Why you need to follow the 3/4 rule if you're using a floor jack
Published on Dec 27, 2025 at 5:26 AM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards
Last updated on Dec 09, 2025 at 10:15 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
If you’ve ever heard of the 3/4 rule when you’re using a floor jack and wondered why you need to follow it, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re lifting your car, this simple number keeps you and your ride safe, and if you ignore it, you’re gambling with hydraulic failure and crushed metal.
But you should know to never rely on a floor jack alone, even when you successfully follow this very important rule.
Here’s the quick guide every car lover should know.
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What the 3/4 rule really means
If you’re lifting your car for repairs or upgrades, your floor jack must be rated for at least 75 percent of your car’s Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), not just its curb weight.
The GVWR includes every kilo your car can carry: fuel, fluids, cargo, and passengers.
That number is printed on the driver’s door jamb or in your owner’s manual.
If a car’s GVWR is 4,000 lb, the jack needs to safely lift 3,000 lb or more, 3/4 of the weight.
Anything less strains the hydraulics, joints, and seals, and can cause a catastrophic failure under load.
Performance cars make it trickier, since most of their weight sits over the front axle, meaning that if you lift it from the front, you could cause disaster.
How to use a floor jack safely
Even when you meet the 3/4 rule, never rely on a jack alone; that means that once the car is up, slide in properly rated jack stands and lower the load onto them.
Use solid ground, support the wheels with ‘chocks’, and line the saddle up with official lift points.
Always check above your head for clearance before lifting, and give yourself room to move and work; you don’t want to accidentally bash your car into anything.
The 3/4 rule isn’t just smart; when you get the right jack, lift safely, and treat that bit of hardware with the same respect you give the car itself, you will have a smooth, safe car repair experience.
Hit the road, Jack – just do it safely.
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Daisy Edwards is a Content Writer at supercarblondie.com. Daisy has more than five years’ experience as a qualified journalist, having graduated with a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths, University of London and a dissertation in vintage electric vehicles. Daisy specializes in writing about cars, EVs, tech and luxury lifestyle. When she's not writing, she's at a country music concert or working on one of her many unfinished craft projects.
