Are your car garage bills causing you concern? Are you tired of constant visits to a mechanic’s shop? Would you rather manage minor repairs and regular maintenance on your own? Do you need to create an additional parking space for your second car? All your worries are over with the snap of your fingers.
How?
Car lifts! An investment into a car lift for your car is one that you will find rewarding forever. Technological advancements have made things easier and simpler, offering you a wide variety of choices. But then, it does put you as a customer into a fix; which car lift should you get for yourself? So, what kind of car lift is good for you? Which is the best model and brand and how much does it cost?
Let’s explore our reviews on the best car lifts in the market today.
Best 3 Picks [Comparison Table]
Here are our 3 top picks.
Best Choice
TRIUMPH 4 Post Car Lift (NSS8TL) 8000 lbs
- Sturdy – weight capacity of up to 8000 lbs
- Four-post for enhanced stability
- Best priced in its class
- Simple to operate
- Easy to install
- Near noiseless operations
Premium Choice
APlusLift Two Post Car Lift (HW-10KOH)
- Heavy-duty lift of 10000 pounds
- Excellent hydraulic working
- Safety lock release system
- Door rubber pads to prevent scratching/ denting
- Premium quality steel material with extra coating
Best in Budget
APlusLift air-operated (MT1500X)
- Pocket-friendly costs
- Fifteen hundred pounds lift
- Includes a free service jack
- Adjustable front extension
- Front-wheel clamps available
- Included – anti-slip traction tape Included
- Detachable approach ramp
How Did We Pick the Best Car Lifts for Your Vehicle?
Our pick of the best car lift for you is based on advanced research by brand, features, safety aspects, costs and availability. We also considered customer feedback and ease of installation. We also reviewed the feedback and suggestions of auto experts before coming up with our list of the top 5 car lifts for you.
So let us help you decide the best for you?
Best Car Lifts 2022 [Reviews]
As you review our top recommendations, keep a focus on your needs. Don’t be swayed away by features and models that you don’t need at all. Keeping a futuristic view is helpful if you plan to change your car over the next few years.
1. TRIUMPH 4 Post Car Lift NSS8TL 8000 lbs
Now manage minor repairs or overhaul your car in the comfort of your car garage with the Triumph NSS8TL car lift. The four-post car lift has great options, including parking your car or servicing it. The four-post design has been around for quite a few years now. This model by Triumph is used by various car garage owners and service stations. This Triumph car lift offers a fantastic range of ten different positions to lower or raise your car. It is widely available in grey color.
The packaging includes a complete kit with casters for portability, a single jack tray and three large drip trays for servicing your car. Casters offer easier mobility and portability of this four-post car lift to any place. Drip trays are a great help to keep the floor clean and collect any used fluids like engine coolants or used engine oil. Drip trays also avoid accidents by reducing spillage of liquids on your car floor garage. Additionally, a jack tray helps you hoist your car by a few inches, enough to plug a tire or more.
A powerful motor runs on 110 volts of AC power to raise the car lift runway. You also get two vehicle loading ramps that ensure your car loads easily onto the car lift. Don’t miss the utility of two-vehicle stop plates that prevent any accidents that may be caused due to slipping of vehicle.
A user-friendly car lift, it has simple-to-use operations. The instruction manual is crystal clear and easy for a novice.
Pros
- Sturdy – weight capacity of up to 8000 lbs
- Four-post for enhanced stability
- Best priced in its class
- Simple to operate
- Easy to install
- Near noiseless operations
- Additional, 3 drip trays and a jack tray
- Has casters for mobility
- Additionally, it can be used as a car storage
Cons
- Needs space
- Installation instructions are limited and unclear
You will love the Triumph NSS-8, which offers you one of the best runway spaces. You get amazing width of thirty-seven inches of spaces between the left and the right runway. The external runway dimensions from left to right are seventy-three inches. Now lift your car smoothly and easily without any second thoughts.
