Are you a mechanic or garage owner looking to expand your business by adding a car lift to your shop? Have you been wondering how much it would cost? The truth is, the cost of adding a car lift depends on several factors that we will explore in this article.
Car lifts are essential tools for auto repair shops, providing a safe and efficient way to lift cars and trucks off the ground for maintenance and repair work. However, installing a car lift can be costly, and it’s essential to understand the expenses involved before making a decision.
In this post, we will discuss the factors that contribute to the cost of putting a car lift in your repair shop, such as the type of lift and installation requirements. We’ll also provide an overview of the different types of car lifts available and some tips for choosing the right one for your shop.
By the end, you’ll have a better idea of what to expect in terms of cost and how to plan for this important investment in your business.
Factors To Consider While Purchasing Car Lifts For Your Repair Shop
Before you can go on a hunt for a car lift or even choose one for your repair shop, here are a few factors that you should bear in mind:
Warranty
There is no better way to ensure a product’s quality than via its warranty, and for car lifts, a thorough warranty is essential. Companies are aware of the warranty procedure and offer information and restrictions in a comprehensive document. In conclusion, never quickly scan the lift warranty.
Although the best warranties should last three years or longer, manufacturing faults can often be detected as early as two months after purchase. The frame and structure are the essential components. Make sure you read the applicable product catalogs because repairs may also be covered by the guarantee. Assuming a lift’s warranty carries the risk of high costs for unanticipated repairs or shipment costs.
Reliability
I think we can all agree that sometimes purchasing cheaper equipment or things can be more costly in the long run. For example, if you buy a home that was built inexpensively, you’ll soon have to pay for things like a new roof and mold remediation. This is also true for car lifts, and since your auto repair shop depends on them, you need to ensure its reliability.
To do this, you should watch out for:
The Manufacturing Company’s Reputation
It might be challenging to determine a product’s dependability before using it. Checking the manufacturer’s lifespan, a popular option, testing from the manufacturer, and the company’s level of stability are the best approaches to doing this. A trustworthy business and premium manufacturers will undoubtedly possess the creativity and motivation to produce a top-notch piece of equipment.
Product Manufacturing Quality
Lifts must be expertly designed and built based on advanced lifting technology, or at the very least conform to industry requirements. You need a high-quality product that confirms the ISO 9001-certified standard.
Safety
When choosing any type of lift, be sure that security is always a priority. It prevents lift failure and harm to you, your clients, and anybody else near the heavy-duty lift. Safety can have a financial impact on your staff members if you own an auto repair company (medical costs, insurance coverage, compensation, etc.)
Think about the following factors while evaluating safety:
- Increased safety measures
- Installation and instruction
- An ETL/ALI certification of gol
- Rigorous testing for safety from the manufacturer
Support
Every time you invest in any type of vehicle lift, it becomes an essential component for you, your clients, and your personnel. Customers swarm in every time it goes down, and you’re on the verge of going out of business. When the lift suddenly becomes unstable, causing the lifted car to tumble, you can lose several hundred dollars, and your expenditures might soon increase if the lift repairs take many days.
Therefore, having a support group that is competent, experienced, and reachable by phone would be beneficial. Simply said, have a look at:
Accessibility
Find an available, factory-trained technician who offers professional service and can complete the repair of the lift failure as quickly as feasible.
Parts availability
When doing maintenance, spare parts are essential; therefore, you should think about purchasing a lift with easily available components. It’s not a smart idea to replace your lift with generic or outdated components, either. Such components may degrade the lift’s quality and, worse still, violate your warranty. Consequently, it will increase the expenses per lift.
Let’s now examine the actual cost of purchasing a vehicle lift.
The Cost and Pricing Structure For Car Lifts
Automobile lifts are expensive purchases that are essential for garages, service facilities, and dealerships. This is because they facilitate and speed up repair operations and elevate the automotive experience. A vehicle lift can cost anywhere from $1,500 and $15,000 or more, depending on the brand, kind, construction, additional equipment, lifting capacity, etc. However, it is a wise investment that will help you save a lot of money or perhaps make money.
The various sizes and configurations of vehicle lifts are what cause the largest price variations. Others are made for buses and big vehicles, while some auto lift types are made to raise tiny saloon automobiles.
Two-post lift
For most vehicles and light trucks, two-post car lifts are frequently employed. The car is hoisted using the lift posts that are positioned beneath the two poles that are set side by side. The lifts range in price from $1,500 to $3,500 for a 2-post lift that can have a 10,000-pound weight capacity. A two-post lift with a 14,000-pound lifting capacity should cost between $3,000 and $5,000.
Four-post lift
If you need a lift with a larger lift capacity, a four-post car lift is your best option. The heavier vehicles are driven to the lift because it is more stable and prevents lift movement. A maximum of two cards may be hoisted at once. A 4-post lift with a 10,000-pound weight range typically costs between $2,000 and $4,500. A lift with a 12,000-pound capacity will cost little more than $5,000.
Scissor and a parallelogram lift
You might want to think about using parallelogram lifts or scissor car lifts if you have larger vehicles, such as trucks and buses. Vehicles are pushed into them, and they can support enormous weights. These lifts are quite expensive, costing $10,000 or more.
In-ground lift
In-ground lifts are built to take up less room in your bay or floor space. As their name implies, they entirely fold into the earth when not in use, creating extra room. However, in-ground lifts are more expensive since they require more technology to produce. They cost between $6,000 and $10,000, depending on the weight capacity.
Installation of the Car Lifts in the Shop Space
In addition to the price of the lifts themselves, safe installation costs may be necessary. Ask the architect before installation or purchase because it may be included in the lift’s cost. If you’re a shop expert and are familiar with an auto lift’s dynamics, you might as well do it yourself.
However, we strongly advise hiring a specialist to install your vehicle lift due to the additional cost of a tool box, body lift kit, professional-grade tool, and further accessories.
While a 4-post lift assembly can cost between $700 and $1,000 to install, a two-post lift installation may cost between $300 and $500.
Parallelogram and scissor lift installations cost between $1,000 and $1,500.
The expense of installing other kits, such as high-lift equipment, which is typically approximately $800, may also be incurred during installation.
For in-ground lifts, the garage floor must be secured, which costs $300 when done separately (it is less expensive when done during construction). Depending on your lift, compressor, and electrical lines maintenance may be necessary, however, it’s important to take these costs into account when looking for auto lifts.
Selecting a New Car Lift
Once you’ve made up your mind about a certain vehicle lift, make sure to double-check all dimensions. These include the total height and clearance between the columns, the motor-free width, the height of the lights, and the distance between the ramps. As a general guideline, provide additional length and measure for the largest car you own. Additionally, measure the garage ceiling height to make sure the automobile can fit on top with a few inches of space. The width of the car lift should also suit your garage door at home, to finish proper installation.
Conclusion
Purchasing a car lift is a major choice, unlike purchasing a mobile phone or household equipment. It requires creative thinking and some investigation. You’re one step closer to making an informed decision when you comprehend the many sorts of vehicle lifts, the terms of any warranties, the name of the manufacturer, and at affordable price.
Of course, it is not as simple as it may seem, so we hope that our advice has spared you much time and work in your internet research. Simply be cautious of inexpensive secondhand things that might cost you a lot of money. Lastly, to get the most out of your money, keep an eye out for discounts and free delivery offers!
