Stage 01 Tools: 18 Tools to Fix Your Car Yourself

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Stage 01 Tools: 18 Tools to Fix Your Car Yourself

Written By: Gibson Hull
Updated March 29, 2025

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01. Combination Wrench Set
02. Socket Set
03. Screwdrivers
04. Allen Wrenches
05. Torx Wrenches
06. Picks
07. Hammers
08. Pliers
09. Car Jack
10. Jack Stands
11. Safety Glasses
12. Gloves
13. Wheel Chocks
14. Flash Light
15. Plastic Pry Tools
16. Tool Bag
17. Zip Ties
18. Tape

Want to work on your car but have no clue where to start or what tools you need? While you could buy all your mechanics tools in one big set, below I’ve listed the beginner tools you will need for a stage one tool kit to perform the most basic car troubleshooting and maintenance.

Combine what you have with a few of these when you need them, or buy them all at once. These 18 tools will help you change air filters, perform oil changes, fix your brakes and suspension, and even help swap an engine! You can use these basic tools as a foundation to build on as you add more here and there and tackle more complex jobs and modifications to your car. You can find these at most big box retailers, online, or from specialists. I have included some links to some good options in the list.

If you have these tools in your arsenal, I am confident that you can begin working on your car yourself.

Fig. 1: Stage 1 Tool Kit

01. Combination Wrench Set

Combination end wrenches are the most basic of tools, and the first tool I think of when I think car maintenance. They turn nuts and bolts. Simple as that. They are extremely durable and if properly cared for, they can be used for multiple lifetimes. Tool nerds like myself scour estate and garage sales looking for box end wrenches made over a century ago. Modern examples utilize a ratcheting box-end mechanism so you never have to take the wrench on and off the bolt. Make sure you research what type of nuts and bolts hold your car together, SAE or Metric, before you buy your wrenches.

Budget Option: 24-Piece All-Purpose Master Combination Wrench Set with Roll-up Pouch SAE / Metric

Sweet Spot Option: CRAFTSMAN Wrench Set, SAE / Metric, 32-Piece

Nice Option: GEARWRENCH 25 Pc. Combination Ratcheting Wrench Set, SAE/MM

01. Combination Wrench Set

02. Socket Set

A workhorse of the garage, socket sets make wrenching a breeze. They are used for a similar job as the box end wrench: turning nuts and bolts. They fit over the end of nuts or bolts and have a ratcheting mechanism that allows you to turn nuts and bolts without taking the socket off the nut or bolt. Make sure you research what type of nuts and bolts hold your car together, SAE or Metric, before you buy your wrenches.

Budget Option: Performance Tool W1173 SAE/Metric 40-Piece SAE and Metric Socket Set

Sweet Spot Option: CRAFTSMAN Mechanics Tool Set, SAE/Metric, 3/8-Inch Drive, 40-Piece

Nice Option: GEARWRENCH 76 Pc. 1/4" & 3/8" Drive 12 Pt. Standard & Deep Mechanics Tool Set, SAE/Metric

02. Socket Set

03. Screwdrivers

You may already have a set of screwdrivers in your garage, house, or apartment. They turn screws! It's that simple. There are a number of different screw head types, but most turn phillips and flat head screws, and that is what I suggest picking up. They are extremely versatile, beyond turning screws. They can act as leverage, to push, pry, and coerce stubborn nuts, bolts, screws, plastic fixtures in the engine bay or in the interior or your car, and dozens of other uses.

Budget Option: Amartisan 10-Piece Magnetic Screwdrivers Set

Sweet Spot Option: CRAFTSMAN Screwdriver Set, Assorted, 12Piece

Nice Option: Klein Tools Screwdriver Set, Made in USA

03. Screwdrivers

04. Allen Wrenches

Many more modern automotive manufacturers have begun using allen and torx headed bolts in their cars due to faster more efficient factory assembly. That does mean that mechanics have to adapt and gather yet another tool. Luckily allen headed bolts are becoming much more prevalent in many other industries (looking at you IKEA) and an allen wrench set is extremely handy to have around. Make sure you research what type of nuts and bolts hold your car together, SAE or Metric, before you buy your wrenches.

