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ALI Certified lift inspections

Autolift was among the first companies in the country with ALI Certified Lift Inspectors on staff. Any lift, any manufacturer, any age.

What the certification actually means.

Plenty of companies will tell you their technicians are qualified to inspect lifts. The Automotive Lift Institute Lift Inspector Certification Program is the only independent verification of that in North America. An ALI Certified Inspector has passed two exams administered by an independent testing agency covering electrical, mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic principles, has completed practical inspections under ALI approved procedures, and has signed the ALI Code of Ethics.

We were one of the first companies to systematically offer lift inspections to customers, and among the first nationwide with ALI Certified Inspectors on staff. We have five, and they inspect lifts from every manufacturer, of any type, model or age.

Automotive Lift Institute Certified Lift Inspector emblem ALI Certified Lift Inspection label
Scope

What an inspection covers

An ALI Certified Lift Inspection follows the ANSI/ALI ALOIM standard — the national standard for the operation, inspection and maintenance of vehicle lifts. Depending on lift type, our inspectors work a documented checklist covering:

  • Structural members, welds, columns and load-bearing components
  • Hydraulic cylinders, lines, fittings and fluid condition
  • Cables, chains, sheaves, pulleys and equalization systems
  • Locking mechanisms, safety latches and their engagement
  • Electrical controls, wiring and emergency stops
  • Anchor bolts, concrete condition and floor anchoring
  • Arms, adapters, restraints and swing lock function
  • Warning labels, capacity plates and operator documentation

What you receive

Every lift we inspect gets documented results, a pass or fail sticker, and a serialized ALI Certified Lift Inspection label carrying the inspection year and the individual inspector's ID number. That label is what a code enforcement official, a Cal/OSHA inspector or an insurance carrier looks for as proof.

If a lift fails, you get a written quote for the repairs required to bring it into compliance. We can do that work, and each lift is certified once it meets requirements.

Scheduling around your bays

A lift being inspected is a bay not producing. Our inspectors work out a schedule with you — early mornings, staggered across a week, or whatever keeps the most bays open. For multi-site fleets we sequence yards so you're never down in more than one place at a time.

We also perform annual OSHA required inspections on air compressors and overhead cranes, so one visit can cover the whole facility.

Service area

Where we work

We run scheduled service routes out of Los Alamitos across six Southern California counties, and travel statewide for heavy duty, transit and rail projects.

Orange County
Los Alamitos, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Orange, Fullerton, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Buena Park, Tustin, Westminster, Mission Viejo
Los Angeles County
Long Beach, Los Angeles, Torrance, Carson, Compton, Downey, Norwalk, Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Santa Clarita, Pomona, El Monte, Inglewood, the South Bay
Inland Empire
Riverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Corona, Moreno Valley, Temecula, Chino, Upland, Redlands
San Diego County
San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, San Marcos
Ventura County
Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura, Camarillo, Moorpark
Statewide
Heavy duty lift installations, transit and rail facilities, and multi-site lift inspection contracts anywhere in California

Lift inspection questions

How often does a vehicle lift have to be inspected in California?

At least once a year. ANSI standards require annual inspection of every vehicle lift by a qualified inspector, and Cal/OSHA expects employers to keep equipment in safe working condition. Shops running heavy volume often inspect every six months.

What is an ALI Certified Lift Inspector?

An inspector independently tested and certified by the Automotive Lift Institute as qualified to inspect any vehicle lift, regardless of manufacturer, brand, model, type, age or location. It is the only third-party verification of lift inspector qualification in North America.

What happens if my lift fails inspection?

You get documentation of what failed and a written quote for the repairs needed to bring the lift into compliance. The lift should stay out of service until those repairs are made. We can perform the repairs and certify the lift once it meets requirements.

Do you inspect lifts you did not sell or install?

Yes. ALI certification qualifies our inspectors to inspect lifts from every manufacturer, and a large share of the lifts we inspect were installed by someone else.

How much does a lift inspection cost?

It depends on the number and type of lifts and the site. Facilities with several lifts inspected in one visit cost less per lift than a single inspection call. Send us your lift count and location for a quote.

Do you inspect air compressors and overhead cranes as well?

Yes. Autolift is licensed to perform annual OSHA required safety inspections on lifts, air compressors, overhead cranes and related shop equipment, so one visit can cover the facility.

Tell us what you're working with.

A lift that needs replacing, a bay that needs laying out, or an inspection that's overdue. Send the details and we'll come back with a real answer.