Auto Lifts Buyer's Guide

Auto Lift Pricing

A high-quality auto lift is a fairly substantial investment, especially for a smaller repair shop. When you consider how much money your lift can bring in, it should be clear that it's an easy investment to recoup – but many buyers still focus heavily on the initial purchase price. Try to avoid that trap.

Keep in mind that saving a couple of hundred dollars at the expense of quality is not a good long-term tradeoff. The cheapest lifts usually use the cheapest materials: thinner steel in the support columns, smaller lift cylinders, flimsier electronics. Buying the cheapest lift not only puts your employees' safety at risk – it increases the chances that you'll suffer costly downtime.

Of course, this doesn't mean the most expensive lift is always the safest or most reliable – but buying based on price alone is likely to lead to unwanted results. See what other BuyerZone users paid for their auto lifts.

Typical auto lift prices
A standard 10,000 lb. capacity lift will typically sell for $1,500 to $3,000. 4-post models are generally more expensive than 2-post lifts with similar capacities. Upgrading to a 14,000 lb. capacity lift will push your costs up to $3,000 to $6,000, depending on the manufacturer and the extras you choose.

Installation for above-ground lifts is fairly inexpensive – expect to pay $300 to $500 for 2-post lifts and $750 to $1,000 for 4-post lifts. Make sure you know whether installation is included in every price quote you review.

Due to the installation requirements and the extra technology involved, in-ground lifts are far more expensive than above-ground models. 10,000 lb. capacity in-ground lifts can cost $6,000 to $10,000.

Extra-high capacity lifts – parallelogram or scissor lifts designed to hold large trucks or busses – can easily top $10,000. Make sure your workload justifies this expense before deciding on a heavy-duty model.

Warranties
Don't overlook warranties as part of your cost considerations. Reputable lifts will come with a parts warranty that can range from a few months to three years or more. Make sure you get at least three months on parts: most manufacturing defects will show up in that time frame. Expect longer warranties on the frame and construction.

Check the details of your warranty coverage: find out if labor is included and if there are any response time guarantees. Ask if there are any charges for parts, shipping, or travel – those costs can quickly add up to big repair bills, even if the repair is "under warranty."