Budget Option: 30-Piece Premium Hex Key Allen Wrench Set, SAE and Metric Assortment

Sweet Spot Option: Eklind Ball-Hex L-Key Allen Wrench Combo 22-Piece Set

Nice Option: Toolant Allen Wrenches Sets 22pcs

04. Allen Wrenches

05. Torx Wrenches

Torx wrenches are the modern invention from the 1960s and were designed to last longer than traditional shapes like phillips head which are prone to stripping out and becoming difficult to remove. They are used today in many applications and appear predominantly in European cars (Modern VWs are full of them!), although they are becoming more popular with other regions around the world. They also appear quite a lot in computers and electronics.

Budget Option: Owl Tools Torx Wrench and Security Bit Wrench Set (18 Wrenches)

Sweet Spot Option: Amartisan 12-Piece Magnetic Torx Screwdrivers Set

Nice Option: 9-Piece Torx 3-Way T-Handle Spinner Star Key Wrench Set

05. Torx Wrenches

06. Picks

You know how a toothpick works. Well these picks have the same use. I wouldn't use them on your teeth though. Freeing something wedged in a hard to reach place, punch pilot holes in soft material, hooking around things to pull on, and a million other uses, I find myself reaching for these everytime I work on a car, and around the apartment! Here are three options you can buy to fit any budget:

Budget Option: ROTATION Precision Hook and Pick Set for Automotive | 4-Piece Hand Tools

Sweet Spot Option: TEKTON Pick and Hook Set

Nice Option: GEARWRENCH 7 Pc. Hook & Pick Set

06. Picks

07. Hammers

You may already have a hammer you use inside the house. That hammer could be all you need to get started! There are also a ton of different types depending on your application, and it is best to use them for their intended purpose. You wouldn't want to use a waffle faced framing hammer and freshly machined flywheel! But a plastic dead blow hammer may be perfect for the job. To get started, youll want a basic hammer to hit other tools like marks and punches, and maybe a dead blow hammer to knock on things in the engine bay, or brakes and suspension.

Budget Option: YiYiTools 3 Pcs Hammer Set

Sweet Spot Option: GEARWRENCH 5 Pc. Hammer and Mallet Set

Nice Option: Wilton B.A.S.H Master Hammer Kit

07. Hammers

08. Pliers

Pliers have innumerable uses, but at their most basic, they are squeezers. Sometimes you can squeeze nuts and bolts to turn them (although wrenches are preferred to not scar up the heads), to grab and pull on objects you have a hard time grasping, to hold small things, to bend or pry things together, and ton of other uses.

Budget Option: 7-piece Workpro Pliers Set

Sweet Spot Option: IRWIN VISE-GRIP Pliers Set

Nice Option: Channellock TOOL ROLL-3 5 Piece Pliers Set

08. Pliers

09. Car Jack

A bit more of a specialty tool, car jacks utilize a jacking point to lift the car with hydraulics! They require a lot of care and safety to use, as some can lift upwards of three tons! You have to be careful with all that dead weight and must follow the manufacturer’s instructions. But they are extraordinarily helpful when you need to get under the car (along with the use of jack stands and wheel stops), or when you want to work on suspension, brakes, or just rotate or change your tires. Most cars come with an emergency jack which can work to get you started. But you will soon want to upgrade to a jack that can be used again and again. Be careful to understand how much your car weighs, and to buy a jack that can support your car’s weight.

Budget Option: BIG RED Torin Steel Scissor Lift Jack Car Kit

Sweet Spot Option: Pro-Lift 2 Ton Hydraulic Trolley Jack

Nice Option: BIG RED Hydraulic Low Profile Service/Floor Jack with Dual Piston Quick Lift Pump, 4 Ton

09. Car Jack

10. Jack Stands

Jack stands hold the car in the air at or next to the jacking point according to your car manufacturer's instructions. You use these in conjunction with wheel chocks on level even ground to hold the car in the air once you have lifted it with a car jack. Very basic, but require a lot of focus and care to ensure the car is stable and will not fall and harm you or your car. Be careful to understand how much your car weighs, and to buy jack stands that can support your car’s weight.

Budget Option: BIG RED Jack Stands - 2 Ton

Sweet Spot Option: Pro-Lift Double Pin Jack Stands - 3 Ton

Nice Option: BESTOOL Jack Stands - 4 Ton

10. Jack Stands

11. Safety Glasses

You can’t replace your eyes once they are gone. Many consider safety glasses a nuisance, but they are the simplest thing to throw on, and can save you from a lifetime of heartache and blindness. Like everyone I forget sometimes to throw them on, and I have had some close calls. I try to be as disciplined as possible to protect my eyes.

