Auto Lifts Buyer's Guide

Safety and certification

The safety implications of buying an auto lift are pretty obvious: lifting and holding a multi-ton vehicle over the heads of your staff is inherently risky. Make sure you keep safety considerations at the top of your decision-making checklist.

Look for certified lifts
By far, the most important step you can take to make sure you're buying a safe, reliable lift is to only purchase models that are ALI/ETL certified. The Automotive Lift Institute, a national organization for auto lift manufacturers, runs a certification program that sets safety standards and tests lifts for compliance.

Intertek ETL, an independent third party, does the testing for this program. They carefully inspect each new lift design to make sure it meets strict industry standards. They also require manufacturers to demonstrate consistent, high-quality manufacturing techniques, and re-inspect certified lift designs on a regular basis.

These efforts ensure that any lift that carries the ALI/ETL certification label – seen here – meets a minimum level of safety when installed properly, serviced regularly, and used according to specifications. Remember that any lift becomes dangerous when pushed beyond the manufacturer's rated capacity..

In some cases, ALI/ETL certification is more than important: it's mandatory. Most states require that vehicle lifts be inspected and certified – be sure to check with your local authorities to see if this applies to you.

Safety features
ALI/ETL certification doesn't tell you what types of safety features are built into an auto lift. Here are a few examples of features that can help ensure the safety of your technicians.

• Locking positions automatically engage as the lift is raised, preventing it from falling very far in case of a mechanical or hydraulic failure. Check when locking positions start engaging and how often they engage: locking positions every 2 or 3 inches provide more security than those that engage every 6 inches or more.
• Pinch point protection helps keep fingers and hoses out of dangerous spots. This is particularly important on 2-post lifts with multiple swing arms that are adjusted for each vehicle lifted.
• Multiple lift pads make lifting different types of vehicles easier and safer. Talk to your dealer about what types of pads are available and which types of vehicles they're used for.