Published: March 8, 2026 · Last updated: October 26, 2026
If your car has an electronic parking brake, you can't just wind the rear calipers back by hand to change the brake pads. The EPB motor holds the pistons electronically, and you need a scanner to put the system into service mode so it retracts them safely. Try to force it without that, and you risk damaging the caliper or the motor.
Here's the reassuring part before you start shopping: EPB reset is not a rare or premium feature, almost any full-system or service-reset scanner from a normal brand handles it. So this guide is less about hunting for one special tool and more about understanding what the reset does, and knowing the handful of cases where a cheap tool still falls short on a specific car.
I earn from qualifying purchases and sometimes get tools for free (full disclosure). It never affects my scoring.
Quick recommendations
XTool A30M 9.1 / 10
Best overall value for money for Bluetooth OBD2 scanner.
- ✓Amazing value for money
- ✓Adapter has built-in flashlight to help you see obd2 port
- ✓One of my personal favourite tools
- ✓Free updates
- ✕Can only use landscape mode
Mucar 682 8.1 / 10
Great budget pick for bi-directional tablet scan tool. May be actually the cheapest one of them all and have free lifetime updates.
- ✓Full-system bi-directional tablet scanners
- ✓Wired connection means less charging because it charges everytime connected to car
- ✓Great budget tool to start doing full-system diagnostics and service procedures
- ✓Updates via Wi-Fi
- ✓Free lifetime software updates
- ✓Integrated AI assistant
- ✕No ECU coding
- ✕Addons like key programmer or TPMS cannot be used with this one
Thinkdiag2 8.5 / 10
most advanced bluetooth OBD2 scanner for smartphone users with full-system access and coding
- ✓Most advanced scanner to use with smartphone
- ✓1-year free updates/subscription
- ✓Can unlock hidden features in many brands
- ✓Never failed to connect (I am using it for 4 years already)
- ✓Comparable to $400-600 scan tool tablets
- ✕Yearly subscription
Mucar 892BT 9.4 / 10
My personal favourite go-to scanner for diagnosing, checking used cars. service resets or even coding new features. Unless I need special tool I am using this one.
- ✓Small for tablet scan tool so it's easy to carry around
- ✓Good interface for coding features
- ✓Overall great UX
- ✓Magnetic handle for dongle on the back is gold = no need to always search for dongle
- ✓Allows custom background image
- ✕No topology yet (might come later with update)
Vdiagtool D200 6.5 / 10
budget standalone handheld scanner from vdiagtool with full-system access and basic service resets
- ✓Standalone no-phone-needed
- ✓Full-system scanning
- ✓Affordable price
- ✓Option to expand to "49" service resets
- ✓Option to expand to ECU programming
- ✕No coding
My real Examples of using EPB reset on OBD2 scanner
👍 More options I like
Good tools that did not make the table.
⚠️ Do not buy these
Tested, returned, or regretted.
Autel IM608 PRO 2 9.1 / 10
The honest truth about EPB reset is that it's not a feature worth overpaying for. It's one of the most common service functions out there, so almost any full-system or service-reset scanner from a normal brand, Launch, Kingbolen, Topdon, Mucar, Thinkcar, Youcanic, will do it. The one thing it rules out is a basic engine-only code reader, because EPB lives in the brake module and a cheap reader can't reach it. Beyond that, pick the scanner that fits the rest of your work and EPB comes included.
That said, "widely supported" isn't "universally supported," and I learned that the hard way. On a Toyota Proace City 2020, none of the budget winners on this list could complete the EPB reset, and I only opened it with the Autel IM608. That's not a reason to buy a $3,000 tool for brake pads, it's a reason to confirm your specific car is covered before you buy anything. Most cars are fine on a cheap tool. A few aren't, and you only find out on the car.
XTool A30M 9.1 / 10
So if you just want a reliable, affordable tool that handles EPB along with everything else, the XTool A30M is my value pick at around $140, full-system, free updates, and one of my favourite tools regardless of price. If you want standalone with no phone, the Vdiagtool D200 does full-system EPB resets as a handheld around $150. And if you already have an ELM327 adapter, try the Carista app first, it may already cover your car for nothing extra.
→ Read full review of XTool A30M
I'm Juraj Lukacko and I work as an auto electrician. On this site I share what I learn from real work on real cars, to help you pick the right tools for diagnostics, programming and tuning and get the job done.
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Why do you rate this so low and x30m at 9.1 when this is pretty much same as x30m for same price but with the option for additional features later? Shouldn’t this be rated higher than x30m or is there anything x30m has better than this?
Hi. These ratings are calculated automatically based on ranking I give in multiple categories. XTool A30M scores high because it has better score in software interface and price value (no subscription) and more service resets than other tools in this price range.