Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.If you spend any amount of time working on cars, you quickly realize that the right tools can make the difference between a quick repair and a frustrating afternoon. I worked as a technician for seven years while I was in college, and I’ve been wrenching on my own vehicles and fixing cars for about 15 years now. Over that time, I’ve learned that certain tools simply earn a permanent place in the garage because they save time, prevent headaches, and make tough jobs far easier.We’ve covered mechanic must-haves before, which include the foundational tools every DIYer or professional should own. This list is a little different. Some of these overlap with those essentials, but these are the specific automotive tools from Amazon that I find myself reaching for constantly. Whether you’re tackling routine maintenance or deeper repairs in your home garage, these are the types of tools I personally rely on whenever I’m working on a car. Here are five of my favorites. Ruboliy Magnetic LED Work Lights, $40 (was $50) at Amazon Ruboliy Magnetic LED Work Lights, $40 (was $50) at Amazon A good work light might honestly be the single most important tool a mechanic owns. When you’re working under the hood, crawling under a car, or trying to see into tight spaces behind an engine, visibility is everything. These rechargeable LED work lights produce up to 1,500 lumens and feature a fully adjustable 360-degree design so you can aim the light exactly where you need it. The magnetic base is especially useful in the garage because it lets you stick the light to a frame rail, suspension component, or hood support and keep both hands free while working. Horusdy 12-Piece Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrench Set, $35 (was $44) at Amazon Horusdy 12-Piece Flex-Head Ratcheting Wrench Set, $35 (was $44) at Amazon Anyone who has worked on modern vehicles knows how tight engine bays have become. That’s where a flex-head ratcheting wrench set like this really shines. The ratcheting mechanism speeds up the job while the 180-degree pivoting head helps reach bolts and fasteners tucked behind components or deep in the engine bay. With a 72-tooth design requiring just a 5-degree swing arc, these wrenches make it far easier to loosen stubborn fasteners in spaces where a standard ratchet simply won’t fit.Electrical repairs are extremely common when working on cars, trucks, or SUVs, and having a proper crimping tool kit makes those jobs much easier. This kit includes interchangeable jaws and hundreds of connectors, making it versatile for everything from simple wiring fixes to more complex electrical projects. Crimped connectors create a secure electrical connection and are often far easier to work with than solder when you’re trying to repair wiring in tight areas behind dashboards, inside door panels, or around engine components. Kimo 20V 3/8-Inch Cordless Ratchet Kit, $76 (was $89) at Amazon Kimo 20V 3/8-Inch Cordless Ratchet Kit, $76 (was $89) at Amazon Aside from a good work light, a cordless ratchet is probably the tool I use more than anything else in the garage. This cordless model delivers serious convenience with up to 89 foot-pounds of torque and variable speed control up to 400 rpm. That means you can quickly run fasteners in or out without the repetitive hand movement required by a traditional ratchet. In tight engine bays or underneath the car, this kind of tool can easily cut the time of a repair in half while saving your wrists from a lot of strain. Ancel AD310 OBD2 Scanner, $30 (was $40) at Amazon Ancel AD310 OBD2 Scanner, $30 (was $40) at Amazon A basic OBD2 scanner is one of the easiest ways for DIY mechanics to save money on diagnostics. Instead of driving to a shop or parts store to read a check engine light, this compact scanner plugs directly into the car and instantly shows diagnostic trouble codes. It works with most vehicles built after 1996 and can read and clear emissions related codes in seconds. Many check engine lights are triggered by relatively simple issues, and having a scanner like this helps identify the problem quickly so you can fix it yourself.Deals We’re LovingDisen 10-Piece Ratcheting Wrench Set, $23 (was $35) at AmazonDeWalt 20V Max XR 3/8-Inch Cordless Ratchet, $189 (was $279) at AmazonCraftsman 189-Piece Mechanics Tool Set, $149 (was $189) at Amazon