What’s It Called When You Raise a Car?

It’s typically called “lifting” a car when you permanently increase its ride height with a kit, and “jacking” or “hoisting” when you temporarily raise it for maintenance. The term you use depends on whether you’re modifying the vehicle to sit higher all the time or simply elevating it to work underneath.

Two Common Meanings of “Raise a Car”

In automotive contexts, raising a car can refer to either a permanent modification for more ground clearance and bigger tires or a temporary elevation to service the vehicle. Knowing the difference helps you choose the right parts, tools, and safety practices.

Permanent Modification: “Lift” Types

The following list outlines the main ways owners permanently lift a vehicle, each with different costs, complexity, and effects on handling and capability.

• Suspension lift: Replaces or reconfigures springs, shocks/struts, and control arms to increase ground clearance and wheel travel. Common for off-road builds.
• Body lift: Adds spacers between the frame and body (on body-on-frame vehicles) to fit larger tires without changing suspension geometry.
• Leveling kit: Raises the front (and sometimes rear slightly) to reduce factory rake and allow modestly larger front tires.
• Air suspension lift: Uses adjustable air springs to raise or lower the vehicle on demand; found in some SUVs and aftermarket systems.
• Spacer/coilover lift: Adds strut spacers or height-adjustable coilovers for mild-to-moderate lift with relatively simple installation.

Choosing among these approaches hinges on your goals—looks, tire size, off-road performance, or load capacity—along with budget and willingness to alter factory geometry.

Temporary Elevation for Maintenance

When the goal is service or inspection, mechanics use equipment designed to safely lift and support the vehicle for short periods.

• Jacking up: Using a floor jack or the vehicle’s scissor jack at the designated jack points to raise one corner or end.
• Jack stands: Solid supports placed under reinforced points to hold the car after jacking; never rely on a jack alone.
• Hoisting: Lifting the entire vehicle on a two-post or four-post hydraulic lift in a workshop.
• Ramps: Driving the vehicle onto sturdy ramps to elevate one end, often for oil changes.

Temporary lifting is all about safe support and following the owner’s manual—proper placement and rated equipment are crucial to avoid damage or injury.

Why People Lift Cars and Trucks

Owners lift vehicles for a mix of practical and stylistic reasons. Below are the most common motivations.

• Increased ground clearance and off-road capability over rocks, ruts, and snow.
• Room for larger-diameter tires to improve traction and approach/departure angles.
• Improved obstacle clearance for overlanding and trail work.
• Aesthetics and stance preferences.
• Load and tow considerations when paired with appropriate suspension upgrades.

Your use case—daily driving, trail riding, towing, or show—should drive the choice of lift type and height.

Trade-offs, Safety, and Legal Considerations

Lifting changes how a vehicle drives and may be regulated. The implications below help set expectations before you modify.

• Higher center of gravity can reduce stability and increase rollover risk in evasive maneuvers.
• Braking and handling may worsen without matched shocks, brakes, and steering geometry corrections.
• Speedometer/odometer error from larger tires; gear ratios may feel taller.
• Alignment needs: caster/camber/toe corrections, plus potential need for drop brackets or adjustable arms.
• Increased wear on CV axles, ball joints, and driveline components if angles are not addressed.
• Fuel economy typically declines due to added height, weight, and tire rolling resistance.
• Headlight aim and bumper height must be corrected; aim can blind other drivers if neglected.
• Insurance, warranty, and inspection implications; some states/provinces limit bumper/frame height and lift amounts.

Research vehicle-specific kits, local regulations, and supporting upgrades to keep the build safe, legal, and insurable.

Typical Costs

Budgets vary widely by vehicle and lift height. The rough ranges below help with planning.

• Leveling kit: $100–$400 for parts; $150–$500 labor; alignment required.
• Body lift (body-on-frame): $200–$600 parts; $400–$1,200 labor; often includes bumper relocation and steering shaft/bushings.
• Suspension lift 2–3 inches: $1,000–$3,000 parts; $500–$2,000 labor depending on complexity.
• Suspension lift 4–6 inches: $2,000–$6,000+ parts; $1,000–$3,500 labor; may require driveshafts, brake lines, and steering mods.
• Supporting items: Wheels/tires, re-gearing, upgraded shocks, alignment, and recalibration for tire size.

Quality components, proper geometry corrections, and professional alignment are worth the cost to preserve safety and drivability.

Safety Basics for Temporary Lifting

When raising a car to work underneath, following core safety steps is non-negotiable.

1. Park on level ground, engage the parking brake, and use wheel chocks.
2. Consult the owner’s manual for correct jack and stand points.
3. Use a rated floor jack and stands; never work under a car supported only by a jack.
4. Lift slowly and place jack stands securely; perform a gentle shake test before getting underneath.
5. Lower carefully and torque wheel lug nuts to spec after reinstallation.

These precautions prevent common shop injuries and protect the vehicle from damage.

Related Terms You Might Hear

Automotive culture has a few adjacent terms that can help you refine your search or conversation.

• Lowering: The opposite of lifting; reducing ride height for handling or style.
• Leveling: Raising the front to match the rear’s height on trucks/SUVs.
• Coilovers/air ride: Adjustable systems that can raise or lower height.
• Rake: The front-to-rear height difference of a vehicle.
• Hoist vs. jack: Shop lift vs. portable lifting tool.

Knowing these terms helps communicate clearly with shops and parts suppliers.

Summary

If you raise a car permanently, it’s called a lift—via suspension, body, or leveling kits. If you raise it temporarily to work on it, you jack or hoist it and secure it with stands or a shop lift. Lifting offers clearance and capability but affects handling, legality, and costs, so plan the build, use quality parts, and prioritize safety at every step.

What’s it called when you raise a car?

Suspension lift kits are the most popular type of lift kit. They work by increasing the distance between the axles and chassis of your vehicle. This is done by replacing the suspension components, including the shocks, springs, and control arms.

What is a raised car called?

Other names for hi-risers and donks include “skyscrapers” due to their height, as well as simply being referred to as “big rim” or “big wheel” cars by people within the community. Groups such as the National Donk Racing Association organize drag racing events specifically for cars with big wheels.

What is it called when you give up a car?

This is called a voluntary surrender or voluntary repossession. Voluntary surrender is a direct alternative to involuntary repossession, when a car can be taken without warning, at any time and place, potentially causing emotional distress and leaving you and loved ones stranded.

What’s the thing called to lift up a car?

The thing used to lift a car is generally called a jack, though specific types include scissor jacks for emergency use and hydraulic floor jacks for heavier work. For professional or frequent use, larger devices like two-post lifts or four-post lifts are used to suspend the entire vehicle off the ground, providing more workspace and access underneath.
 
Jacks for lifting a portion of a car:

• Scissor Jack: Opens in new tabA compact, often emergency, jack that is rotated by a handle to raise the vehicle, typically used for changing a flat tire. 
• Hydraulic Floor Jack: Opens in new tabA wheeled jack with a handle that uses hydraulic pressure to lift heavier vehicles, offering greater stability and control than a scissor jack for repairs. 

Devices for lifting the entire car: 

• Car Lift (Two-post or Four-post): A heavy-duty framework, found in garages, that mechanically lifts the entire vehicle to provide ample space for mechanics to work underneath.

Supporting the lifted car:

• Jack Stands: Opens in new tabWhen using a jack to lift a car for repairs, jack stands must be used to support the vehicle’s weight, ensuring safety and preventing accidents. 
• Wheel Chocks: Opens in new tabThese blocks are placed behind or in front of the wheels to prevent the vehicle from rolling while it’s being lifted or serviced.