Introduction
Carly has two purchase options in the UK. The Basic Package costs £74.80 as a one-time payment — it includes the Carly OBD scanner and basic fault code reading, with no annual commitment. The Premium annual licence starts at £53.89/year, includes the scanner at no extra cost, and unlocks every feature Carly supports for your specific car brand.
One thing worth noting for UK buyers: the Premium licence for entry brands is actually cheaper than the Basic Package. A Fiat licence at £53.89/year and an Audi licence at £59.89/year both cost less than the £74.80 Basic Package — and both include the scanner plus full feature access. The Basic Package only makes sense if you already own a Carly scanner and want basic diagnostics without an annual commitment.
If you own multiple vehicles from different manufacturers, the All Brands licence brings everything under one plan at a flat £86.89/year with scanner included.
All prices in this guide are specific to the UK market in GBP.
UK Pricing at a Glance
| Plan | Price | Scanner | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Package | £74.80 (one-time) | Included | None |
| Premium (brand-specific) | £53.89 – £77.89/year | Included free | Yes |
| All Brands | £86.89/year (fixed) | Included free | Yes |
Premium Price by Car Brand (UK examples)
| Car Brand | Premium Price/year | All Brands total | Scanner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat | £53.89 | £86.89 | Included free |
| Audi | £59.89 | £86.89 | Included free |
| BMW | £77.89 | £86.89 | Included free |
| Other brands | Varies | £86.89 (fixed) | Included free |
The Carly OBD scanner (sold separately as the Basic Package at £74.80) is included at no extra cost with every Premium licence. There is no separate hardware fee when you subscribe.
Premium pricing varies by brand because the number of supported features differs by make and model. BMW owners get access to coding, live data, used car checks, transmission diagnostics, and over a dozen additional modules. Fiat owners get diagnostics and live data with fewer brand-specific coding options. The price reflects what is actually available for your car.
The Two Ways to Buy Carly in the UK
Option 1 — Basic Package: £74.80 (one-time)
The Basic Package is a one-time purchase of the Carly OBD scanner at £74.80. The scanner connects to your car’s OBD port (typically located under the steering wheel or dashboard) and communicates with the Carly app on your phone via Bluetooth.
The Basic Package includes:
- Carly OBD scanner hardware (lifetime warranty)
- Basic OBD2 fault code reading
- Limited vehicle information display
Advanced features — coding, live data, used car checks, full ECU diagnostics — are not available with the Basic Package alone. These require an active Premium licence.
Option 2 — Premium Annual Licence: from £53.89/year
The Premium annual licence includes the Carly OBD scanner at no extra cost and unlocks all features Carly supports for your specific car brand.
Free features (no licence required):
- Basic OBD2 fault code reading
- Limited vehicle information display
Premium licence features:
- Advanced diagnostics across up to 80 ECU modules
- Coding and vehicle customisation
- Live data streaming
- Service reset capabilities
- Used car health checks (including mileage verification)
- Battery health checks
- Full vehicle reports
Total Cost by Scenario (UK)
| Scenario | Year 1 | Year 2+ | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Package only | £74.80 | £0 | No annual fee, basic diagnostics only |
| Premium Fiat | £53.89 | £53.89/year | Scanner included — less than Basic Package |
| Premium Audi | £59.89 | £59.89/year | Scanner included — less than Basic Package |
| Premium BMW | £77.89 | £77.89/year | Scanner included |
| Premium Fiat + All Brands | £86.89 | £86.89/year | £53.89 + £33.00 add-on |
| Premium Audi + All Brands | £86.89 | £86.89/year | £59.89 + £27.00 add-on |
| Premium BMW + All Brands | £86.89 | £86.89/year | £77.89 + £9.00 add-on |
Unlike traditional OBD scanners, there is no separate Year 1 hardware cost when you choose a Premium licence — the scanner ships included. Year 1 and Year 2 costs are identical.
5-year projection (BMW, mid-range example):
- Year 1: £77.89 (scanner + licence included)
- Years 2–5: £77.89 × 4 = £311.56
- 5-year total: £389.45
Compare this to a single UK garage diagnostic session, which typically costs £80–£150. If Carly helps you avoid just one garage visit per year, the licence pays for itself.
Feature Comparison by Plan
| Feature | Basic Package | Premium (brand-specific) | Premium + All Brands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carly OBD Scanner | Included | Included free | Included free |
| Fault code reading | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Live data streaming | Limited | Full | Full |
| Coding features | ✗ | ✓ (where supported) | ✓ (where supported) |
| Mileage verification | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Battery health check | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-brand support | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Annual fee | None | £53.89 – £77.89 | £86.89 (fixed) |
All Brands Licence — £86.89/year
The All Brands upgrade extends your licence to cover all manufacturers Carly supports — useful for households with vehicles from different brands or anyone who frequently changes cars.
The All Brands total is always £86.89/year, regardless of your starting brand:
- From Fiat Premium (£53.89): + £33.00 → £86.89/year total
- From Audi Premium (£59.89): + £27.00 → £86.89/year total
- From BMW Premium (£77.89): + £9.00 → £86.89/year total
Upgrading from a single-brand licence to All Brands is available at any time, with Carly crediting prior payment toward the upgraded plan.
