Annual automotive lift and equipment inspections are an important part of maintaining a vehicle service facility. Many times, an inspection can inform you of a problem long before it becomes an emergency. Inspections are almost always more cost effective than emergency service.
Certified lift inspections are also recommended or required by several jurisdictions throughout the United States, and you run the risk of non-compliance with your local inspection requirements. Additionally, many insurance policies will require annual inspections on your equipment, or give you a discount on your insurance policy for annual inspections.
All inspections are available throughout the United States through our Service Program to Public Sector Entities, which provides for flat-rate and transparent pricing for annual inspections regardless of facility size and geography.
Auto repair is a potentially rewarding and lucrative profession; there are more than 700,000 mechanics in the United States today. While it is a thriving sector, it’s also part of the occupational grouping with the fifth-highest rate of injuries and illnesses. Working in the installation, maintenance and repair sector can be hazardous, which is why safety is critical. Take time to understand vehicle lift inspections and stay safe on the job.
A vehicle lift inspection involves examining your vehicle lift equipment to ensure it’s safe and efficient. Steps may include:
Regular lift inspections are essential for protecting mechanics and the cars they work on. They help you catch potential problems early and keep lifts safe to use, reducing workplace accidents and injuries.
While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration does not have specific vehicle lift regulations, they enforce the standards set by the American National Standards Institute. The ANSI 2020 Standard for Automotive Lifts defines these nationally recognized standards. Your lift must meet requirements based on its type and the state you live in. The ANSI guide outlines all the details lift inspectors and owners should know. Qualified lift inspectors will examine your lift and:
You should only get your lift certified if your state or other regulatory agency requires it. In the United States, vehicle lift inspections vary by state. Thirteen states follow International Building Code lift regulations, while the other 37 have IBC or authority-having jurisdiction requirements. For example, in New York, automotive lifts must follow ANSI standards, according to IBC Chapter 30 and the Building Code of New York State.
Regardless of where you live and the rules in your home state, routine lift inspections can protect you, your team and your customers from lift-related accidents and injuries.
How often do you need to have your vehicle lift inspected? The Automotive Lift Institute recommends hiring a qualified lift inspector at least once a year. Lift inspectors complete the ALI Lift Inspector Certification Program, ensuring they know all the ANSI standards for lift safety, operation and training. While annual inspections are the minimum, you can get your equipment checked more regularly. Biannual or quarterly inspections are excellent for lifts that see lots of use, which can wear them out more quickly.
Put safety first with certified lift inspections from Liftnow. Our experienced ALI-certified lift inspectors will carefully examine your lift, ensuring it meets national safety standards. We’ll help you keep your equipment in top condition so it can perform reliably and safely. Our nationwide vehicle lift service plan covers installation, removal, repair, re-installation, inspections and more. Choose our comprehensive service plan and maximize your lift safety, efficiency and life span.
Whether you need lift products, servicing, inspections or other service parts, we’ve got you covered. Contact us for a lift inspection and set up an appointment today!
Liftnow is proud to have ALI Certified Lift Inspectors on our team. Since our experts are educated on the ALI code of ethics, you can trust our staff to complete lift inspections without cutting corners. Supervisors, fleet managers, directors and other decision-makers have numerous responsibilities aside from ensuring equipment receives its annual inspection. We service automotive shops nationwide to make this process as easy and efficient as possible.
With Certified Lift Inspectors, Liftnow is an excellent source for inspections you can depend on, know your vehicle lifts are operating smoothly and catch potential issues before they worsen. Our team can help your organization prioritize employee safety by verifying that all controls and moving parts function as intended by the manufacturer.
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Other reasons to consider Liftnow for automotive lift inspections include:
Inspections and other diagnostics discussed below also come with estimates free-of-charge, with the necessary parts, labor and other components necessary to repair or remedy a vehicle lift or piece of garage equipment.
Fleet and facility managers usually search for a lift inspector by the lift type they own. Liftnow inspects both configurations under the same ALI-certified program, and a single visit can cover every lift in the bay regardless of type or manufacturer.
A 2-post lift (also written two-post) carries the vehicle on four adjustable arms, so the inspection concentrates on the load-bearing points: arm restraints, lift pads, swing arms, chains and cables, the equalization system, locking latches, anchor bolts and floor condition, and the hydraulic circuit. Our inspectors document each point against ANSI/ALI ALOIM requirements and flag any component that should be repaired or replaced before the lift returns to service.
