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 Qashqai

Nissan Qashqai

RRP £27,415Avg. savings £6,054 off RRP*Used from £9,995
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £15,255Avg. savings £1,912 off RRP*Used from £7,299
MG MG4

MG MG4

RRP £27,005Avg. savings £10,288 off RRP*Used from £10,200
Nissan Juke

Nissan Juke

RRP £19,785Avg. savings £5,038 off RRP*Used from £10,205
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Cars that will die in 2026: get 'em before they're gone
Auto Express team members standing with their favourite outgoing cars

Cars that will die in 2026: get 'em before they're gone

In 2026 we'll wave goodbye to some big names from the automotive world. We drive the best of these death row models one last time...
Features
27 Dec 2025
The Multi-Purpose Vehicle must return to save car buyers from their SUVs
Opinion - MPVs, header image

The Multi-Purpose Vehicle must return to save car buyers from their SUVs

Steve Walker thinks that MPVs would bring some much-needed choice back to a family car market fixated by SUVs
Opinion
26 Dec 2025
Make motorists pay-per-mile if you must, but at least use the cash to fix the roads!
Road repairs - opinion

Make motorists pay-per-mile if you must, but at least use the cash to fix the roads!

Dean Gibson wants more money from car taxation to go specifically on road maintenance
Opinion
25 Dec 2025