Smart Mechanic Add-On
Smart Mechanic is an optional add-on that provides guided repair assistance based on detected fault codes.
What Smart Mechanic includes:
- Step-by-step repair explanations
- Fault interpretation and diagnostics
- Contextual guidance based on your specific error code readings
- Technical advice for DIY fixes
Smart Mechanic is available for selected brands including BMW and VAG vehicles. Check mycarly.com for current UK pricing on this add-on.
How Carly Compares to Alternatives in the UK
| Tool | Hardware cost | Annual fee | Coding support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carly Basic Package | £74.80 (scanner included) | None | No |
| Carly Premium | Included free with licence | £53.89 – £77.89/year | Yes (EU brands) |
| OBDEleven | ~£65 | Limited | VW Group only |
| Carista | ~£25–30 | ~£40–50/year | Moderate |
| VCDS | ~£185 | None | VW/Audi only, 3-VIN limit |
| Budget OBD readers | ~£20 | None | No coding |
Carly’s value proposition in the UK centres on broad brand support, continuous software updates, and accessible coding features — particularly for BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and VW owners where deep ECU access provides the most return.
Managing Your Carly Subscription in the UK
Renewal
Carly annual licences renew automatically each year. Under UK consumer rights:
- Your renewal date is visible in your account settings
- Set a calendar reminder 30 days before renewal to review or cancel
- Cancellation is available through the same channel used to purchase — Carly’s website or the App Store
Cancellation
- Via Carly website: Cancel directly in your account
- Via App Store: Cancel through Apple or Google subscription management
- After cancellation, your licence remains active until the end of the paid period, then reverts to basic OBD2 fault reading only
Cooling-Off Period
As a UK consumer, you have a standard 14-day right to cancel for online purchases. Contact Carly support promptly if the product does not work with your specific vehicle.
Refunds
Refund requests are handled based on your purchase channel:
- Carly website purchases: Contact Carly support directly
- App Store purchases: Request refund through Apple or Google’s standard processes
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Carly cost in the UK? The Basic Package costs £74.80 as a one-time purchase. Premium annual licences start at £53.89/year for entry brands (e.g. Fiat) and go up to £77.89/year for BMW — with the Carly OBD scanner included free with every Premium licence. The All Brands upgrade is a flat £86.89/year regardless of your starting brand.
Is Carly worth it in the UK? A single UK garage diagnostic session costs £80–£150. If Carly helps you avoid one visit per year, the licence pays for itself. For BMW, Audi, and Mercedes owners who want to perform their own coding and service resets, the annual saving compared to specialist pricing can be several hundred pounds.
Does Carly include the scanner with a subscription in the UK? Yes. The Carly OBD scanner (sold separately as the Basic Package for £74.80) is included at no extra cost with every Premium annual licence. For Fiat (£53.89/year) and Audi (£59.89/year) users, the Premium licence actually costs less than the Basic Package and includes the scanner plus full feature access.
How does Carly compare to alternatives in the UK? Carly offers broader brand support than OBDEleven (VW Group only) or VCDS (VW/Audi, 3-VIN limit). Carista is cheaper at ~£40–50/year but offers fewer coding options. For BMW owners specifically, Carly’s coding depth and ongoing updates make it one of the most comprehensive consumer-level tools available in the UK market.
How much does Carly cost in the UK?
The Basic Package costs £74.80 as a one-time purchase including the OBD scanner. Premium annual licences start at £53.89/year (e.g. Fiat) and go up to £77.89/year (BMW), with the scanner included free. The All Brands upgrade is a flat £86.89/year with scanner included.
Is Carly worth it in the UK?
A single UK garage diagnostic session costs £80–£150. If Carly helps you avoid one visit per year, the licence pays for itself. For BMW, Audi, and Mercedes owners who perform their own coding and service resets, the annual saving compared to specialist pricing can be several hundred pounds.
Does Carly include the scanner with a subscription in the UK?
Yes. The Carly OBD scanner (sold separately for £74.80 as the Basic Package) is included free with every Premium annual licence. For Fiat (£53.89/year) and Audi (£59.89/year) users, the Premium licence costs less than the Basic Package and includes the scanner plus full feature access.
How does Carly compare to alternatives in the UK?
Carly offers broader brand support than OBDEleven (VW Group only) or VCDS (VW/Audi, 3-VIN limit). Carista is cheaper at around £40–50/year but with fewer coding options. For BMW, Mercedes, and Audi owners, Carly’s coding depth and ongoing updates make it one of the most comprehensive consumer-level tools in the UK market.
Conclusion
Carly UK pricing offers two clear options: the Basic Package at £74.80 (one-time, scanner included, basic diagnostics only) or a Premium annual licence from £53.89/year with scanner included and full feature access for your car brand.
For Fiat and Audi owners in particular, the Premium licence costs less than the Basic Package and delivers the scanner plus everything Carly supports for your vehicle. The All Brands upgrade brings all manufacturers under one plan at a flat £86.89/year.
Before purchasing:
- Check your vehicle’s compatibility and exact UK price at mycarly.com/brand
- Compare Premium vs Basic Package — for most brands, Premium delivers more value at the same or lower cost
- Consider All Brands if you have multiple vehicles from different manufacturers