Exemplary embodiments of an improved OBT are provided. General concepts of the invention include an OBT combined with an optical scanner. In one embodiment, the OBT includes a housing that at least partially retains a processor; vehicle communication circuitry for linking to a vehicle diagnostic system, and an optical reader for optically obtaining additional information. Another exemplary embodiment includes an OBT used in conjunction with a bar code scanner and/or a camera. In addition, a method of obtaining diagnostic data from the vehicle diagnostic system and optically obtaining information using an off-board device is provided.