Automotive Diagnostic Scanners & Scan Tools

A scan tool is the difference between fixing the fault and replacing parts until the light goes out. This is Val's full diagnostics range: OBD2 code readers, bidirectional scan tools and professional tablets from Autel, Topdon and more. Find the tier that matches your work below.

TOPDON ONE PLUS 10.1" Professional Advanced Automotive Diagnostic Scan Tool with J2534 ECU Programmer
TOPDON ONE PLUS 10.1" Professional Advanced Automotive Diagnostic Scan Tool with J2534 ECU Programmer

$1,299.00

TOPDON ArtiDiag800BT2 Scan Tool with Service Functions & CAN-FD
TOPDON ArtiDiag800BT2 Scan Tool with Service Functions & CAN-FD

$298.98

Autel Powerscan PS100 Circuit Tester
Autel Powerscan PS100 Circuit Tester

$79.00

Sale
TOPDON Phoenix Max Battery & Service Bundle
TOPDON Phoenix Max Battery & Service Bundle

$3,795.00

$4,500.00

Sale
Autel MaxiSYS ULTRA S2 Diagnostic Scan Tool - USA Version
Autel MaxiSYS ULTRA S2 Diagnostic Scan Tool - USA Version

$5,195.00

$6,499.00

TOPDON UltraDiag Moto 8" Motorcycle Scan Tool
TOPDON UltraDiag Moto 8" Motorcycle Scan Tool

$799.00

TOPDON ArtiDiag600S 5" OBD2 Scan Tool
TOPDON ArtiDiag600S 5" OBD2 Scan Tool

$199.00

TOPDON TopScan Master Bluetooth OBD2 Scan Tool with Bi-Directional Control
TOPDON TopScan Master Bluetooth OBD2 Scan Tool with Bi-Directional Control

$159.00

TOPDON ArtiDiag Pro 7-Inch Scan Tool with Bi-Directional Control and ECU Coding
TOPDON ArtiDiag Pro 7-Inch Scan Tool with Bi-Directional Control and ECU Coding

$519.99

Launch Tech X431 Torque AutoHD Pro
Launch Tech X431 Torque AutoHD Pro

$3,299.00

AUTEL MaxiCheck MX900 All Systems Diagnostics and Service Tablet Support DoIP & CAN FD, AutoVIN
AUTEL MaxiCheck MX900 All Systems Diagnostics and Service Tablet Support DoIP & CAN FD, AutoVIN

$519.00

Sale
TOPDON Phoenix Lite 3 Scan Tool
TOPDON Phoenix Lite 3 Scan Tool

$799.00

$859.00

TOPDON ArtiLink500B 2-in-1 OBD2 Code Reader and Battery Tester
TOPDON ArtiLink500B 2-in-1 OBD2 Code Reader and Battery Tester

$75.99

TOPDON RLink X3 J2534 Pass-Thru Programmer for GM, Ford & Chrysler
TOPDON RLink X3 J2534 Pass-Thru Programmer for GM, Ford & Chrysler

$99.00

Launch Tech TSAP3 TPMS Tool with 20 Sensors
Launch Tech TSAP3 TPMS Tool with 20 Sensors

$579.00

Autel MaxiSYS Ultra with EV MX900 TPMS Bundle Pack!
Autel MaxiSYS Ultra with EV MX900 TPMS Bundle Pack!

$3,995.99

Launch Tech Usa - X-431 Torque 5
Launch Tech Usa - X-431 Torque 5

$1,999.95

TOPDON ArtiDiag 900BT 7" Tablet With 28 Service Functions
TOPDON ArtiDiag 900BT 7" Tablet With 28 Service Functions

$499.00

TOPDON Phoenix Smart with heavy duty 6-pin and 9-pin cable kit included, plus free AW bamboo work socks
TOPDON Phoenix Smart + Heavy Duty Cable Kit Bundle

$2,300.00

TOPDON Phoenix Smart
TOPDON Phoenix Smart

$2,300.00

Autel MaxiSYS MS906 MAX & MaxiScope MP608 Bundle + FREE BT608 Battery Tester
Autel MaxiSYS MS906 MAX & MaxiScope MP608 Bundle + FREE BT608 Battery Tester

