Auto Lifts Buyer's Guide

Choosing an auto lift dealer

Who you buy your lift from is almost as important as the technical specs of the lift itself. Choosing the right auto lift dealer ensures that you get the most for your money, while choosing an inferior dealer can cost you far more in the long run.

Experience is important, both from the manufacturer and the dealer you choose. Look into how long the manufacturer has been building lifts and how long the dealer has been selling them. It's worth talking to other repair shops or dealerships in your area to find out who they turned to for their auto lifts and how pleased they are with the results.

Service capabilities
One of the most important characteristics to look for in an auto lift dealer is how they handle service calls and maintenance. Regular maintenance of your auto lift is crucial. Every hour a lift is out of commission costs you money – make sure the dealer you work with understands the importance of a quick response to any problem you encounter.

If you're buying directly from a manufacturer, have them introduce you to the local technicians who will be responsible for installing and maintaining your lift before you complete the sale. The technicians should be factory-authorized, experienced, and close enough that they'll be able to respond fairly quickly if you ever need them on short notice.

How to run your evaluation
The right dealer will work with you to determine what type of lift is best for your situation. They'll ask about your capacity needs, available space, and other preferences, and then suggest the right lift for your shop. Watch out for dealers who aggressively push a lift with far more capacity than you need, or that have a one-size-fits-all approach to sales.

Often, having the dealer visit your shop can help speed the process along. Alternatively, you may want to visit their location, to get a sense of the scope of their operation. Whichever route you take is fine, but a face-to-face meeting is important for a purchase of this scale: buying a lift purely over the Internet or even through telephone conversations can be tricky.

Once you've got a few qualified dealers lined up, get written proposals from each. Make sure they all cover the same services – delivery, installation, warranties, maintenance – and then you're ready to compare pricing.