Free tools to work out what is wrong with your car before you spend money — MOT status, fault codes, open recalls and symptom-by-symptom guides.
Free tools to work out what is wrong
Check any UK registration for MOT status, expiry date, mileage and full pass and fail history. Look up any OBD2 fault code for plain-English meaning, common causes and cost bands. Check for outstanding DVSA safety recalls. Read the symptom guides for noises, warning lights and driveability faults.
All of that is free and needs no sign-up. For most everyday problems it will get you to an answer.
When you need it looking at properly
If the free tools leave you unsure, a written answer on your own car from a qualified UK mechanic is £14.99, back within six hours. An instant AI diagnostic report with ranked causes and cost bands is £19.99.
For anything safety-related — brakes, steering, airbags — get the car to a garage rather than researching it. Those are not systems to experiment with.
What the vehicle help tools do
These are the free tools we built because the same questions come over the counter every week: what is wrong with it, is that quote fair, when is the next job due, and what pressure should the tyres be. Each one answers in plain English rather than sending you round a forum for an evening.
The AI diagnosis tool takes a description of the symptom and works through the likely causes in order of probability and cost. The garage quote checker tells you whether a price is in the normal UK range for that job. The maintenance planner works out what is due next from your mileage and service history.
Using them before you book anything
The point of these tools is to walk into a garage knowing roughly what you are dealing with. A customer who can say what the noise does and when it happens gets a cheaper, faster diagnosis than one who says it makes a funny sound, because the mechanic is not paying for guesswork with your money.
None of them replace putting the car on a ramp. What they do is stop you buying the wrong part first, which is where most wasted money in car repair goes.
When to stop and get it looked at
Some symptoms are not worth diagnosing at the kerbside: brakes that go to the floor, a temperature gauge in the red, a red oil warning light, steering that has gone vague, or any smell of fuel. Those mean stop and call someone rather than carry on to the next town.
Everything else can usually wait a day or two while you get a sensible quote. Bob's Mechanical Repairs is in Birnam, Dunkeld, Perthshire, and an MOT is £54.85. Bob has 32 years on the tools, and the fault gets explained and priced before any work starts.
Frequently asked questions
Are the vehicle tools free?
Yes. MOT check, fault code lookup, recall check and the symptom guides are all free with no sign-up.
What if I need advice on my own car?
A written answer from a qualified UK mechanic is £14.99 with a reply within six hours.
Can you tell me if it is safe to drive?
The symptom guides cover what is safe to drive with and what is not. If in doubt, do not drive it — get it recovered.
Are the vehicle help tools free?
Yes. The diagnosis tool, quote checker, maintenance planner and tyre pressure lookup are all free to use.
Can a tool replace a proper diagnosis?
No. It narrows the likely cause and tells you whether a quote is reasonable, but confirming a fault needs live data and the car on a ramp.
Which faults mean stop driving?
Brake failure, a red oil light, an overheating gauge, a fuel smell or steering that has gone vague. Stop and get help rather than drive on.