Car Lift Installation Checklist: What to Do Before Delivery

Ordering a lift is exciting, right up until you wonder how a crate that weighs more than your car gets into your garage. Most installation headaches come from one skipped step, not from the lift itself. This checklist puts every step in the order it happens, so delivery day is the easy part.

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Your installation checklist, step by step

1. Measure before you buy

An installed, anchored or wired lift can't be returned, so this step matters most.

• Ceiling: measure to the lowest obstruction, such as the opener, the open door, lights or ducts, and allow for your tallest vehicle at full height.
• Width: measure wall to wall at the narrowest point and compare it with the lift's overall width.
• Length: four-posts grow with their ramps. The NSS-8 is 175 inches long, or 195 with ramps.

Tape the outline on the floor and walk around it. Our guide to what size car lift you need covers each measurement, and our Free Fit Check confirms the fit before you order.

2. Get the right power in place

• Every fixed two-post, including the Triumph NT and NTO series and the AMGO BP-9 and OH series, plus the AMGO PRO-12SX, needs a dedicated 220V circuit.
• The Triumph NSS and NOS four-posts, the AMGO 407-P, the C-7000 and the AMGO SML-7, LR06, LR10 and MR06 run on 110V.
• The NSS-8 and NSS-8XLT need a 30-amp breaker and receptacle.

Have a licensed electrician add any circuit before the lift arrives. The PRO-12SX and the AMGO RJ-6A, RJ-8A and RJ-10A bridge jacks also need compressed air. Our 110V vs. 220V guide lists every model.

3. Confirm your concrete

The manufacturer's installation manual is the final word, and we'll send it before you order. As a guide, most makers ask for at least 4 inches of 3,000 PSI concrete for a typical two-post, and some ask for more. BendPak lists 4-1/4 inches at 3,000 PSI for some of its two-posts, and Rotary's rule of thumb is 5 inches. On the lifts we carry:

• The Triumph NTO-10A and NTO-11A list a minimum 4-inch slab at 3,000 PSI.
• The NT-9, NT-11 and NSS-11 list 3,000 PSI, with thickness and anchoring in Triumph's manual.
• The NSS-8 lists 4 inches at 3,000 PSI even though it's free-standing.
• AMGO covers concrete and anchoring for lifts like the AMGO BP-9 in its installation manual.

One tip on test holes: concrete often chips away where the bit breaks through the bottom, so a tape dropped in the hole can read long. Feel for the true bottom edge with a thin hook, or use an inspection camera. If the numbers come up short, talk to a concrete contractor before the lift ships.

4. Choose how you'll unload it

Freight arrives curbside by LTL carrier, and the driver does not unload. Lifts are too heavy for a standard liftgate, so pick one of these plans.

Picking up a four-post yourself? Check the crate length against your trailer deck first. At home, many owners open the bundle where it sits and carry the parts in one at a time, using an engine hoist and dollies for the heavy pieces. Wear gloves and safety glasses before cutting the steel straps; they're under tension and can whip.

Freight typically arrives 7 to 14 business days after purchase in the 48 contiguous states, and the carrier calls to schedule. Triumph lifts show a flat delivery rate on the product page. AMGO freight is quoted after you order, and we call you with the quote before anything ships.

5. Inspect everything before you sign

A signature on a clean receipt tells the carrier nothing was wrong, which makes a later claim much harder. Before the driver leaves:

1. Count the pieces against the delivery receipt.
2. Walk around every crate. Look for crushed corners, punctures, bent steel and leaking fluid.
3. Photograph anything that looks wrong.
4. Write the damage on the receipt before you sign.

Find hidden damage after unpacking? Report it to us within 48 hours, and we'll handle the claim with the carrier.

6. Book a qualified installer

Installation isn't included, but we refer installers in your area; see our lift installation page. ALI's ANSI/ALI ALIS standard covers lift installation and installer training. Ask any installer:

• Have you installed this type of lift, and will you follow the manufacturer's manual?
• Will you check the slab and anchor locations before drilling?
• Are you insured, and is anyone on your team an ALI Certified Lift Inspector?

7. Check permits, HOA rules and insurance

Rules vary by location. Call your building department about permits, check HOA rules, and ask your insurer whether a lift affects your policy. Some commercial insurers require an ALI certified lift. In our lineup, that's the AMGO OH-10. A lift can't be certified after it's installed, so decide before you buy.

8. Get ready for your first lift

ALI recommends inspecting a newly installed lift, and ANSI/ALI ALOIM calls for a yearly inspection by a qualified inspector after that. Before your first lift:

• Read the operating manual, not just the installation section.
• Learn your vehicles' lifting points. ALI publishes a lifting points guide.
• Stop a few inches up, give the car a firm push, and check every pad before going higher.
• Lower onto the locks before anyone goes under.
• Use only the manufacturer's adapters. No homemade spacers or lumber.

Installing your first lift, or done this before?

• First lift: a free-standing four-post or a portable lift keeps the work manageable. Leave anchored two-posts to a professional.
• Experienced DIYers: the manual still rules. Read the anchoring and torque steps before the freight arrives, not on install day.

Printable checklist

1. Measure ceiling, width and length at the lowest and narrowest points.
2. Send your numbers through the Free Fit Check.
3. Get the installation manual and read the concrete and power requirements.
4. Check slab thickness, strength, cure time and anchor locations.
5. Have a licensed electrician add any new circuit, plus compressed air if needed.
6. Check permits, HOA rules and insurance.
7. Choose an unloading plan.
8. Be home to meet the carrier.
9. Inspect, photograph and note damage on the receipt before signing.
10. Report hidden damage within 48 hours.
11. Book a qualified installer and send the manual ahead.
12. Have the installation inspected before first use.
13. Schedule a yearly inspection.

Frequently asked questions

Will the freight driver help unload my lift?

No. The carrier delivers curbside and doesn't unload. Plan for equipment on site, or choose terminal or warehouse pickup. The NSS8X-1 is the exception, with lift-gate delivery.

Can I install a lift on new concrete?

Only once it has cured. BendPak specifies at least 28 days, but your lift's manual sets the requirement.

Can I put a lift over a crack or expansion joint?

Usually not. Get a contractor's opinion and check your lift's manual before you drill.

Can I return a lift if it doesn't fit?

You have 30 days to return unused equipment, and you pay the return shipping. A lift that has been installed, anchored or wired can't be returned, which is why we suggest the Free Fit Check first.

Is installation included?

No, but we refer installers in your area. Every lift comes with the full manufacturer's warranty, and our support continues for as long as you own it.

Any step unclear? Ask us before you order. Send your measurements through our Free Fit Check, browse all car lifts and portable car lifts, read our other buying guides, or call or text 1-800-771-1278 and we'll walk you through it.