2. APlusLift Two Post Car Lift (HW-10KOH)
Want to lift a heavy SUV or a truck? You cannot go wrong with this APlusLift HW-10KOH, which offers to lift ten thousand pounds of car weight. It is made from premium quality alloy steel, which offers a long shelf life and heavy-duty usage. This alloy steel is then powder coated for a smooth finish. The latest robotic technology ensures strong welding at all joints for extra strength during manufacturing.
It is important to know that it is a CE-certified lift system. What is CE? CE stands for Conformité Européene; in French, this means ‘European Conformity,’ a requirement in the EU. Compared to the American Lift Institute’s standards, it lacks electrical safety for North American users.
This two-post car lift is usually available with blue-colored posts. It offers you a combination of the asymmetrical and symmetrical arm assembly. Don’t miss the screw-in pads for your car’s safety. Rember that this is a hydraulic car lift and offers you an eighty-one-inch height clearance. You get four pieces each of screw-in pads and truck adapters in the packaging.
Safety? You get a two-point safety lock release feature an arm lock restraints that are automatic. Don’t miss the cleverly built relief valve. Purpose? It prevents overloading on the car lift arms. If you drive the car onto the runway and need to get, your doors are protected with rubber protection on the arms to avoid any scratches or dents.
This car lift is ready to hoist heavy vehicles up to ten thousand pounds. This is made possible with a heavy-duty cable and a five-inch pulley. Purpose? This reduces high stress while synchronizing the car onto the car lift. This is a hydraulic lift where you don’t need to crank any levers or wind up a pulley. A simple press of the UP button raises your car to the desired height.
Pros
- Heavy-duty lift of 10000 pounds
- Excellent hydraulic working
- Safety lock release system
- Door rubber pads to prevent scratching/ denting
- Premium quality steel material with extra coating to prevent rust formation
Cons
- Installation may take time and is tedious for some
While you may enjoy working an electric car lift, don’t miss this APlusLift car hoisting system that boasts of easy lifting and settling the car back on the ground. No more hassles! No more worries.
3. APlusLift Air operated (MT1500X)
Here is another car lift offered by APLustLift that is air-operated. The MT1500X is mainly used for ATVs, bikes and other two-wheelers. You can see this also by the fifteen hundred weight lift capacity.
Why did we include it in this review if not for cars? Like many folks who ride a bike, a Harley is their version of a car! Also, many folks prefer to use smaller cars, and the newer versions of auto electric cars may be adaptable for you to use this lift. Do check the dimensions needed if you own a very small car.
What is air-operated? Apart from hydraulic and electric-powered car lifts, you also have pneumatic lifts. They use air pressure to lower and raise your vehicle.
Available in a striking rich color combination of orange and black this lift is made from thick gauge steel. It is then powder coated for a richer finish. Paints protect the arms and runway from being rusted. Some folks also call it a scissor lift as it folds away.
Pros
- Pocket-friendly costs
- Fifteen hundred pounds lift
- Includes a free service jack
- Adjustable front extension
- Front-wheel clamps available
- Included – anti-slip traction tape Included
- Detachable approach ramp
- Safe locking system to prevent slips
- Has a dropout tail to ease the bike off the runway
- Warranty of twenty-four months on parts
Cons
- Only for bikes and ATVs – not for heavy-duty cars
- Limited weight of 1500 lbs
A simple and basic lift for your bikes and ATVs. If you live in a hot region in the USA and use an ATV, this airlift is for your use! No more getting under the vehicle and having oil spills on your face. Raise them and check for maintenance needs. Drive safe!
4. BendPak QuickJack Lift (BL-5000SLX)
Looking for a versatile yet portable car lift? Don’t miss the BendPak QuickJack Lift BL-5000SLX. It boasts of being a lightweight car lift that you can carry along with you on your drives. One of the most easily available products offers a standard five thousand weight lift, optimum for most regular cars. It is CE certified for use five thousand pounds weight. 5,000 lbs.
If you have a heavier car or an SUV, this may not meet your expectations. You may want to explore other options in BendPak or other brands.