A 4-post lift (also written four-post) supports the vehicle on runways, which shifts the inspection toward the runway structure, cable and sheave condition, cable slack detection, the locking ladders, rolling jacks where fitted, and the drive-on approach ramps. Alignment-rack and storage configurations are inspected as well, including turnplates and slip plates where they are installed.
ANSI/ALI ALOIM calls for a documented inspection at least once a year on every vehicle lift in service, and many municipal, county, state, and federal fleet operations require that inspection record as a condition of keeping a bay open. Liftnow serves government agencies and fleets nationwide, supplies the written inspection report for your records, and can quote corrective repairs and replacement parts from the same visit.
Request a lift inspection quote and tell us how many 2-post and 4-post lifts are on site. We will scope the visit and return pricing.
A garage equipment or vehicle lift inspection includes an examination of the lift’s structural,
mechanical, hydraulic, air and electrical systems and components. This examination is performed against a multipoint list of criteria, with many criteria being “pass” or “fail”, while other criteria asks about quantitative factors, such as lifting speed or other wear, and asks an inspector to compare these numbers against manufacturer accepted statistics.
Getting an inspection of any kind is a best practice of owning and operating any capital equipment. While there are some industry standards that are recommended for certain equipment, like vehicle lifts, most equipment benefits from a regular inspection. An inspection will reveal potential problems before they become cost-prohibitive or productivity-impacting.
Similarly, peace-of-mind that lifts or other equipment have been monitored by experts is important. Whether you are overseeing a fleet of hundreds of vehicles, or whether you are an owner-operator, it helps knowing that what you’re operating (or what your staff is operating) on a daily and weekly basis is safe.
Inspections are also recommended or required by several jurisdictions throughout the United States, and you run the risk of non-compliance with your local standards. Additionally, many insurance policies will require annual inspections on your equipment, or give you a discount on your insurance policy for annual inspection.
Yes, ALI-Certified Inspections are made available on our contracts pending availability through
our Service Program, which provides public sector entities with a contract-compliant way to procure vehicle lift inspections.
While there are standards that govern the design of garage equipment, there are no formal standards governing equipment inspection.
If you currently have a safety protocol, you’re ahead of most service facilities. However, you may not know that there are a series of daily, weekly and monthly checks that are required by the manufacturer to ensure that your lift or other piece of equipment remains safe. Additionally, inspector companies are experts in diagnosing and repairing many types of vehicle lifts and garage equipment, and are trained specifically to look for issues that may not be apparent to an operator.
Paul Stern
Vice President, Public Sector Sales
✉️ gov@liftnow.com
📞 1-800-LIFT-NOW (1-800-543-8669)
All heavy-duty vehicle lifts sold by Liftnow carry the ALI Gold Label and meet ANSI/ALI ALCTV safety standards. Buy America Act compliant options available upon request for federally-funded projects. Nationwide lift inspection service covers any lift, any brand, any age.
Selecting the right lift before inspection time matters. Our lift selection and certification guide covers ANSI/ALI ALCTV compliance, Gold Label requirements, and how lift type affects ongoing inspection workflows.
Need lifts your ALI certified inspector will pass? Two configurations cover most public fleet work: the Challenger E15 two-post lift for cars and light trucks, and the BendPak HDS-18E four-post lift for heavier service and alignment work. Cooperative purchasing contracts like Sourcewell contract 121223-LFT and NASPO let many agencies buy Liftnow equipment at published pricing without a full RFP. Request a quote.
Planning around a budget cycle? Liftnow offers equipment financing and leasing, including public sector funding options, so equipment can be installed now and paid for over time. See financing and leasing options.
Browse the lifts we inspect and certify: vehicle lifts, wheel service equipment, or request a quote.
Inspecting an aging lift and weighing a replacement? See vehicle lift comparison by type and capacity, including capacities, configurations and cooperative-purchasing options for public agencies, or request a quote.
Alignment and tire condition are two of the things an inspector actually looks at, so the equipment that measures them belongs in the same bay plan as the lift. Browse wheel service and alignment equipment.
Specifying equipment for a public agency fleet? Liftnow works with state, county and municipal fleet shops on vehicle lifts and service equipment, including the paperwork and procurement path those purchases run through. See Liftnow public sector capabilities.
Municipal and agency fleet shops can compare configurations in our heavy-duty truck lift guide.
Want proof from a similar agency? Liftnow publishes case studies covering the equipment supplied, the installation, and the service that followed. See how a city fleet shop was equipped under a single contract.