Whether it's a simple oil change or a brake job, it's important to have a few basic tools to work on a vehicle safely and without any unnecessary frustration.

A socket wrench set, with both standard and metric sized sockets, is one of the most frequently used hand tools in a mechanic's toolbox. Ratchets with a drive of 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch, and 1/2-inch are commonly used when working on a car or truck. The size of a 3/8 drive ratchet makes it an ideal choice for most light duty tasks. A 1/4 drive ratchet is useful for removing small nuts or bolts on delicate engine sensors or interior trim panels.

A wrench set, with both open-end and box-ends, is very important to have. Wrenches with a ratcheting open-end are easy to use and only need five degrees of movement to turn a fastener, whereas a standard wrench requires 30 degrees.

A screwdriver set that has a few Phillips, flat-head, and Torx drivers is a necessity. The handles of the screwdrivers should be comfortable to hold and chemical-resistant. Magnetic tips are helpful when handling small screws that can be easily dropped. Screwdrivers can be used as an improvised pry bar or a punch, however, this should be avoided as it can damage the tool or injure the user.

Locking pliers are useful for removing damaged fasteners. They can lock onto a rounded nut or bolt and turn it without slippage. In cases of extreme difficulty, an extra pair of pliers can be used to turn the adjustment bolt on the locking pliers to increase the clamping force.

Pneumatic impact wrenches are very useful and make quick work of removing tight or rusted fasteners. Sockets designed for use with impact wrenches are able to withstand the extreme amounts of torque produced by the wrench without fracturing. These sockets can also be used on a breaker bar to remove lug nuts.

Torque wrenches are important to properly tighten fasteners to a manufacturer's specification. Many parts can be damaged if a bolt is overtightened and can lead to a component failing. Applying excessive torque to the lug nuts on a vehicle with aluminum or alloy wheels can deform the mounting surface and may render the wheel useless.

Brake service kits are a time saving set of tools for changing brake pads and shoes. The tools included in a basic kit will be a caliper spreader, a shoe retaining spring tool, a pair of brake spring pliers, and a drum brake adjusting tool. All of these tools are designed to make brake jobs easier and safer.

A few plumbing tools are needed for servicing fuel and brake lines. A tubing cutter and flare tool are essential to fabricate a replacement brake line, and a tubing bender will allow the line to be properly routed without kinks. A fuel line disconnect tool is essential to change the fuel filter in newer vehicles.

A hydraulic floor jack will lift a car with minimal effort and is more reliable than the scissor jack that is included with a vehicle's spare tire. Jacks with a 2-ton capacity are sufficient for most vehicles and will provide years of reliable service. To prevent body damage, most floor jacks will require an adapter if the lift points of a vehicle are located on a pinch weld.

Jack stands are essential to keep a vehicle safely supported when working on undercarriage components. A pair is adequate for most jobs, although when rotating tires it is advisable to have four. It is important to make sure that the jack stands are properly located before working underneath the car.

Most of a vehicle's basic scheduled maintenance can easily be completed with these tools. If you really want to get crazy you can look into getting a steel garage for your car and have a home for all these tools and a place to restore that old car, or just work on the family van.