Autocar product test: which tool kit is best?

This set has all of the tools that you’re likely to want for home spannering; the fewer tools comes mostly from the lack of any household DIY bits such as tape measure, hammer and the obligatory box of picture hooks and random miscellanea that often comes in kits trying to offer automotive and domestic solutions. When it comes to mechanic’s tools including sockets with extensions arms and joints, wrenches, pliers, stubby- and long-necked screwdrivers and more, the Draper’s is a finely picked and broadly very capable mechanic’s toolset that feels like it won’t require a claim on the lifetime warranty. Needless to say, it made very light work of the deeply set bolts around our car’s battery, and at 45cm wide and 8.76kg, it’s also one of the more portable sets. Autocar says 5 stars

2. Halfords motorist’s tool kit

Price: £30.00

Buy from: Halfords

How many pieces?  47

This is obviously a totally different prospect to the Draper, and emphasises what we’ve mentioned about this being a test of two halves – the full-size portable mechanic’s sets and the compact, occasional-use kits such as this. The Halfords is the best of the latter, hence its five star rating. It’s a fantastic, affordable and well considered emergency- or occasional mini toolset. It includes sockets from 8-17mm, and a small extension arm that meant it (just about) managed to access the bolts around the battery in our old Merc. Jubilee clips, torch, electrical tape, tyre pressure gauge and the ever-useful cable ties are great for temporary roadside fixes, making this a -useful little kit to store in your endearingly unreliable hobby car. Autocar says 5 stars

3. Hi-Spec Auto mechanic's Tool Kit – BEST BUDGET BUY

Price: £38.99

Buy from: Amazon

How many pieces? 67

This compact kit is a mini home mechanic’s set rather than a roadside kit like the Halfords and Black and Decker, and for the money it’s really great. The tools feel like they’ll last well, and the Hi-Spec lifetime guarantee also backs this up. More than that, for a conveniently dinky 30cm, 2.6kg set it’s actually got the tools that many home mechanics will need, including an electrical testing pen, socket extensions and joints that made light work of our battery bolts, 16- and 21mm spark plug sockets, a spread of screwdrivers and bits, and more. If you’re after an automotive-specific tool kit that’s not massive or pricey but does the job, this is pretty unbeatable. Autocar says 4 stars

4. Vonhaus Socket and Tool set

Price: £99.99

Buy from: Amazon

How many pieces? 256

This is a very well-stocked kit that covers your household DIY and most automotive needs, too. It includes sockets ranging from 4- to 30mm, a variety of extension arms that easily reached the bolts on our old car’s battery, an electrical tester, a host of screwdriver bits, a flashlight, tape measure and much more. Quality isn’t what it is on the Draper and Sealey sets, but the core tools still feel very durable – there is a two year guarantee, as well. The plastic locks on the case feel fairly cheap, though, and at nearly 10kg this is a heavy set to lug around. Autocar says 4 stars

5. Hi-Spec Home and Garage mechanic's Tool Kit

Price: £105.99

Buy from: Amazon

How many pieces? 122

The Hi-Spec is a really decent mechanic's tool kit, and is complete with a socket extension that allowed easy removal of our fiendishly awkward battery-securing bolts. It does sacrifice some of the tools that a home mechanic might find useful in favour of more domestic DIY tools such as a spirit level and hacksaw, but there are all of the sockets, extension and joints that you’re likely to want, and the voltage detecting pen can be a really useful addition to a home mechanic's kit that the others lack. The tools don’t feel as high quality as the Draper or Selaey, but they are on a par with the Vonhaus. Some of the bigger tools are prone to falling out of the case when you open it, but generally they stay secure and this is overall a very recommendable kit for home mechanic- and DIY purposes.  

Autocar says 4 stars

6. Sealey Mechanic’s tool kit

Price: £189.90

Buy from: Amazon

How many pieces? 144   

There’s a really comprehensive range of mechanic’s tools in the Sealey set and, provided you’re not after an all-round domestic and automotive tool kit, this is likely to have everything you want. It all feels like really high-quality stuff, too, which is backed up by a lifetime warranty from this UK company. Our big issue is that the kit arrived with most of the smaller sockets rattling around loose, and they don’t click back into place firmly enough to stay put when the case is moved around, which makes for a really frustrating and time-consuming tidy up all too often.

Autocar says 4 stars

7. DEKO Socket Wrench Auto Repair Set

Price: £75.99

Buy from: Amazon

How many pieces?  192

This is good value for a comprehensive domestic and occasional mechanic’s tool kit, but there are inevitable signs of cost saving. Some of the sockets don’t sit well in the case, and you barely need to look at this Deko set for the allen keys to fall out. For such a wide array of tools it’s certainly good value, but the quality of the case and the tools is a little questionable. More than that, there’s no slider extension arm nor jointed attachment for fiddly socket-work, and even the longest extension arm only just reached the deeply recessed bolts around our car battery. Don’t be fooled by the high tool count – when it comes to automotive tools, the Deko is actually quite limited compared to the other full-size sets here.

Autocar says 3 stars

8. Black and Decker Accessories Roll Bag

Price: £32.40

Buy from: Amazon

How many pieces? 77