Hold

What is the purpose of holding your level.

From my guide:

You can choose to hold your level when you get enough exp to level up.  Even if you choose not to level up, you can still gain battle stats, and all that changes is your level doesn't go up. But if you don't need levels to get strong, why level at all?

Different parts of Torn unlock at certain levels, such at Poker at level 5, the wheels at level 7, and most importantly (and finally) the ability to travel to other countries (where you can buy flowers/plushies cheap and sell them for huge profit back in Torn) at level 15. Leveling up also increases your maximum life. Some call life the 5th battle stat. You will also earn more merits through leveling up, which are always useful.

So why hold your level then? Before level 15 there isn't much point, since being able to travel is quite lucrative business, and ability to rehab away your drug addiction is vital to your training. After level 15 though, holding your level can make you look weaker than you really are (but with less life, you are indeed weaker), and let you possibly win more defends from noobs who don't check stats. It makes you easier to bust out of jail, and makes you less of an enticing target for faction warfare. However, the pros do not outweigh the cons and in my opinion, level holding isn't worth it. 

Life shouldn't be underestimated. You will lose more fights and be defeated more easily if you don't level

except during dogtags, when your lower level tag isn't worth as much. :b

To be a rebel when your faction makes a rule not to hold under 90

Something I tell my faction friends to do is hold until you are comfortably beating those around your level and those above your level. ie: Stay at level 15 till you can easily take on all the level 20s you come across, stay at level 20 till you can take on all the 30s you come across etc. It's not much level holding but you don't want to be one of the weakest players at your current level. Well that's just my oppinion