What's Wrong with Your Car? The Best OBD-II Scanners for 2024

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Whether you're an everyday driver or a pro technician, when your check engine light suddenly comes on the first step is to connect an OBD-II scanner. At Autoweek, we recommend everyone carry an OBD-II scanner for preparedness purposes. This way, when your vehicle inevitably triggers a code, you can promptly begin diagnosing the issue, potentially saving big bucks at the repair shop.

To help you find the best OBD-II scanner, we turned to our friends at the Gear Team, who tested many of the scanners featured below. While most of these recommendations are based on their expert evaluations, some come from our own research, experience, and expertise.

Things to Consider

An OBD-II links to your vehicle's ECU system, gathering data from sensors and monitors. The scanner then translates this data into Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs), providing crucial insight into what the light means.

OBD-II scanners can be inexpensive, rudimentary devices that can simply point you in the right direction, or they can be pricey, fully-featured diagnostic tools designed mainly for use by professional technicians. Here's what to look for when you're thinking about buying one.

Use

An OBD-II scanner is a wise investment for basic car repairs and inspection preparations. A simple scanner costing less than about a hundred bucks can read and remove DTCs. A high-end scanner is essential for more advanced tasks like reprogramming keys, systems tests, or controlling modules. Still, these advanced features typically come at a much higher cost and may not be necessary for most average drivers.

It's A Tool, Not a Fix

OBD-II scanners are designed to read your onboard diagnostic system. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) indicate an issue—but it's crucial to recognize that the scanner is just the starting point of your diagnosis, not the final solution. Armed with the knowledge an OBD-II provides, you can then decide whether to tackle the fix yourself or take your vehicle to a mechanic.

DTC Severity

Not all DTCs carry the same level of severity. When using a scanner to check your vehicle, pay attention to the alert's severity, as this is a crucial feature that most scanners will have. If you see a level 3 (out of 3) severity rating, do not run your vehicle as this could cause irreparable damage.

Bluetooth vs. Corded Scanners

The choice between a Bluetooth scanner and a corded one ultimately depends on your preference. While Bluetooth scanners will likely take longer to retrieve DTCs, they have the advantage of regularly updated smartphone apps that provide the most up-to-date information with each software update.

Ready to shop for an OBD-II scanner? Here are some of the best on the market.

BD310

The Ancel BD310, the Gear Team's Best Overall choice for home OBD-II scanners, offers versatility with both corded and Bluetooth capabilities.

In Bluetooth mode, its free app is simple to navigate. The scanner pulls and deletes codes with efficiency but also provides diagnostic guidance and performance testing. This makes the Ancel a great mid-tier scanner—an affordable price with many features of more advanced scanners.

Pro

The BlueDriver Pro claimed the title of Best Bluetooth Scanner in the Gear Team's scanner test. It utilizes a free app for both Apple and Android devices, featuring an appealing tile-based interface for easy navigation.

The only drawback noted by the Gear Team was the initial connection time. However, patience is rewarded with a wealth of knowledge like model-specific codes, data, and tests. This scanner is the primary choice of the editors in our office. If it's trusted by them, it's certainly good enough for us.

NT604 Elite

The Foxwell NT604 scanner steps into the high-end scanner category as it's capable of scanning multiple modules such as engine, transmission, safety restraint, and ABS. It features a large touchscreen and tactile buttons for navigation.

We recommend this scanner for individuals with advanced diagnostic skills. Notably, the Foxwell offers graphing functions for live data, providing valuable insights like short- and long-term fuel trim and O2 sensor cycles. While this scanner may be costly, its effectiveness and valuable insights make it a worthwhile investment for anyone who does more than occasional driveway repairs.

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