Skip advert
Advertisement

Spanners tested

Which are the best spanner sets for car DIY? We get to grips with 14 of the best-sellers

If you do anything more than just check the fluid levels on your car, then the chances are you'll need spanners. A decent set of combinations is usually the first automotive tool we buy when starting to work on cars. However, even if you already have a good selection, you could still be missing out on the latest technology.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Tool materials and designs have improved in recent years and even the way spanners turn nuts and bolts has changed, reducing the risk of slipping and skinned knuckles. So which are the best buys? We lined up 14 sets to find out.

Verdict

Combine a high-quality set of tools, a good price, excellent strength, a decent carry case and the sheer versatility of the Alldrive spanner heads, and Laser's 3732 comfortably took our Best Buy award.The fight for second and third places was very close between the 12-piece set from Clarke and the 14-tool kit from Yamoto. In the end, the latter won the day. The spanners weren't quite as indestruc-tible as Clarke's set, but the two extra sizes of tool more than compensated.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £18,205Avg. savings £5,129 off RRP*Used from £6,390
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £24,040Avg. savings £1,863 off RRP*Used from £17,495
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £39,045Avg. savings £8,315 off RRP*Used from £25,969
Volkswagen Polo
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New BMW iX3 40 M Sport 2026 review: entry-level SUV isn't a compromise
New BMW iX3 40 M Sport - front tracking

New BMW iX3 40 M Sport 2026 review: entry-level SUV isn't a compromise

Practical, efficient and much cheaper than the xDrive50, we think the base-level BMW iX3 40 is the pick-of-the-range.
Road tests
24 Sep 2026
Audi A6 e-tron breaks EV range record with massive 831 miles on a single charge
Audi A6 e-tron breaks massive EV range record

Audi A6 e-tron breaks EV range record with massive 831 miles on a single charge

Rally driver Miko Marczyk managed to cover over 360 miles further than the A6 e-tron’s official claimed range
News
24 Sep 2026
Refreshed Geely EX5 now boasts the world’s fastest charging
Refreshed Geely EX5 - front

Refreshed Geely EX5 now boasts the world’s fastest charging

Family SUV has been given some important upgrades, although there’s no word yet if revised model will come to UK
News
25 Sep 2026