Auto Lifts Buyer's Guide

Auto lift buying tips

Get a little extra capacity.
One rule of thumb to consider is that your lift should have a capacity of about 25% higher than the actual maximum you're likely to lift. In practice, that means your 10,000 lb. lift should max out at about 8,000 lbs. – which is still enough for most cars, pickups, and SUVs.

Think about overhead clearance.
If you choose a lift that has an overhead connection between the posts, be sure it can accommodate the height of your tallest vehicles. Get the extended height option if needed.

Be careful buying used.
While it may be tempting to save some money buying a used lift, the safety issues make it risky. You can never be sure that the previous owner maintained and used the lift properly. For a potential savings of a few hundred dollars, it's not a risk we recommend taking.

Check your floors.
In addition to making sure your concrete floors meet the pressure and thickness requirements, you'll also have to make sure you avoid any seams or edges. Putting a lift post too close to the edge of a concrete slab can reduce your lift's safe capacity.

Get some extras.
When negotiating your lift purchase, push the dealer to throw in extras like rolling oil drain pans or adapter kits. Getting additional equipment is sometimes easier than reducing the base price.