Skip advert
Advertisement

Cordless drivers

Which cordless screwdriver is best for work on cars for home mechanic? We try out eight...

You don’t have to be a big shot to turn heads... screw heads, that is! The cordless drivers we have tested here fit easily into the palm and, thanks to clever gearing, can spin off the tightest fastener.

It’s easy to dismiss cordless drivers because bigger drill versions also make short work of punching in self-tapping screws and the like. But on a car, where working space is often tight, the smaller tools undoubtedly come into their own. So, which are the ones to twist and shout about?

Verdict

With better-than-average torque performance and an impressive battery, plus a seriously comprehensive selection of bits, Challenge’s Extreme CSD48TLB is our Best Buy. The second-placed DeWalt DC600 takes a different approach; it is pricey and has few extras, but its gears, torque settings, pair of batteries and a fast charger mean the tool is more than up to continuous use. Clarke’s CCS36V takes third position – it undercuts our winner on price, but comes with fewer accessories.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Dacia Spring

Dacia Spring

RRP £14,995Avg. savings £3,565 off RRP*
Volkswagen Polo

Volkswagen Polo

RRP £14,495Avg. savings £1,925 off RRP*Used from £6,777
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £24,040Avg. savings £1,535 off RRP*
Vauxhall Corsa

Vauxhall Corsa

RRP £19,870Avg. savings £5,301 off RRP*Used from £9,477
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Used Cupra Born (Mk1, 2021-date) buyer's guide: the EV the VW ID.3 wishes it was
Used Cupra Born - front

Used Cupra Born (Mk1, 2021-date) buyer's guide: the EV the VW ID.3 wishes it was

A full used buyer's guide on the Cupra Born that's been on sale in the UK since 2021
Used car tests
6 Apr 2026
Move over Ford Puma: China’s Jaecoo 7 is the UK’s best-selling car
Jaecoo 7 - front cornering

Move over Ford Puma: China’s Jaecoo 7 is the UK’s best-selling car

More than 10,000 examples of the Jaecoo 7 were registered as the new ’26 registration was introduced
News
7 Apr 2026
New Mercedes CLA review: style over space in this classy estate
Auto Express news reporter Ellis Hyde standing next to the Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake

New Mercedes CLA review: style over space in this classy estate

The Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake is a stylish alternative to an SUV, but a bigger boot wouldn't go amiss
Road tests
8 Apr 2026