Best OBD2 Scanners in the UK

A car mechanic, in many instances, is only as good as the tools that they use. In order to diagnose and repair problems with any vehicle, any number of tools are required for this task, and of course the better the quality of the tools, the more thorough a job can be done. Any mechanic using inferior tools is sure to run into problems with being able to fully fix a vehicle they are repairing, so it is of the utmost importance to ensure that they are using the highest quality tools possible in order to ensure a quality diagnosis and repair job.

This extends to ODB2 scanners, where the quality of the device is going to directly affect the information that can be gathered and analyzed by the mechanic. The Autel MaxiLink ML629 OBD2 Scanner provides any mechanic with a great quality scanner that can be used in almost any situation. The device allows you to get extended information on the DTC (DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES) LIST, where you can study in detail the information regarding errors in electronic control units. In addition, it also provides the function of resetting SRS-codes, giving you a fully-featured device that lets you get to the root of any vehicle's problems in a quick and accurate manner.

Anyone who is involved in car repairs or just looking for a tool that will let them know what those engine lights are trying to say will find a lot to love about the Launch Creader 4001 OBD2 scan tool. It's a very good auto tool that comes at a low price while being packed full of useful, commonly-used features. In fact, you don't often get such functionality at this price tag!

To start off, the Launch Creader 4001 has a very neat design with compact dimensions, allowing you to easily take it with you anywhere or just stow it in the glove compartment of your car. At the same, it is not void of a nice screen. Actually, you get a pretty large and easy to read 2.4-inch color LCD screen that outputs all the necessary information about your vehicle condition in a format of graphical data, which can be easily deciphered even by inexperienced car DIYers.

Adding to the portability of the unit is the fact that it's self-powered, meaning there are no batteries to add bulk to it. What it also means is that the scan tool automatically charges once you plug it in the car's OBD2 port, so you won't need to carry any chargers with you.

With all of that said, the tool's performance is nothing to sniff at, either. Not only does it automatically fire up once you plug it in, but it actually delivers very honest results compared to other scanners, promptly searching for car's problems that need to be fixed and facilitating troubleshooting.

The MIAROZ OBD2 Diagnostic Device is arguably one of the best budget OBD2 scanners on the market. More to that, it's a very simple to use device, making it a sound choice even for beginners who've not used any kind of auto scan tool before.

Similarly to more expensive tools, this one is a full function scanner. It can be used to view I/M ready vehicle information, data flow, freeze-frame as well as calculate load value, get the speed of your engine, and read and clear error codes. So, you get all the needed functions to save you trips to a mechanic every time you see the dash light come on. Furthermore, this fault code reader supports 6 languages, making it suitable for use both in the UK and beyond.

The operation of the tool is simple and intuitive. You don't need to charge it, as it automatically charges through the OBDII connection. The screen is quite large and easy to read, too. Even though it's not colourful, this doesn't detract from the tool's strengths. Quite the opposite is true. Less loaded with frills, this scanner can beat many Bluetooth and WiFi OBD2 scanners in terms of performance, giving you a reading in a matter of 3 seconds.

ODB2 scanners have been a real godsend to mechanics. Thanks to their ability to interface with the computer in almost any car, they are able to help detect issues with the car both quickly and accurately. However, many of the top models available tend to be pretty expensive, which puts them out of the price range for those who like to work on their own cars instead of relying on a mechanic. This, in turn, tends to take away the ability to quickly and easily detect issues with a vehicle. Not all of the top models are so expensive, though, and the Autel AutoLink AL319 OBD II & CAN Scan Tool is a great example of this.

This is an affordable and easy-to-use OBD2 diagnostic scanner that works on all models and makes of car from 1996 and newer. With the Autel AutoLink AL319, you won't need to go through guesswork when troubleshooting an issue and work out what part of the whole system has gone out of order. It quickly detects all malfunctions, notifies the user about the error codes by displaying a message on the screen, and explains the issues so that it’s not necessary to look up online for further explanation. The Autel AutoLink AL319 will assist users in verifying road tests, solving basic engine problems, checking the emission monitor status, resetting monitors, displaying and clearing error codes, and viewing freeze frame data.

The Foseal FO-01 covers a little more than its contemporaries, solidifying its spot on this list. To start with, the 2.8-inch LCD screen is quite large, making the on-screen information readable even without staring at the screen from <10 centimetres. The font is reasonable, fitting ample information at a time but also making sure that you can read that information without much trouble. What's more, the screen is backlit, so you'll be able to read the information on the screen even at night without turning on the lights. Also, you can adjust the contrast, preventing the display from turning excessively bright. It seems like the screen also features some anti-glare treatment but it is not sufficient at all, so you'll still have to shield the display from the sun when using the device on sunny days.

On the bright side (pardon the pun), what the experts at Foseal call a grab design makes this device plenty comfortable. While the screen is large, the bottom half thins out, making the model more practical and comfortable to hold. As it is almost always the case, the sides are rubberised, preventing the scanner from slipping away and protecting its internal components from shock damage upon impact. The plastic behind the rubberised casing is not fragile as well, so there's a pretty good chance that this device will last. Even the 2.5-feet (76-centimetre) cable is pretty sturdy, so you can sit with comfort when running diagnostics tests.

As much as we like the screen, the controls sell this scanner even more than the display. To go with standard Scroll Up, Scroll Down, Escape, and Okay buttons, this device adds VIN and DTC buttons. With the former, you'll be able to check the vehicle ID number with one click. The latter, on the other hand, will let you access the trouble codes with one click as well.