A pocket-friendly product, it is available at a basic cost. Got a flat tire r need to replace an exhaust? No need to call the AA. Changing a flat tire is easy with the BendPak QuickJack Lift in your car’s trunk. Position the jack under your car and press the ‘RAISE’ button to hoist your car. You even get a remote/hand-held control to monitor and use as you step away from your car to check on all four jacks’ balance and position. And presto!
Your car is up and in the air by nearly twenty-four inches for basic maintenance and repairs. It has a strongly welded, steel-enhanced upper box frame that hoists your car. Now with the cantilevered rubber block trays, your vehicle is safe. For additional safety, you will notice automatic safety locks positioned in two places. The best part is that they are armed and engaged as soon as you work the car lift. Want to get your car off the runway when done? No sweat! A quick flip disengages the lock bar safety feature, and you can roll your car off the jack. Easy, isn’t it?
Pros
- 5000 lbs weight lift – best for standard cars
- Quick and easy to operate
- Excellent performance in under a minute
- Dual-position automatic safety lock bars
- Portable – can be carried in your car’s trunk
- Compact design
- Lightweight to carry
- Ease of operations
- Pocket-friendly investment
Cons
- A limited height with two feet car lift
- You cannot fold it
- Check for warranty before purchasing
Simple to use, all it requires is to slide under the car, check the alignment of the jacks with your car’s mounting positions and press the raise button. You are ready to go! You are completely safe even if you are under the car as it has a dual-position safety-locking mechanism. Purpose? If the jacks fail, this system prevents your car from crashing on the ground.
5. XK USA Car Lift 2-post (L1000)
No more wasting time as you hoist your car from ground to upper limits in less than a minute. The XK USA L1000 is one of the best, with ample safety features built-in for your convenience. A double-point safety lock release system prevents any accidental collapse of the jacks. Your car is safe with automatic arm lock restraints that come into action as soon as the car lift is engaged. Unsure of your car weight? No worries, as the automatic overloading alarm, will sound should this be the case. Don’t miss the super-strong door guard rubber protection to save your car’s doors from being scathed by this car lift!
You will find that the motors have a self-lubricating slider to move the carriage up and down. While you can easily operate this car lift by pressing a button, lowering is manually controlled.
Unloading this fourteen-hundred pounds car lift requires the use of a forklift. Most homeowners may not have this readily available at their homes. So don’t miss the chance of having a delivery at the nearest terminal from where you can tow it back home.
Pros
- Heavy-duty 5/26” cables
- Self-lubricating nylon slider for convenience
- Excellent 3HP motor with 220 Volts AC operation
- Door protection rubber guards
- Dual point safety lock release mechanism
- Manual lowering operation
- Relief valve for warning due to overloading
- Included two pieces of truck adapters
- 10000-pound lifting capacity
- Twelve-month warranty
Cons
- Unloading requires a forklift or request for the nearest terminal pick-up
- In the USA, you may need a stepdown transformer for this 220 volts AC motor
One of the best two-post car lifts, it is easy to install though you could with another set of hands. You will love this car lift’s safety features that enable you to save your time, effort, and money spent at mechanics!
Considerations Before Buying the Best Car Lifts
Here are the top things to consider when looking for the best car lift for your vehicle.
1. Safety
A critical feature that just cannot be overlooked is the safety of your car lift. Some folks may not have much space to install a 2-post or a 4-post car lift in a car garage. Consider using a jack lift or a smaller ramp lift in such cases. However, if space is not a constraint, go for a two or four-post car lift. Though they take a little more space, a 2 or 4 post car lift gives you easy access to your car underneath. A heavy-duty car lift with locks and an auto lift is the best.
Do consider the amount of weight the car lift can take, the laden weight of your car, the size of the runway and the size of your car. Next, come locking features that ensure that your car is locked. Safety features like locks and safety lock release, a locking bar, a few arms restraints, and more are the best. Don’t swap away safety features like anti-sway blocks and car cable straps/ chains for a few dollars of savings! After all, you don’t want accidents that damage your car or endanger the life of your loved ones or you.
2. Purpose
What is your need for a car lift? Are you more of a self-help type of person who gets to the underneath of your car for repairs and maintenance? Or are you trying to create a space for a second car in a limited parking area?
