4 Post Parking Lift for Car Storage UK: Two Cars in One Garage
Short answer: a 4 post parking lift raises one car on two runways so a second car can be parked underneath. Our 4000kg 4 Post Lift lifts up to 4,000kg to a maximum height of 1,850mm and costs £2,800 delivered or £3,600 delivered and installed. To fit two average cars you need a ceiling of roughly 3.45 metres, a flat concrete floor and a garage at least as long as the 5,000mm runways.
Why people buy a car storage lift
Most UK garages were built for one car, and many people own two: a daily car and a classic, a project car or a summer convertible. Parking the second car on the drive or the street leaves it exposed to weather, dents and theft. A car storage lift solves that without building anything: the lift stands inside the garage you already have and turns one parking space into two.
The same lift is also a service lift. A 4 post design carries the car on its wheels, so you simply drive on, press the button and work underneath. There are no arms to position under the sills, which is why many home owners find a 4 post lift easier and more relaxing to use than a 2 post lift. If you are still choosing between the two types, read 2 post lift v 4 post first.
How a 4 post parking lift works
- Four posts and two runways. The car sits on its wheels on two long runways. Nothing touches the body or the sills.
- One hydraulic cylinder and leaf chains. On our 4000kg 4 Post Lift a hydraulic cylinder drives heavy-duty leaf chains that link all four posts, so the runways rise level.
- Safety locks on every post. As the lift rises, locks on all four posts engage. When the car is parked, it rests on the locks, not on the hydraulics.
- Single lock release. One handle unlocks all posts at the same time and the lift comes down slowly.
- End stop and top caps. The end stop stops you driving too far forward, the top caps stop the lift at its height limit.
Product page: 4000kg 4 Post Lift, perfect service and parking lift.
Step 1: check your ceiling height
This is where most plans succeed or fail. Measure from the floor to the lowest thing above where the lift will stand: beams, strip lights, pipes, and the garage door when it is open. Then use this simple rule:
Ceiling needed = 1,850mm lift height + height of the car on top + 100mm safety gap.
| Height of the car on top | Ceiling you need (lift fully raised) |
|---|---|
| 1.40m (sports car, low hatchback) | about 3.35m |
| 1.50m (typical hatchback or saloon) | about 3.45m |
| 1.65m (small SUV, estate on roof rails) | about 3.60m |
| 1.80m (large SUV, 4x4) | about 3.75m |
The car underneath must also clear the raised runways. Measure the roof height of that car and send it to us with your ceiling height: we will check it against the clearance of the model before you order. You do not always need to raise the lift fully: if your ceiling is lower, a lower lock position can still work for two low cars. Try the garage fit calculator and read the full guide to garage ceiling height for a car lift.
Step 2: check the length, width and floor
- Length. The 4000kg 4 Post Lift has a 5,000mm base, long enough for the longest estate cars and even vans. Allow extra room to walk around the ends.
- Width. You need space for the four posts plus room to open the doors of the car underneath and to get out of it.
- Floor. A 4 post lift spreads its load over four posts and does not rely on the same anchor strength as a 2 post lift, but it still needs a flat, solid concrete floor with no cracks or slopes where the posts stand. For comparison, our 5500kg 4 Post Wheel Alignment Lift needs just 16 fixing bolts and a flat concrete floor.
- Power. The lift is electro-hydraulic, so you need a suitable electrical supply near the power post. Tell us what you have in the garage and we will confirm.
Not sure about your slab? Send us a photo. Our car lift buyer’s checklist lists every measurement to take before you order.
Step 3: decide on a middle jack
On a 4 post lift the car sits on its wheels, which is perfect for parking, oil changes, exhausts and underbody checks, but not for brakes, suspension or wheels-off work. A middle jack (also called a jacking beam) sits between the runways and lifts the car off its wheels while it is on the lift. On the 4000kg 4 Post Lift the middle jack is an option for £650. The 5500kg 4 Post Wheel Alignment Lift comes with a 2,750kg middle jack that runs from the lift’s hydraulic power unit.
If the lift is mainly for storage, you can skip the jack and add it later. If you also want to service your cars, take it from the start: it turns a parking lift into a full workshop lift.
What a 4 post parking lift costs
| Option (4000kg 4 Post Lift) | Price | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Lift with delivery | £2,800 | You or your own fitter installs it |
| Lift with delivery + middle jack | £3,450 | Wheels-free work on a parked lift |
| Lift with delivery and installation | £3,600 | Our engineers fit it and leave it running |
| Lift with delivery, installation + middle jack | £4,250 | The complete storage and service setup |
Prices include delivery to mainland England and Wales by our own vans. Scotland is £100 extra. For commercial workshops the 5500kg 4 Post Wheel Alignment Lift is £4,700 delivered or £5,500 delivered, fitted and running, with the middle jack included. All our prices side by side: how much does a car lift cost in the UK.
Paying for it: buy online with card, Apple Pay, Shop Pay or Klarna (pay in 3 interest-free payments or spread the cost), or order by phone or WhatsApp and pay the driver on delivery by card, bank transfer or cash. See payment terms.
Using a parking lift safely
- Always park on the locks. Raise the lift just past the lock position you want, then lower it onto the locks. Never leave a car stored on the hydraulics alone.
- Drive on slowly and centrally. Use the end stop, put the car in gear or park, apply the handbrake and use wheel chocks.
- Protect the car below. Oil drip trays between the runways (you can see them in the product photos of the 4000kg 4 Post Lift) stop oil or water from the top car landing on the car underneath.
- Keep the area clear. Nobody under or near the lift while it moves. Check the space under the runways before lowering.
- Check it regularly. Look at the locks, chains, hydraulic hoses and fixings, and follow the user manual on the product page.
Parking lift tips for classic and collector cars
- Put the car you use least on top. Swapping cars means lowering the lift each time.
- Keep the battery on a conditioner and leave the windows slightly open if the garage is dry.
- Check tyre pressures before long storage. Cars stored on their wheels for months can get flat spots.
- Tell your insurer the car is kept in a locked garage: it often helps the premium.
Installation: do it yourself or let us fit it
A 4 post lift is heavy and must be assembled level, with the chains and locks set correctly. If you choose the installed option, our own engineers deliver it, assemble it, test it and leave it running, usually in a day. More about the service: car lift installation.
Questions and answers
Can you park a car under a 4 post lift?
Yes. Raise one car on the runways, lower it onto the safety locks and park the second car underneath. Check that the ceiling and the clearance under the runways suit both cars.
What ceiling height do I need for a 4 post parking lift?
About 1,850mm plus the height of the top car plus 100mm. For a 1.5 metre tall car that is around 3.45 metres.
How much is a 4 post parking lift in the UK?
Our 4000kg 4 Post Lift is £2,800 delivered or £3,600 delivered and installed. A middle jack adds £650.
Is a 4 post lift safe for long-term storage?
Yes, as long as the car rests on the safety locks, not on the hydraulics. Our 4000kg 4 Post Lift has locks on all four posts and a single release handle.
Can I pay for a car lift with Klarna?
Yes. At checkout you can pay with Klarna, in 3 interest-free payments or spread over longer, or with card, Apple Pay or Shop Pay. You can also pay the driver on delivery.
Not sure which lift fits? Call us on 020 8220 9986 or message us on WhatsApp 07811 247454, every day 9am to 9pm. Send your ceiling height, floor and the cars you work on, and we will tell you which lift fits.
