Buying a used car?
Check it before you pay.
Plug it in at the seller's. In five minutes you see the faults the dashboard doesn't show, whether the warning light was just reset, and if the VIN matches the papers.
- Works with all car brands*
- Tracked shipping from the EU
- 14-day returns
*Petrol cars from 2001 and diesel cars from 2004 sold in the EU (OBD2/EOBD).
- PowertrainEngine and gearbox
- GenericSame meaning on every brand
- IgnitionIgnition and misfire system
- Fault 00Random misfire on several cylinders
A fault the dashboard isn't showing yet. Get it checked, or negotiate the price.
Works with Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Renault, Peugeot, Citroën, Opel, Ford, Toyota, Škoda, Seat, Fiat, Dacia, Hyundai, Kia, Volvo and 26 more.
At the seller's
The 5-minute used-car check
Ask the seller if you can plug in a scanner. It only reads, it changes nothing in the car. Then go through these four steps before you talk price.
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11 min
Read stored and pending codes
Stored codes are faults the car has already confirmed. Pending codes are faults it has seen but not yet flagged, so the warning light can still be off.
Red flag: Codes the seller didn't mention, especially misfires (P0300 to P0308) or catalytic converter faults (P0420).
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21 min
Check emissions readiness
Every time codes are erased, the self-tests reset to "not ready" and need days of normal driving to complete again.
Red flag: Several tests not ready on a car that is supposedly driven every day. The light may have been reset just before your viewing.
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31 min
Match the VIN to the papers
The scanner reads the VIN stored in the engine computer. Compare it with the registration document and the plate on the car.
Red flag: A VIN that doesn't match, or that the engine computer won't report at all.
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42 min
Watch the engine run
Start the engine, ideally from cold, and watch live data: coolant temperature, idle speed, fuel trims and battery voltage.
Red flag: Temperature that climbs too high or never warms up, an unsteady idle, or battery voltage below about 12.4 V before starting.
The scanner reads the engine and emissions computer. It doesn't replace a full inspection of brakes, tyres, rust or bodywork, and it can't prove the mileage.
Garage-grade diagnostics
What the engine computer knows, even if the seller doesn't say
The same OBD2 readings a garage starts with, on a screen in your hand. Nine functions, in the order that matters when you're buying.
- Same OBD2/EOBD standard as garage tools
- Every fault code explained in plain words
- Only reads: nothing changes in the car unless you clear codes
Any faults the seller forgot?
Read codes
Reads stored and pending engine codes, each explained in plain words.
Was the light just reset?
Emissions readiness
Shows which self-tests are complete. "Not ready" on a daily-driven car is a sign codes were recently erased.
Is it the car on the papers?
Vehicle info
Reads the VIN and engine computer details, so you can check the car is what the seller says.
Does the engine run right?
Live data
Engine speed, coolant temperature, fuel trims and more, as they change.
Will it start next winter?
Battery voltage
A quick check of the battery and charging system.
What was happening when the fault hit?
Freeze frame
A snapshot of the engine at the exact moment the fault was recorded.
Is it using too much fuel?
O2 sensor test
Checks the oxygen sensors that control the fuel mixture and fuel use.
Smell of fuel?
EVAP leak check
Tests the fuel-vapour system for leaks, like a loose fuel cap.
Bought it and fixed it?
Clear codes
Erases the codes and switches the check engine light off once the fault is fixed.
Engine and emissions systems only. It doesn't program keys or reset ABS or airbag lights. Some tests, like EVAP, depend on what your car supports.
What drivers say about this scanner
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★★★★★
All ok 2004 bmw z4 engine warning cleared in time for mot....happy camper
2004 BMW Z4U***r16 Nov 2025
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★★★★★
The delivery was super fast. I tested the device myself and … the device is still super easy to use and reads data quickly. All in all, a top product and I would recommend it to anyone.
Anonymous buyer8 Mar 2026
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★★★★★
Works perfect on mercedes w176 a180d
Mercedes-Benz A 180 d (W176)D***s17 Feb 2026
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★★★★★
Working perfectly!
Anonymous buyer5 Oct 2025
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★★★★★
Very fast delivery, excellent product, recommended …
Anonymous buyer25 Jun 2026
Cheaper than one inspection, and it works on every car you view
A pre-purchase inspection is worth it for the car you finally choose. The scanner helps you rule out the bad ones first, on the spot, for every car on your list.
| Feature | This scanner | Paid inspection |
|---|---|---|
| You pay | Once | For every car |
| Check at the seller's | Yes, in five minutes | Book and bring the car |
| Reads hidden fault codes | Yes | Yes |
| Spots a recently reset light | Yes | Yes |
| Brakes, tyres, rust, bodywork | No | Yes |
| Cars you can check | As many as you view | One per booking |
Ask the seller not to start the car before you arrive. Some faults, like a weak battery or a rough idle, only show in the first minutes.
Will it work with my car?
Since 2001 for petrol and 2004 for diesel, every car sold in the EU has the same 16-pin OBD2 port, whatever the brand. Pick your brand, fuel and year to check.
Specifications
- Works with
- OBD2/EOBD cars: petrol 2001+, diesel 2004+ (EU), all brands
- Functions
- Read and clear codes, live data, freeze frame, emissions readiness, O2 sensor test, EVAP leak check, vehicle info (VIN), battery voltage
- Vehicle voltage
- 12 V systems (11 to 14 V)
- Power
- From the car's OBD2 port, no batteries
- Controls
- LCD screen, menu buttons, one-press emissions readiness key
- Connection
- Built-in cable, no app or phone needed
- Updates
- Free for life
- In the box
- Scanner, user manual
Questions
Can I use it on a car I don't own yet?
Yes. It only reads information from the engine computer, so nothing changes in the car. Ask the seller first: most agree, and a seller who refuses tells you something too.
Can it tell if the seller cleared the codes?
Often, yes. Erasing codes resets the emissions self-tests to "not ready". If several tests are not ready on a car that is driven every day, the light was probably reset recently.
Can it detect a rolled-back odometer?
No. Standard OBD2 can't prove the real mileage. For that, check the service history, past technical inspection reports and wear on the seats, wheel and pedals.
Does it replace a pre-purchase inspection?
No. It checks the engine and emissions systems. For the car you decide to buy, a full inspection of brakes, suspension, tyres and bodywork is still a good idea. The scanner helps you rule out bad cars before you pay for one.
Will it work with the car I'm looking at?
If it is a petrol car from 2001 or a diesel from 2004 sold in the EU, yes. These cars all share the same OBD2 port and code system, whatever the brand.
Do I need a phone or an app?
No. Everything shows on the scanner's own screen. It runs on power from the car.
How fast is delivery?
Fast and free. Orders ship from a warehouse in the EU with tracking and usually arrive in 4 to 9 business days, often sooner.
Can I return it?
Yes. You can return it within 14 days of delivery.
Don't buy someone else's problem.
Buy now €49- Works with all car brands
- Tracked shipping from the EU
- 14-day returns