$2,100.00

Autel MaxiSYS MS906 MAX & MaxiFlash XLINK Bundle + FREE MV480 Videoscope & TBE200
Autel MaxiSYS MS906 MAX & MaxiFlash XLINK Bundle + FREE MV480 Videoscope & TBE200

$2,890.00

Autel MaxiSYS MS909CV Heavy Duty Commercial Vehicle Diagnostic Tablet
Autel MaxiSYS MS909CV Heavy Duty Commercial Vehicle Diagnostic Tablet

$5,450.00

Autel MaxiTPMS TS900 TPMS, Diagnostic & Service Tablet
Autel MaxiTPMS TS900 TPMS, Diagnostic & Service Tablet

$795.00

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The three tiers of scan tool

Nearly every scanner falls into one of three groups, and the gap between them is capability, not screen size. Basic code readers pull and clear engine fault codes and check readiness for an emissions test. All-systems tablets read every module on the vehicle, not just the engine, and run the service functions a shop uses daily: oil resets, electronic parking brakes, steering angle, battery registration. Bidirectional tools add the ability to command components directly, so you can fire an injector or cycle an ABS pump to confirm a fault instead of guessing, and the top tier adds ECU coding and programming. Buy for the work you actually do: a code reader will not get you through a drivability diagnosis, and a programming tablet is wasted money if you only read codes.

What to check before you buy

Four things decide whether a scanner will still be useful in three years.

Vehicle coverage

Coverage varies by make, model year and system. A tool that reads engine codes on everything may only do ABS and airbag on some makes. Check coverage for the vehicles you actually work on, not the headline count.

Software updates

Diagnostics ages faster than any other tool category. Most scanners include a period of free updates then charge to renew. The tool keeps working when updates lapse, but it stops supporting newer vehicles, so treat renewal as a running cost.

CAN-FD and DoIP

These are the newer communication protocols on late-model vehicles. A scanner without them will not talk to a growing share of cars regardless of how good it is otherwise. If you work on anything recent, this is not optional.

Bidirectional control

If you diagnose rather than just read codes, this is the feature worth paying for. See the bidirectional and pro tablets for the tools that support active testing.

Specialist diagnostics beyond the scanner

A scan tool points you at the system; other tools find the fault. Val stocks TPMS tools for sensor programming and relearns, key programmers for immobilizer work, battery testers and chargers for charging-system diagnosis, smoke and leak detection for vacuum and EVAP faults, and thermal cameras for tracing electrical and cooling problems. Browse the full diagnostic tools range to fill the gaps.

FAQ

What is the difference between an OBD2 code reader and a scan tool?
A code reader pulls and clears engine fault codes and checks emissions readiness. That is useful for a check engine light, but it only sees the engine. A full scan tool reads every module on the vehicle, including ABS, airbag, transmission and body systems, streams live data and runs service functions like oil and parking brake resets. If you are diagnosing rather than just reading a light, you want a scan tool.

Do I need a bidirectional scan tool?
If you diagnose faults for a living, yes. Bidirectional control lets you command a component directly, cycling an ABS pump, firing an injector or actuating a solenoid, so you can confirm whether the part responds instead of inferring it from codes and data. That turns a guess into a test. If you mainly read and clear codes and do basic service resets, a good all-systems tablet without bidirectional control will cover you for less.

What are CAN-FD and DoIP, and do they matter?
They are newer vehicle communication protocols used on late-model cars. CAN-FD is a faster version of the CAN bus, and DoIP runs diagnostics over an ethernet connection. A scanner that does not support them cannot communicate with a growing number of recent vehicles, no matter how capable it is otherwise. If you work on anything from the last few model years, make sure the tool lists both.

How often do scan tools need software updates?
Most manufacturers release updates several times a year, adding vehicle coverage and new service functions. Tools usually include a period of free updates, often one to several years, then charge an annual renewal. The scanner keeps working after the period ends but stops gaining support for newer vehicles. Because coverage is the main thing you are paying for, budget for renewal rather than treating it as optional.

Which scan tool is best for a home mechanic?
For most home mechanics, an all-systems tablet is the sweet spot: it reads and clears codes across every module, streams live data and runs the service resets you actually use, without the cost of programming capability. If you only need to check a warning light before a trip or a used-car purchase, a Bluetooth dongle or basic code reader is enough. Step up to bidirectional only if you plan to do real diagnostic work.
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