A Phillips head screwdriver is the one with the 4-pointed star shape on the end. The Phillips head has pretty much replaced the flat head when it comes to automotive screws. It is easier and faster to work with, and can be tightened more than a flat head with less chance of it stripping the screw head. You should have a number of different Phillips head screwdrivers in your tool box, you'll be using them all the time. When choosing which Phillips head to use for a job, pick the size that best fits the screw you are working with. Check out a picture of a Phillips head screwdriver. * You can purchase this tool online through one of About.com's trusted online retailers.

A flat head screwdriver is a screwdriver with a flat bladed end, used to tighten or loosen screws with a linear notch in the top. It's the most common tool on the planet. The flat head is also one of the most abused tools, often substituted for any number of other tools that might not be available. The fact is the flat head screwdriver is quite useful for more than tightening screws. Used for light prying, scraping, nudging or holding it can be pretty versatile. Treat it too badly, though, and it'll snap, leaving you with a fishing weight in your toolbox. There are flat head screwdrivers in many sizes, so choose the one in your tool box which most closely matches the job you need to do with it. Check out a picture of a flat head screwdriver. * You can purchase this tool online through one of About.com's trusted online retailers.

A nutdriver is like a socket on the end of a screwdriver. You use it to unscrew nuts or bolts by hand. Sometimes you need to get into a tight spot, or you don't need all the power of a ratchet wrench. Enter the nutdriver, a screwdriver handle with either a fixed-size or interchangeable socket on the end. You can't get a lot of oomph behind it, but it's faster to remove or install a bolt with your hands than with a ratchet wrench. For instance, if you are removing an oil pan (which can have up to 30 individual bolts holding it on), you can use a larger wrench to break the bolts free, then switch to a nutdriver to get them out of there fast. A set of nutdrivers is not an absolute necessity, but they can come in really handy and make your job go a little faster. Check out a picture of a nutdriver. * You can purchase this tool online through one of About.com's trusted online retailers.

Not only is the ratchet wrench one of the most useful tools in your box, it comes with the most useful accessories, too. If you can't reach a nut or bolt with just the wrench, these bars go in between the wrench and the socket to give you lots more reach. They can be as short as an inch or as long as 3 feet! Seasoned mechanics keep lots of extensions available. Not only will they allow you to reach a nut that was impossible with just the wrench, you can add an extension to your tool just to make the job a little easier. Giving yourself more working room and saving a little wear and tear on the back can be a very good thing. Save your back injury for something dramatic like lifting an engine block or trying to trim your hedges with a lawnmower.

There are lots of really bad ways to remove an oil filter. Many people operate on the idea that they aren't going to re-use it anyway, so it's ok if the filter gets destroyed on the way out. Stabbing it with screwdrivers so it can be twisted out using them as handles is one of the worst I've seen. Besides being a generally ignorant move, it's so unnecessary!

It's not often you use a hammer when working on your car. Contrary to some beliefs, you cannot fix anything with a hammer and duct tape. A ball peen hammer, however, was developed specifically for working on your car. When fixing a damaged body panel, the specially shaped head on the ball peen hammer allows you to make measured, well aimed taps and blows to the car. It's a good tool to keep around since you do need a hammer from time to time, and the flat end of the head can be used to tap on anything you want.

Another tool box necessity, adjustable pliers are universal in that they can be used all over the place. It's always better to use a tool that exactly matches a bolt's size, but if that's not practical, channel locks can probably adjust to get a good grip on things. The flat surface of the tool's jaws keeps nut and bolt damage to a minimum. They are also excellent to use for removing spring-type hose clamps.

Torx is actually a brand name, and in this case it's the only game, not an appropriated term. A Torx head screw has a nice, deep star in the center. The advantage of this screw is the amount of torque it can put up with. You can really tighten a Torx screw like crazy. The problem is, most people don't buy a Torx wrench (or Torx bit for one of their other tools) until they need it. It's worth the time to read your car's repair manual and find out if you'll be needing a Torx wrench. By the time you're staring at the screw, you'll be super irritated to have to stop for a run to the auto parts store.

I don't know what it is, but breaker bars are amazing. They look just like a ratchet wrench with an extra long handle, only they don't ratchet. They will hold any size socket. But the trick in this tool is in the composition of the handle. The fact that it's longer gives you more leverage to loosen the offending nut or bolt, but the handle also flexes slightly, which works like magic to break those bolts. I know I'm going on and on, but it really is that amazing.

Whether you call them snips, wire cutters, nippers or anything else, you need this tool in your toolbox. They are great to use for what they were designed to do - cut wires - but you can also strip wires, open packages, or use them to cut other things like vacuum tubing or tape. Don't let yourself be tempted to use them to cut thick metal. It might work, but you'll ruin your snips in the process.