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If there’s a universal feeling in vehicle ownership, it’s taking the car in for a problem, finding out that it was something we could have done ourselves and getting a huge bill for labor. It’s a lousy feeling that has prompted many vehicle owners to buy their first mechanic tool set or upgrade their basic sets. Auger Drill Set
You don’t have to be a trained mechanic to do a lot of maintenance and repair items for your car, truck or SUV, but to perform those tasks, you’ll need the right tools. To get you started, there are basic tools that are a “must-have” for driveway vehicle repairs:
Do you need to lay out major coin for a master mechanic’s tool set? Not yet. A master mechanic’s set would be a waste on a beginner but with each bit of experience you get working on your vehicle, your confidence and skills will increase.
Here are five comprehensive tool kits that range in price and content, but all can be used for basic repairs:
Apollo Tools 39 Piece Tool Set
Apollo Tools 39 Piece Tool Set
Best Budget Mechanics Tool Set
Best Budget Mechanics Tool Set
The DEKOPRO 158-piece tool set is a low-cost, lightweight tool set with all of the basic tools you’ll need for minor repairs. Although it isn’t the most comprehensive set, the tools are corrosion-resistant and it come in their own carrying case. Don’t expect to swap engines or rebuild a transmission with the DEKOPRO, but for the price and content, it’s a solid beginner’s set.
Best Beginner Mechanics Tool Set
Best Beginner Mechanics Tool Set
Dewalt is a well-known name in tools and hardware and their best beginner mechanics tool set is a solid choice. It comes with 172 individual pieces including adapters and extension bars able to tackle a lot of jobs and hone in on hard-to-reach areas in your vehicle. The 72-tooth ratchet with a 5-degree arc swing allows for work in truly tight spaces. The set comes in its own carrying case.
Best Low-Cost Mid-Grade Mechanics Tool Set
Best Low-Cost Mid-Grade Mechanics Tool Set
The WORKPRO 450-piece tool set represents a solid, well-priced mid-grade tool set. It has the same number of tools as the Craftsman set that follows, but at a lower price and exhibiting what appears to be professional-grade quality. The tools are made of chromed vanadium and are corrosion-resistant. The set comes in its own case.
Best Semi-Professional Mechanics Tool Set
Best Semi-Professional Mechanics Tool Set
Craftsman is another long-standing name in tools and equipment. A longtime Sears brand, it’s been spun off on its own. This 450-piece tool set has inch (SAE) and metric sockets and wrenches, and quick-release ratchets in a well-made storage box. You may be wondering, “What makes this Craftsmen set different from the cheaper one?” Its stainless steel construction is even more durable and corrosion-resistant, which makes it a better long-term choice if you regularly work in your driveway or carport.
Best Professional Mechanics Tool Set
Best Professional Mechanics Tool Set
The Gearwrench 613-piece is our choice for the driveway mechanic who wants a great set of pro tools. This comprehensive set includes low-profile, five-degree swing-arc ratchets for working in the tightest spaces. The tools are extremely high quality and have engraved markings so you can quickly read sizes at a glance.
Apollo Tools 39 Piece Tool Set
Apollo Tools 39 Piece Tool Set
Mechanic’s tool sets run a wide gamut from simple and cheap basic sets with only a few pieces to very expensive master mechanic sets, but there are many common threads among these products. All are designed to provide the tools needed to solve repair problems of various levels, with many basic sets including all that’s needed to tackle simple repairs and larger, pricier ones providing more specialized tools.
All tool sets are not created equal, with varying degrees of assembly quality and durability. In order to determine the best mechanics tool sets we considered the size and quality of the sets relative to their price and the jobs that can be performed with what’s included. Manufacturer reputations mean a lot here, but cost and variety are big factors too.
We evaluate all basic tool set products based on these weighted metrics:
They can be, but it depends on your needs and how long you want to use the tools. If the tools you need are in the set and they get the job done, then a basic, relatively inexpensive tool set may be all you need. They pale in comparison, though, to the capabilities of a set intended for professional mechanics. Cheaply made tools also may not hold up to wear and tear.
No. Even the most expensive tool sets won’t have some manufacturer-specific tools required for maintenance or repair. There are sometimes proprietary tools required to do the most complex jobs, and for those you’ll either have to try to find one secondhand or go to a specialty shop.
Metal. It’s not possible to reduce costs by using plastic for tools. And the higher-grade the metal, the more it will cost. Multiply that by the number of tools in a tool set, and you can see how the price climbs quickly.
With multi-piece sets, the cost per tool can be much cheaper than buying each tool separately. Get a good multi-piece set to start, then buy specific tools, like special tools for your brand of car, as you become more confident with repairs.
Professionals often have tens of thousands of dollars invested in their tools. Remember, though, that everyone starts somewhere and most pros have accumulated their tools over time.
A car-crazy California kid, I’ve been writing and talking about vehicles for 25 years on TV and radio, in print and online, including AAA magazines in Arizona, Oklahoma, Northwest Ohio, South Dakota and the Mountain West, as well as BBC Autos. I serve as vice president of the Western Automotive Journalists, a professional group for automotive writers based in San Francisco, and have no relation to McKeel Hagerty of Hagerty Classic Insurance, who is younger, better looking and wealthier.
Air Impact Wrench Set Brian Armstead has been involved in print, radio and television for over 46 years. He is president emeritus of the Washington Automotive Press Association, a North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year (NACTOY) juror and is a regular contributor to several automotive media broadcasts and websites. In his spare time, Brian enjoys tending to the care and feeding of his Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and Land Rover vehicles.