How to Raise or Lift a Car Without a Jack or Jack Stand

Key Takeaways

You can safely lift one side of a car by parking it at an angle where one wheel rides up on a curb while the other stays on the street
This method costs absolutely nothing and requires no equipment
The car is extremely stable in this position because all four wheels remain on the ground
This technique provides enough clearance for oil changes, fluid drains, and under-car inspections
Use your driveway transition or any street curb where the ground height naturally varies

The Zero-Cost Method

Working under a car safely usually requires a jack, jack stands, or ramps. But what if you do not have any of those? Or what if you want a method that is even more stable than a jack stand? This surprisingly simple technique uses nothing more than a curb and the natural slope of a driveway.

The concept is straightforward: park your car at an angle so that one side rides up on a curb or elevated surface while the other side stays lower on the street or driveway. This creates a tilt that lifts one side of the car, giving you clearance to work underneath — all while keeping every wheel firmly on the ground.

How to Set It Up

Finding the Right Spot

Look for a location where there is a natural height difference between two surfaces. Common options include:

A driveway that meets the street — the curb creates a natural step
A sloped driveway — where one side is higher than the other
A street curb — drive one set of wheels up onto the curb

In my case, the car was parked near a driveway where the ground naturally slopes. I drove up so that one side of the car was on the higher ground and the other side was on the lower ground.

Positioning the Car

Approach the curb or elevation change at an angle
Drive one set of wheels (front or rear, depending on which end you need to access) up onto the higher surface
Keep the opposite wheels on the lower surface
Set the parking brake and put the transmission in Park (or in gear for manual transmission)
Place wheel chocks behind the wheels for extra security

How Much Clearance Do You Get?

A standard curb is about 6 inches high. Parking at an angle across a curb gives you roughly 4 to 6 inches of additional clearance on the low side of the car. That is enough for:

Oil changes (drain plug access and oil filter removal)
Transmission fluid drains
Visual inspections of the undercarriage
Accessing some exhaust components

Why This Is So Stable

The reason this method is safer than using a jack alone is that all four wheels stay on the ground. There is no risk of a jack failing or a jack stand tipping. The car’s entire weight is distributed across all four tires, which is the most stable configuration possible.

Compare this to a floor jack, which lifts the car off the ground and creates a precarious single point of support. Even with jack stands (which you should always use when jacking), there is a small but real risk of the car shifting if the stands are not on perfectly level ground.

Limitations

This method has some limitations you should be aware of:

Limited clearance: You get enough room for basic maintenance, but not enough for major repairs like transmission removal or exhaust work that requires significant space
You need a curb: Not everyone has a convenient curb or elevation change near their parking spot
One side at a time: You can only raise one side of the car this way — you cannot lift the entire front or rear end

For jobs that require more clearance, you will still need a proper jack and jack stands or a set of ramps.

Safety Reminders

Even though this method is inherently stable, always follow basic safety practices when working under any vehicle:

Always set the parking brake before working under the car
Use wheel chocks on the wheels that are not being lifted
Never rely on the transmission Park position alone to keep the car from moving
Tell someone you are working under a car so they know not to move it
Keep your phone nearby in case of an emergency

Practical Applications

This curb method works great for routine maintenance tasks. Pair it with our guide on changing transmission fluid on a Dodge Caravan or bleeding brake fluid on a Honda Accord for a complete DIY maintenance session that requires minimal equipment.