Car jacks

Car jack: type, lifting capacity and lifting height

Updated 20 October 2026

Which type of jack you need

A scissor (screw) jack usually lives in the boot: compact and cheap, but slow, and unstable on soft ground. A trolley jack (hydraulic, on wheels) is the choice for a garage or workshop: fast and stable, but bulky. A bottle jack takes little space and lifts high, so it is taken for SUVs and minibuses. A high-lift (rack) jack is for off-roading, and an electric jack suits when you have no strength to pump by hand. For changing a wheel on the road a scissor jack is enough, for regular garage work a trolley jack.

Capacity and height

Go by the car's weight, but not the full weight: a jack lifts only part of it. Makers advise a margin, so for a car 2 tonnes is enough, and for a crossover or SUV 3 tonnes or more is better. Height matters just as much: a low sedan needs a jack with a small minimum height, for example from 130 mm, or it will not go under the sill. For an SUV with high ground clearance, the maximum lifting height is critical.

The main safety rule: never work under a car held up only by a jack. Buy axle stands separately, to put under the body or frame.

What to put in the request

• Type of jack: scissor, trolley, bottle, high-lift, electric.
• Lifting capacity: for example 3 t.
• Lifting height: minimum and maximum, for example 130–500 mm.
• For which vehicle: sedan, SUV, minibus, truck.
• Maker: if you have a preference.
• Condition: new or used.
• Delivery and budget.

Example: “I need a new 3 t hydraulic trolley jack with a lifting height of 130–500 mm for an SUV. Courier delivery to Johannesburg, budget up to R 990.”

What to look at in offers

Ask about the weight of the jack itself, the length of the handle and the material of the base plate. For hydraulics, the quality of the seals and a safety valve against overload matter. Ask for a photo of the plate with the lifting capacity. For a used one, check that no oil leaks and that it lowers smoothly. Ask about the warranty.

How it works on BlaBlaPrice

You write a request with your car and requirements, and sellers reply in the chat: which model they offer, the price, delivery. The site shows the best offer first and adds reviews of the seller. Sellers can see where they stand among the others, so they often improve their terms. Your phone stays hidden until you choose a seller. Details are on the “How it works” page.

Along with the jack, pick up a spanner set and a compressor.