Installing a car lift is a good investment for a home garage or an automobile maintenance shop. It can offer some benefits, such as creating extra space where you could use it as storage or a workshop.
However, before going ahead to install a car lift in your garage, you need to ensure certain requirements are met. Some of these include; your space needs and budget alongside safely holding your vehicle’s capacity.
Cost of Car Lifts
A car lift can cost anywhere between $1000 to $10,000 on average. When measuring the cost of car lifts, a lot of factors are being considered. Some of them are;
- Type And Model Of The Car Lift
There are different types and models of lifts designed to meet specific purposes. Some are higher priced than others.
- The kind of vehicle
The weight of the car determines what kind of lift to be installed. Heavy-duty cars and trucks would require lifts built for that purpose, and they would cost higher than normal-sized cars.
- Installation
You can either opt for self-installation (if you have the technical know-how) or hire professional installation services. However, whichever installation method you choose, the cost of tools and equipment needed for the installation should be considered. The service charge for professional installation services can range from $700 to $800. Often, the installation charge is dependent on the kind of car lift used. A standard installation can cost between $500 to $1000.
- Anchoring.
Your car lift must be properly anchored to the floor. The cost of anchoring the lift to the garage floor would be around $300 if it were not featured in the general cost of installation.
The cost of a car lift is also affected by its use. For example, a car lift used for an automobile maintenance shop will cost higher than a home garage use as homeowners may consider lower-priced options.
If you’re considering lower-priced car lift options for your home garage, ensure the quality is high enough to hold your vehicles safely. Be careful of ridiculously low-priced car lifts.
These factors are outside other expenses you may make, such as shipping and delivery fees, etc.
Types of Car lift
Generally, car lifts come in two types. The two post lifts and the four-post lifts. They both operate differently and also vary in their cost of installation.
Two Post Lifts
The two post lifts support the car’s weight using two parallel posts. They use cables with high strength and powerful hydraulics to lift and lower vehicles. They are cheaper to install and cost around $1500 to $ $2500. Generally, they are ideal for working on cars temporarily but not for long-term parking.
Four Post Lifts
Compared to the two-post lifts, the four-post lifts offer better strength, stability, easier operation, and installation advantages. They are more costly to install than the two post lifts. On average, they can cost between $2000 to $3000. They are ideal for long-term parking of vehicles and are a better option for home garages.
Note: Two-post lifts and four-post lifts can come in various capacities ranging from 10,000 lb to14,000lb and may cost between $2000 to $6000.
Advantages of Installing a Car Lift In Your Garage
It Provides Additional Space
For people who have garages small enough to fit their vehicles, car lifts create additional space and let you adapt a one-car garage into a two-car garage and so on. It can also let you store other items such as lawn machinery, boats, etc.
Allows For Easy Maintenance Of Cars
Two-post car lifts have the advantage of allowing easy access underneath cars. This makes it easier to fix minor faults that cars may develop, especially for people who love to fix their cars themselves.
Protects Your Car
Car lifts do not protect your car directly. However, they make it easier to monitor and protect your cars, especially for people who park their cars outside as a result of limited storage space in their garage. The extra space provided by car lifts allows you to park your car inside, thereby protecting it from car vandals.
Adds Value to Your Home
One of the ways you can add value to your home, especially if you are looking to sell the house anytime soon or in the future, is by installing a car lift in the garage.
Before going ahead with your plans to install a car lift, it is better to seek expert advice. You don’t want to start the process only to see that it doesn’t fit your type of house or you can’t afford it.
