Lifting & safety · Starter kit
Floor jack
The fastest, safest way to get a car off the ground for an oil change or tire rotation.
01
Where to buy
02
Why you need it
- The scissor jack in your trunk is for roadside emergencies, not for working under the car. A floor jack lifts faster, more stably and from the factory lift points.
- Most oil drain plugs and filters are reachable with just a few inches of lift, but a jack gives you room to see what you are doing.
- Pairs with jack stands: the jack lifts, the stands hold. Never work under a car supported only by a jack.
03
What to look for
- Capacity: 2 tons covers almost every car and crossover; 3 tons gives margin for trucks and full-size SUVs. You only ever lift a fraction of the vehicle weight at once.
- Low profile (under 3.5 in / 9 cm saddle height) if you own anything sporty or lowered; it slides under the pinch weld without ramps.
- Max lift height: 18 in or more avoids running out of travel on trucks.
- Steel is heavier but cheaper; aluminum is nicer to drag around if you work in a driveway.
- A rubber saddle pad protects painted pinch welds and keeps the jack from slipping.
04
Goes with
Lifting & safety
Jack stands
Non-negotiable if any part of you goes under the car. Buy them with the jack.
Starter kit
Lifting & safety
Wheel chocks
The cheapest safety item in the garage, and the one people skip.
Starter kit
Lifting & safety
Car ramps
Drive up, chock the rear wheels, slide under. The simplest lift for oil changes.
ⓘPicks are chosen by our editors; retailers do not pay for placement. OilChangeDIY earns a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon and Vevor links at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability change, so check the retailer page. Full disclosure.