Ref LOLER reg 9; HSE OC 803/69Checked November 2026

Vehicle Lift LOLER Inspection

Two post, four post and scissor lifts are lifting equipment under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. On the wording of regulation 9, a lift that raises only vehicles needs a thorough examination at least every 12 months. HSE’s guidance to its inspectors on motor vehicle repair adds that six monthly examination is more appropriate where people routinely work beneath a raised vehicle, and notes it is common practice in the trade for every kind of vehicle lift.

In a working garage, mechanics are under the vehicle every day, so plan on six monthly examinations unless a competent person’s written scheme says otherwise.

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People working beneath: Every 6 monthsCommon trade practice
Nobody beneath, ever: Every 12 monthse.g. some alignment jigs
One lift, one visit: £150 to £200ex VAT
Each further lift: £50 to £80same visit, ex VAT

Fees are a guide, not a quote. Excluding VAT unless stated.Sources read November 2026

Part 1

Which workshop equipment needs examining?

Two post and four post lifts, scissor lifts, in-ground lifts and mobile column lifts.
Transmission jacks, trolley jacks and bottle jacks where anyone works beneath the load.
Engine cranes, gantries and chain blocks used to lift engines and gearboxes.
Tyre and wheel lifts, motorcycle lifts and body alignment jigs.
Lifting accessories such as rubber pads, adaptors, slings and chains, on a 6 month cycle.

Lifts and their foundations

A post lift is only as safe as its anchors and the floor beneath it. A relocated or newly installed lift needs a thorough examination before it is used, because its safety depends on how it is installed.

Vehicle lift examination fees

Item	Typical fee
First lift on a visit Two post, four post or scissor lift	£150 to £200
Each further lift Same workshop, same visit	£50 to £80
Jacks and engine cranes Each, alongside the lifts	£15 to £40
Lift service Maintenance to the maker’s schedule, often the same visit	£90 to £180

Excluding VAT. A published workshop price list for 2025 showed £165 for a visit covering one lift, £220 for two and £55 for each extra unit.

Work out a yearly budget

Part 2

What a vehicle lift examination should cover

Columns, carriages and arms: Structure, welds and arm locks, pads and adaptors, and the carriage guides.
Ropes, chains or screws: Equalisation cables, lifting chains or screw and nut wear, measured against the maker’s limits.
Safety locks and catches: Mechanical locks engaging at every position, and the lowering safety devices.
Hydraulics and controls: Cylinders, hoses, leaks, drift under load, dead man controls and the emergency stop.
Anchors and floor: Anchor bolts and base plates, and visible cracking in the slab around them.
Capacity marking: The safe working load clearly marked on the lift, as regulation 7 requires.

Tell us how many lifts you have and where, and we will find a competent examiner who covers your workshop.

Request an examination

Part 3

How a workshop examination runs

List lifts and jacks
before booking
Make, type, capacity and location of each lift, plus jacks and engine cranes, and the last report dates.
Clear a bay
on the day
Lifts need to be empty and reachable. Most examiners can work around a busy workshop one bay at a time.
Examination and test
under an hour a lift
Visual and functional checks, with a load test where the examiner judges one is needed.
The written report
within 28 days
One report per item with the Schedule 1 details: what was examined, any defects and the date by which each must be put right, and the latest date for the next examination.

Questions duty holders ask

How often does a car lift need a LOLER inspection?

At least every 12 months under the wording of LOLER, but HSE guidance says six monthly examination is more appropriate where people work beneath a raised vehicle, and that is normal practice in garages.

Do trolley jacks need LOLER?

Yes, if they are used at work to lift loads. Where people work beneath a jacked vehicle, treat the jack like the lift and examine it every 6 months. Axle stands should always be used.

Is my lift service a LOLER inspection?

Not unless the report says so and the person is independent of the maintenance. A service keeps the lift working; the thorough examination is the statutory check that it is safe to keep using.

What does a vehicle lift LOLER test cost?

About £150 to £200 for one lift before VAT, and £50 to £80 for each further lift on the same visit.

Is there a British Standard for vehicle lifts?

Yes. BS 7980 is the code of practice for installation, maintenance, thorough examination and safe use of vehicle lifts. HSE’s guidance refers to it.

Where our information comes from

Fee bands are our own reading of UK examiners’ published price lists and guides (2024 to 2026), which we do not name. Rules come from the regulations and HSE guidance below.

Request a vehicle lift examination

Three short steps: where the equipment is, what it is, and how to reach you. About two minutes.

Step 1 of 3

Where is the equipment?

Postcode