Will an OBD2 scanner work on my car?

If your car was made after 1996 (US) or 2001 (EU), yes. All vehicles are required to have a standard OBD2 port, usually under the dashboard near the steering column. Electric vehicles have OBD2 ports but may not support all standard codes.

Can I clear a check engine light with these scanners?

Yes, every scanner on this list can clear check engine codes. However, if the underlying issue is not fixed, the light will return. Clearing codes before a smog test can also fail you — the car needs drive cycles to set readiness monitors.

Is leaving a Bluetooth OBD2 scanner plugged in safe?

Most modern Bluetooth scanners draw minimal power and are safe to leave plugged in. The BlueDriver and OBDLink MX+ both have low-power modes. However, if your car will sit unused for weeks, unplug it to avoid any battery drain.

Best Bluetooth OBD2 Scanners 2026