Only users who are currently participating in the same layout session are shown.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set a speed limit (optional)">
    Enter a value in the **Speed limit** field. This is a DCC speed step value in the range **0–127**. A value of `0` means no cap — the lessee can drive at full speed. Any value from `1` to `127` caps the lessee at that DCC speed step; for example, `64` limits them to roughly half the decoder's speed range.

    <Note>
      The speed limit is enforced in the BigFred server, not just in the app. If the lessee sends a speed command above the cap — for example by using an external DCC controller — the server substitutes the capped value before it reaches the command station.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the duration">
    Enter the lease duration in **hours** and **minutes**. The minimum is 1 minute; there is no hard maximum, but keep in mind that the lessee holds driving rights for the full duration unless you revoke the lease early. A typical club session handover is 30 minutes.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Confirm">
    Click **Lend**. The lease is created immediately. The recipient will see the vehicle or train appear in their Rentals → Received list and can start driving it from the throttle straight away.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Viewing Received Leases

Go to **Rentals → Received** to see every vehicle and train that other users have lent to you. Each row shows:

* The name of the vehicle or train.
* The login of the user who lent it to you.
* A countdown timer showing how long you have left.

While you have an active lease, the target appears in your throttle setup dialog alongside your own vehicles and trains. There is no visual difference on the throttle slider — you drive it exactly as you would your own locomotive.

### Returning a Lease Early

If you finish driving before the timer expires, you can return the lease to the owner:

1. Go to **Rentals → Received**.
2. Click the **Return** button (reply arrow) on the lease row.
3. Confirm the prompt. The lease is immediately revoked and driving rights return to the owner.

## Viewing and Managing Granted Leases

Go to **Rentals → Granted** to see every lease you have issued. Each row shows the target name, the lessee's login, and the remaining time. Click any row to open the **Lease Control** dialog, where you can:

* **Extend or shorten the duration** by updating the remaining time.
* **Change the speed limit** without revoking the lease.
* **Revoke the lease** immediately to reclaim the vehicle or train.

### Revoking a Lease

To reclaim a vehicle or train before its lease expires:

1. Go to **Rentals → Granted**.
2. Click the lease row for the target you want to reclaim.
3. In the Lease Control dialog, click **Revoke**.
4. The lease is cancelled instantly. The lessee's throttle slot is cleared and they can no longer select the vehicle or train.

## The Lease Countdown Timer

When you are driving a leased vehicle, a countdown timer appears in the throttle UI. The timer turns amber when less than five minutes remain and red in the final minute. When the timer reaches zero:

* The throttle automatically sets speed to 0 for that slot.
* The slot is cleared — the vehicle or train is deselected.
* Driving rights return to the owner.

Make sure you are in a safe stopping position before a lease you are depending on expires.

## Lease Takeover

In an interlocking session, the layout signalman can request a brief throttle **takeover** for safety purposes — for example, to stop a vehicle that is about to pass a closed signal. A takeover creates a short automatic lease (lasting up to 5 minutes) from you to the signalman. You will see a notification on your throttle; you have a 15-second window to accept or reject the request. If you do not respond, the takeover is granted automatically.

<Warning>
  A takeover is a safety mechanism, not a manual lease. You cannot create a takeover yourself from the Rentals page. Takeover leases are listed alongside regular leases under Rentals → Received for the signalman and under Rentals → Granted for the driver.
</Warning>