Budget Option: BearKat 3 Polycarbonate Anti-Fog Lens Safety Glasses

Sweet Spot Option: Carhartt Safety Glasses

Nice Option: Stoggles Safety Glasses

11. Safety Glasses

12. Gloves

Protecting your hands from rough surfaces, bumps and bangs, and harsh chemicals is a no-brainer. It’s important to keep your hands protected and will drastically increase your comfort as you work on your car. Not to mention you won't have disgusting dirty hands and nails as often as you would without gloves.

Budget Option: Finish Line Mechanic Grip Gloves

Sweet Spot Option: Original Mechanix Wear Work Gloves

Nice Option: Mechanix Wear Goatskin Leather Backed by FR Kevlar and FR Kovenex

12. Gloves

13. Wheel Chocks

Wheel chocks are extraordinarily simple. They go behind or in front of your car’s tires to ensure that the wheels don't turn and the car doesn't move. Useful when lifting your car to ensure it doesn't roll, or generally if you need to take your car out of gear and want to remain stationary. A required safety item in my opinion. You could get away with a block of wood or some other obstruction, but these are cheap, easy to store and are designed for their intended use.

Budget Option: Camco Wheel Chock w/Rope for Easy Removal

Sweet Spot Option: MAXXHAUL Solid Rubber Heavy Duty Black Wheel Chock

Nice Option: Premium 4 pcs Heavy Duty Wheel Tire Chocks with Eyebolt

13. Wheel Chocks

14. Flashlights

Flashlights are the most used tool for me on this list. Hard to work/troubleshoot if you can't see! Like some of these other basic tools, you probably already have a flashlight in your kitchen’s catch-all drawer (sometimes referred to in our house as the black hole where things go and are never seen again). I like to have them in many different places to ensure I always have one handy. But you can certainly use what you already have.

Budget Option: Lighting EVER LED Flashlight

Sweet Spot Option: Coquimbo Rechargeable LED Work Light

Nice Option: Streamlight 76800 Stinger Switchblade 800 Lumen LED Light Bar

14. Flashlights

15. Plastic Pry Tools

Plastic pry tools should be in every garage/tool box where car work takes place. I always cringe when I am looking at a used car, and see the stretched, scarred, deformed, rattling, hanging, or missing plastic interior pieces and clips that have been mutilated by a screwdriver or pliers. I must admit that there are a few cars out there bearing my screwdriver marks or missing plastic clips. Learn from my mistakes and pick up some plastic pry tools! They are cheap, protect those soft parts, save you so much money on replacement parts and clips, and ensure that you don't have that front bumper half falling off as you drive down the road.

Budget Option: Auto Trim Removal Tool Kit - 5pcs

Sweet Spot Option: ARES 5Piece Non-Marring Auto Trim Removal Prybar Set

Nice Option: GOOACC Trim Removal Tool Set 102Pcs

15. Plastic Pry Tools

16. Tool Bags

Depending on whether you have a garage at home, a house, or a tiny apartment in the city and do all your work on the curb, a simple tool bag can make carting around all those tools a breeze.

Budget Option: Mechanics Heavy Duty Tool Bag

Sweet Spot Option: WORKPRO 18-inch Close Top Wide Mouth Storage Tool Bag

Nice Option: Custom Leathercraft Multi-Compartment 50 Pocket Tool Bag

16. Tool Bags

17. Zip Ties

One of the most universally helpful consumables you can buy and keep in your tool bag, zip ties are the gift that keep on giving, and I always have some floating around in my tool bag and glove box. They have gotten me out of a number of tough situations on road trips, and I am always finding news ways to solve problems with them. From holding wires together and out of the way to holding up that sagging bumper that is falling due to broken clips, they are life savers.

Basic Option: Cable Zip Ties,400 Pack Black Assorted Sizes 12+8+6+4 Inch

Heavy Duty Option: Heavy Duty Cable Wire Ties

Multi-colored Option: Electriduct Nylon Cable Ties - 11" Self-Locking Zip Ties Multi Color

17. Zip Ties

18. Tapes

I always keep various kinds of tape around and it's a lifesaver! You probably already have some at home, and it is imperative to keep a few different kinds in the tool bag to keep momentum going on your project. From duct tape to electrical tape, here are a few options that I keep in my tool bag.

Budget Option: Duck Brand Professional Electrical Tape, 0.75-Inch by 50-Feet, 3-Pack of Rolls

Sweet Spot Option: Lockport Black Gaffers Tape 2 inch - 4 Pack Black Gaff Tape

Nice Option: Painters Tape for Car Paint Green No Residue Automotive Masking Tape

18. Tapes