For minor repairs like changing a flat tire and more, a ramp lift or a jack lift should do the work. If you are trying to create additional parking space, a two or a four-post car lift is the best. These car lifts are also the best for repairs to a car’s suspension system, brakes, rotating wheels or more.
3. Weight Lifting Capacity
Car lifts are available in many shapes and sizes. When buying a car lift, you will need to consider the weight of your car. Plan for the future too, as you may have a car in mind; that is your choice when replacing a car that has covered enough ground already.
4. Garage size
Do not ignore the importance of the size available to install a car lift. Rember that you will need space to walk around, store some equipment, and of course space for installation. Your car garage must be able to cater to these needs. Some folks tend to miss measuring the height of their car garage while deciding on a car lift.
The thickness of your car garage’s foundation and incline is also an important consideration. For car lifts that need heavier cars, you will need a stronger foundation. This means at least four to six inches of concrete floor foundation that can hold the weight of your car. Check the incline limits of a car lift before you buy to match your car garage.
5. Certification by Automotive Lift Institute
Most car lifts, when installed, require a completion approval certificate. This certifies quality and safety for your use. Do not ignore this as you want to avoid paying compensation in case of accidents to others who may happen to be around.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the difference between a two-post and a four-post car lift?
Two-post car lifts employ two posts to hoist a car up, one on either side of the car. These are bolted down onto the ground. They give you easy access to your car’s exterior.
However, some folks prefer a four-post car lift for heavier cars and SUVs and create an extra parking space in your car garage. These four-post car lifts can keep your car hoisted for a longer period. However, some designs could pose a challenge to get out of your car just after you have rolled it onto the runway of the car lift. These are supported by four posts, one at each corner of the total space occupied by your car, more like the corners of a rectangle.
2. Is a symmetric car lift better than an asymmetrical one?
Well, the answer is no! Both have their pros and cons. It depends upon what car has to be hoisted? What is your comfort level in operating either one of them and more?
A symmetric car lift offers to balance a vehicle on the runway, half of the vehicle forward and half on the rear. This way, the balance helps hoist any car easily. You can lift cars with the face towards the front.
Contrary to this, an asymmetrical lift maintains one-third of the car in front of the post. This allows you to drive the car onto the runway and open the doors to exit. The posts don’t obstruct you while getting out.
3. Which car lift model should I go for – with a clear floor or a car lift with floorplates?
We strongly recommend a car lift with floor plates with a lower car garage ceiling. The clear floor car lifts are taller and need a higher car garage ceiling. You must remember that clear floor car lifts have a direct-drive design. What does this mean? It only helps you save money and time for any repairs and gives you enhanced safety.
4. What type of car lift rise do I need for a car lift?
Full-rise car lifts offer you ample head clearance to stand and attend to minor repairs on the underside of your car. This rise is about seventy inches approximately.
A mid-rise car lift gives you about fifty inches of rising. They are amongst the most sold types as they work well with an average car garage height.
A low-rise car lift gives you about thirty inches of ground clearance. The best part is that they are inexpensive and preferred by those on a tight budget. You will need to bend or roll under such car lifts to attend to any repairs.
5. How much ceiling height do I need for a car lift?
Different car lifts require different ceiling heights depending on the car lift you are buying. It is best to know the height of your ceiling and the height of your car. This should help you choose the correct car lift that fits your car garage and serves its purpose.
Conclusion
Now that you have all your questions answered, it is time to make a wise decision. Make the right choice basis the purpose, space, and functioning. Consider an electric powered rather than a hydraulic powered for ease in operation.
We did cover the safety of car lifts in great detail above. Look Ensure that your car lift is certified by American Lift Institute. This certification gives you high assurance on the quality of the car lift you have in mind to buy. Going on a trip? Don’t forget to take a look at our Thule vs. Yakima cargo boxes review and the guide about what to do if your floor jack cannot hold the pressure.
Decided? Go ahead and get yourself some peace as you save yourself on trips to the mechanics!
