Best car lifts for home garages in 2021 – Roadshow [CNET]

When it comes to cars, not everyone has a simple driver-vehicle relationship. A car’s owner can be its driver, caretaker, doctor and mechanic. Many hold a far deeper view of a car as a home away from home, a source of conveyance, even a friend. 

Those of us who have that kind of relationship love working on our cars — whether it means popping the hoods or getting under the chassis. The former is a lot easier and safer than the latter, though. We can’t afford any equipment malfunctions or accidents when we’re lifting up our cars to take a peek at what’s underneath.

Thankfully, the right home car lift is a lot more stable and secure than a traditional jack. It also gives you a better vantage point when working on your car, allows you more room in your garage and even serves as a parking lift to take pressure off the tires during long-term storage. But what should you look for in a home vehicle lift? How do you know when you’ve found the right one?

Here are some of the best car lifts available for home garages, based on expert opinions and customer satisfaction. We’ve taken into consideration things like maximum height, lift capacity, what the lift arm is made of, whether the lift has a truck adapter and more. Make sure to read on for pro tips on picking the right auto lift and proper installation because you definitely need to be aware of factors like ceiling height and your garage space (a small garage requires consideration).

Ready? Grab a drip tray and dive into the best car lifts for your home garage. We update this list periodically.

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“Scissors lifts [are] more compact when in the down position, but can sometimes be a hindrance in working under the car,” says John Velazquez, owner of Autobahn Auto Service in St. Charles, Illinois. Velazquez has more than 18 years of automotive shop, maintenance and repair experience. “Many home scissor lifts are more for folks who want to change the wheels on their car for SCCA racing, etc. They are not for major work on a car at home. That is because many of them support the car in weird spots, making the undercarriage not as accessible. A post lift is best, with two posts or four. A four-post lift is better for larger/heavier vehicles, but a two post lift is more than adequate and that’s what most commercial shops use.”

Andy King, managing director and founder of Jamjar.com, agrees. Jamjar is a UK-based web service devoted to car-buying comparisons that has been helping consumers since 1997. “If the farthest you’re going to go is just changing the wheels and brakes, a low-rise scissor lift would do just fine. These are often smaller and don’t go as high as a conventional four-post lift, but can still carry around 4.5 tons depending on the make and model. These are pretty secure and have a little less of a risk factor due to the shorter lift. 

“If you expect to be working on the underneath [of] your car a lot and you need a larger amount of room [for] parts and movement, I would recommend a two- or four-post lift. This will help to keep you safe, offer a lot more floor space, and lift your car higher than a scissor lift, too. This means you can stand to work under your car rather than laying down.”

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Obviously, a major question that many users have when it comes to auto lifts is safety — if a car falls, it’s not good for anybody. The reality is that if a lift is certified as safe and you use it properly, then risk — while never eliminated — is minimized. Any certified lift is designed to safely support a vehicle in the given weight range, though the specifics of how it does just that will vary based on design.

Simply based on the shape, four-post lifts are less likely to see a vehicle tip off than a two-post or one-post lift (as the name suggests, these use one hydraulic lift to raise up a car) are, but those accidents are almost always due to user error. “Everything else being equal, a four-post lift is safer than a two-post lift; it’s sturdier and more secure, and the better choice if the lift is being used for storage, not just lifting,” says Reina. “A vehicle stored on a four-post lift can be safer to store for long periods of time, as opposed to two-post lifts.” 

No matter what kind of lift you have, it’s incumbent upon you to make sure that it’s certified and that you use it in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

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Just a note: If you have limited garage space, you may be considering installing a lift in your driveway or in another outdoor location. This is not recommended, as your lift will then be exposed to temperatures and weather elements for which it isn’t designed. Some lifts’ warranties will be voided if they’re installed outside.

Another important concern when installing a car lift is the integrity of the concrete underneath. While a 1,500-pound lift may not seem very heavy compared to the 10,000-pound truck that it’s going to be holding, the weight will be distributed differently (and won’t be balanced on soft tires). For this reason, it’s recommended to place the lift on a sturdy concrete surface — and if you don’t have one in your garage, you’ll need to pour one.

Eagle Equipment suggests only using 3,000 PSI reinforced concrete, and allowing a minimum thickness of 4 inches for lifts up to a 10,000-pound capacity, while allowing at least 6 inches for lifts up to a 15,000-pound capacity. Bendpak, meanwhile, offers a more detailed chart referring specifically to the company’s own products. Whichever product you ultimately end up buying, you should follow the manufacturer’s specific foundational advice.

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Five things you need to know before you buy and use a home garage car lift

• Why are you considering buying a car lift for your garage? Factors like wanting to park cars on top of one another or wanting easier access to your car’s chassis will ultimately affect what kind of lift you need.
• What kind of car lift do you want? Again, your reasons for buying a lift will point you in a certain direction, but criteria like cost and lifting capacity will also help you decide between a four-post lift, a two-post lift, a scissor lift or a different kind altogether.
• Can your garage floor accommodate a car lift? Check (or have a professional check) to make sure that your garage floor consists of enough solid inches of PSI 3,000 concrete to support your lift of choice. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to have new concrete poured.
• Who is going to install your home garage lift? It’s highly recommended that you have an experienced professional perform the job, as it can be difficult and dangerous. Find an installation expert whom you trust — one with experience installing car lifts.
• Finally, and most importantly, what are the operating instructions associated with your car lift? Make sure to familiarize yourself with all of them in order to minimize the risk of property damage or injury.

Written by Scott Fried for Roadshow. 

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