If you have a lawn and you want to keep it in check, you will need a lawn mower.
But every now and then, we may be facing the challenge of having to transport our lawn mower to a different location. And this can pose some problems as most lawn mowers are not exactly small or lightweight.
So, can a lawn mower fit in a car? The standard push lawn mowers can fit in the back seat of a car or a car trunk. They are small enough, and their handles can be folded to fit in a car. However, you’ll most likely need a pickup or a truck for the bigger commercial models and riding lawn mowers.
A long time ago, when I was researching that very question, I found out that there are a lot of different caveats that I needed to know before trying to fit my lawn mower in my car.
If you want to find out more and avoid some of the frequent mistakes that folks make, read on.
When and Why You Will Need to Fit a Lawn Mower in a Car?
Two main reasons spring to my mind as to why you will need a lawn mower to fit in a car. You will be either:
- buying a new lawn mower and bringing it back home, or
- transporting your old lawn mower to a new location.
Very similar situations, as it stands, but there are some important details that we need to cover depending on which one you will be doing.
Now let’s start with:
Buying a New Lawn Mower and Bringing it Home
Usually, lawn mowers do come packed in a box. These boxes will vary greatly in their dimensions, but if I had to give a rough estimate, I would go with something along the lines of one foot by one foot by two feet. And there is usually enough space in the back of your car to fit such a box (of course the size can vary, so it is not 100% guaranteed to fit).
Transportation-wise this is going to have some advantages and disadvantages. Here’s why.
First, the good news is that although some assembling will need to be done, the whole lawn mower and all the accessories it comes with are neatly stored in the box. You won’t have to worry about handles sticking out or damaging the lawn mower because it will be tightly secured.
The downside is that usually, these boxes will weigh more, adding between 2 to 15, if not more, pounds to the total weight of the machine.
So the total weight of the whole package can vary greatly depending on the model of the lawn mower – generally, it could be anywhere from 30 up to 90 lbs.
If possible, I would recommend having the store deliver the mower. Buying it online is also a viable option that can save you a lot of hassle.
Transporting a Used Lawn Mower
Transporting used lawn mowers poses some risks, and you’ll need to do some maintenance and preparations prior to the transportation.
Depending on the lawn mower model you have, you may be facing different problems when trying to fit the mower into a car.
For example, many newer models come with a foldable push handle. This makes the mowers so compact that they will fit in a car or a trunk easily.
But some older models may not allow you to fold the handle. In that case, it will be easier to pull the handle off and re-assemble it when you are at the new location.
However, the handle may be the least of our concerns here. Why?
Here’s the thing.
Regardless of whether or not you will be transporting your lawn mower in one piece or disassembling it, before you load your lawn mower in your car, you need to prepare it for transportation by emptying and completely draining the fuel and oil.
Even then, you still need to disconnect the spark plug and fold the push handle in order to prevent the mower from starting accidentally during transportation.
The rule of thumb states that you should keep the mower in a horizontal position at all times in order to avoid the fuel mixture from spilling out and flooding the spark plug or the air filter.
Try to keep the mower in horizontal position and avoid any serious bumps and drops while transporting it as these can damage the different parts of the mower.
If needed, secure the lawn mower with bubble wrap or other protective materials, which will give it better cushioning.
Can a Lawn Mower Fit in a Car Trunk?
Push lawn mowers are very compact, and most of the newer models should be able to fit quite nicely into almost any car’s trunk. The only thing that may prove challenging is if the handle cannot be folded.
For a great explanation of how to fit a lawn mower into a car trunk, check out this great video below:
How to Load a Lawn Mower in a Car or a Truck?
If you need to move your lawn mower to different locations frequently, an excellent way to load it in your trailer or truck is by using a metal ramp. The extra investment in a metal ramp is worth it if you have to do this frequently; and at the end of the day, your lower back will thank you.
For cars and less frequent transportation, you can pick the lawn mower up and carry it by hand. Push lawn mowers are usually lightweight enough so you shouldn’t have any problems doing that every once in a while.
While carrying it, make sure to keep the mower in neutral (or horizontal) position in order to avoid any oil and fuel spills. Don’t lift up or carry the mower by the handle alone.
Also, make sure to use protective gloves and long-sleeved clothing. Your hand may get very close to the cutting blade(s) of the mower, which can be dangerous.
A ramp can also be used to fit a heavier lawn mower in the trunk of a car; however, you will have to be careful not to damage the vehicle in the process.
Which Lawn Mowers Cannot Fit in a Car?
Some of the bigger commercial lawn mower models can prove to be too big to fit in the back of a car.
Additionally, riding lawn mowers are a lot heavier and bulkier, weighing on average about 500 pounds.
There will be no way of fitting these inside a car, so the only option is to move them with a trailer or a pickup.
What to Do If the Lawn Mower Cannot Fit in the Car?
If the lawn mower does not fit in your car, don’t force it.
Even if you can force-fit it, you may end up having a lot of difficulty taking it out of the car. And I have seen people damage their lawn mowers doing that. Even a small crack in the wrong place can make your lawn mower unusable.
Such damages can be, but are not limited to:
- A loose handle;
- A brake cable that doesn’t work correctly; and
- Cracks to the plastic protective covers, air filter, and fuel tank.
If you have to deal with a lawn mower which is too big to fit in a car, or if you have a small car, there are a few alternatives, so transporting your lawn mower may still not be out of the question.
A good alternative is to hire movers to help you with the transportation or ask somebody with a pickup truck, a trailer, or a Ute.
These can provide you with enough space to fit and transport almost any lawn mower.
And if you will be using the services of a moving company, make sure to carry out the necessary maintenance and preparations as mentioned earlier.
These steps are required every time you are moving a used lawn mower.
But the thing with movers is that (depending on the state you live in) they are forbidden by law to transport combustible and hazardous equipment and materials.
The problem stems from the fact that transporting gas-powered tools and machinery can be both a health and fire hazard.
The gasoline vapors from the motor can enter the passenger’s compartment or any other enclosed area. This can happen even while the motor is off.
This is why when transporting your used lawn mower, it has to be always 100% drained of all liquids.