Tools & Garage Equipment

For the driveway mechanic and the small workshop: socket and spanner sets, torque wrenches, trim tools, OBD2 code readers and battery testers, trolley jacks and axle stands, creepers, magnetic trays, funnels and oil-drain pans, work lights and the odd specialist tool that saves an afternoon. UK cars are overwhelmingly metric, so we list metric sets first and note imperial sizes only where a classic or American vehicle needs them.

What to look for: chrome-vanadium sockets with a stated drive size (1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″); torque wrenches with a calibration certificate and a range that covers wheel nuts (typically 90–140 Nm on a car); axle stands rated above the weight of the corner you are lifting, always used in pairs; and OBD2 readers that state which protocols and manufacturer-specific codes they cover.

See also tyres and wheels, replacement parts and our MOT preparation checklist.