Abstract: A portable lift for lifting motor vehicles comprises a lift arm (6) the arm being pivotally articulated and lowerable into a position between lateral parts of base frame (1) which form a drive-on ramp, with lateral support arms (7) mounted on its free ends, the arms being guided by a parallelogram guide (10) parallel to the plane of the ground. To pivot lift arm (6), a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly (3) is used which is mounted at a distance from pivot axis (5) of lift arm (6) which, at the maximum operating height of support arms (7), forms a pivot angle (alpha) of the axis of cylinder and piston assembly (3) to the plane of the ground between 75 degrees and 105 degrees.