Using a car jack safely requires a firm, level surface, wheel chocks, the parking brake set, and the jack positioned only at the vehicle’s designated lifting points.
Lifting a car seems simple until the jack slips. The difference between a quick tire change and a trip to the ER usually comes down to a few seconds of preparation. Whether you’re swapping a flat or doing brake work, the process for using a car jack properly is the same whether you’re working with a floor jack, bottle jack, or scissor jack. The steps below walk through the complete safe sequence, from choosing your ground to lowering the car back down.
What To Do Before You Lift The Car
The setup takes longer than the lift itself, and it’s where most accidents are prevented. Start by finding the flattest, hardest ground available. Concrete or packed asphalt is ideal; gravel, turf, dirt, and hot asphalt can let the jack sink or shift.
Once you’ve got solid ground, follow this preparation sequence:
- Park and set the brake. Put an automatic in Park and a manual in 1st gear or the lowest gear, then pull the parking brake firmly.
- Chock the wheels. Place chocks against the wheels that stay on the ground. Car and Driver specifically recommends blocking the wheel on the opposite corner from the lift point to prevent rolling.
- Clear the scene. Remove loose items, confirm nobody is in the vehicle, and make sure the jack itself is in good working condition with no leaks or damage.
- Find the jack points. Open the owner’s manual. Jack-point locations vary by make and model, and lifting from the wrong spot can crush body panels or the floor pan.
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How To Lift The Car Safely
Position the jack so its saddle sits squarely under the reinforced lift point identified in your manual. The saddle must contact the metal squarely, not at an angle, and the jack base needs to sit flat on the ground. Raise slowly and only as high as the job requires.
For a hydraulic floor jack or bottle jack, pump the handle in smooth strokes. For a scissor jack, crank the screw mechanism steadily. Keep hands and feet clear of the lift point, and stop as soon as the tire clears the ground or the work area is accessible. Lifting higher than necessary increases instability and gives the car more room to fall.
Never exceed the jack’s rated capacity, and never place any part of your body under a vehicle supported only by a jack. “
Using Jack Stands For Under-Car Work
If you’re going underneath the vehicle for any reason, lower the car onto jack stands before you get under it. Jack stands are the only safe way to support a car while you work beneath it.
Here’s the correct sequence:
- Raise the vehicle slightly higher than the stands require so you have clearance to position them.
- Place each stand under a reinforced support point — typically a frame rail or pinch weld location — never on suspension components or body panels.
- Slowly lower the jack until the vehicle settles onto the stands.
- Give the car a firm push or shake to test stability before you get underneath.
The purpose of the shake test is simple: if the car moves on the stands, you need to reset them before continuing. A few seconds of checking beats a hospital visit.
How To Lower The Vehicle
Lowering is the reverse of lifting, done in slow, controlled movements. For a hydraulic jack, open the release valve a tiny bit at a time — turning it counterclockwise — so the car descends gently rather than dropping. For a scissor jack, crank the handle in reverse at the same steady pace you used to raise it.
Once the tire touches the ground, you can remove the jack stands if you used them, then continue lowering until full weight is on the wheels. Remove the chocks last, after the car is completely down.
Common Jack Mistakes To Avoid
Most jack accidents trace back to a handful of repeated errors. The table below summarizes what to avoid and why, based on guidance from the ACCC Product Safety guide and Car and Driver.
| Mistake | Why It’s Dangerous |
|---|---|
| Jacking on soft or sloped ground | The jack sinks or slides, dropping the vehicle suddenly. |
| Skipping wheel chocks or the parking brake | The car can roll off the jack the moment it lifts. |
| Lifting from unreinforced body panels | Crushes metal and can cause the jack to slip. |
| Working under a car on a jack alone | A jack can fail or shift; jack stands are the only safe support. |
| Lifting higher than needed | More height means more instability and a longer fall. |
| Exceeding the jack’s rated capacity | Overloads the seals and structure, causing sudden collapse. |
Keep the engine off during the entire process, and never allow a person or pet to stay in the vehicle while it’s raised. For the clearest instructions specific to your car, the owner’s manual is the final authority on jack points and capacity.
FAQs
Can I use a car jack on gravel or dirt?
No. Gravel, dirt, turf, and soft asphalt allow the jack base to sink or shift during lifting, which can drop the vehicle suddenly. Always use a firm, level surface like concrete or packed pavement. If you have no solid ground available, consider calling for roadside assistance instead of risking an unstable lift.
Where should I place the wheel chocks?
Place chocks against the wheels that remain on the ground. Multiple safety sources recommend blocking the wheel on the opposite corner from the lift point to prevent the car from rolling in either direction. For example, if lifting the front passenger side, chock the rear driver-side wheel. Always set the parking brake as well.
Is it safe to work under a car supported only by a jack?
No. A jack is designed to lift a vehicle, not support it while someone works underneath. Hydraulic jacks can slowly bleed down, and scissor jacks can shift under load. Always lower the vehicle onto jack stands placed at reinforced support points and verify stability before getting underneath.
References & Sources
- ACCC Product Safety. “Vehicle Jacks Guide.” Official consumer safety guidance on firm surfaces, capacity limits, and excluding people and pets while lifting.
- Car and Driver. “How to Jack Up a Car.” Practical step-by-step coverage including wheel-block positioning and stability checks.
- Chase Auto. “How to Jack Up a Car.” Consumer guide covering preparation, lifting, and lowering sequences.