10 Best Car Deadlift Alternatives for Quad Strength

The Car Deadlift is done standing. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Clean From Blocks.

Car Deadlift

Each substitute is scored on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. Read how we rank alternatives

How to Do the Car Deadlift

The steps for the Car Deadlift itself, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Quadriceps, with forearms, glutes, hamstrings, lower back, traps · Other · Advanced · Compound

  1. This event apparatus typically has neutral grip handles, however some have a straight bar that you can approach like a normal deadlift. The apparatus can be loaded with a vehicle or other heavy objects such as tractor tires or kegs.
  2. Center yourself between the handles if you are a strong squatter, or back a couple inches if you are a strong deadlifter. You feet should be about hip width apart. Bend at the hip to grip the handles. With your feet and your grip set, take a big breath and then lower your hips and flex the knees.
  3. Look forward with your head, keep your chest up and your back arched, and begin driving through the heels to move the weight upward. As the weight comes up, pull your shoulder blades together as you drive your hips forward.
  4. Lower the weight by bending at the hips and guiding it to the floor.

The 10 Best Car Deadlift Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches the Car Deadlift on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Cards with a "How to perform it" link open to show the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page.

Each link re-ranks the list below for the kit it names. Pick one to hide the substitutes you cannot set up.

  1. Clean From Blocks

    1. Clean From Blocks

    85% match

    Quadriceps · Advanced · Compound

    Pick this when you want a harder version that still works the quadriceps.

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. With a barbell on boxes or stands of the desired height, take an overhand or hook grip just outside the legs. Lower your hips with the weight focused on the heels, back straight, head facing forward, chest up, with your shoulders just in front of the bar. This will be your starting position.
    2. Begin the first pull by driving through the heels, extending your knees. Your back angle should stay the same, and your arms should remain straight with the elbows pointed out.
    3. As full extension is achieved, transition into the receiving position by aggressively shrugging and flexing the arms with the elbows up and out. Aggressively pull yourself down, rotating your elbows under the bar as you do so. Receive the bar in a front squat position, the depth of which is dependent upon the height of the bar at the end of the third pull. The bar should be racked onto the protracted shoulders, lightly touching the throat with the hands relaxed. Continue to descend to the bottom squat position, which will help in the recovery.
    4. Immediately recover by driving through the heels, keeping the torso upright and elbows up. Continue until you have risen to a standing position. Return the weight to the boxes for the next rep.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: quadriceps, the same as the Car Deadlift
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Car Deadlift
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Car Deadlift
  2. Clean Deadlift

    2. Clean Deadlift

    84% match

    Hamstrings · Intermediate · Compound

    A looser match: it works the hamstrings rather than the quadriceps.

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. Begin standing with a barbell close to your shins. Your feet should be directly under your hips with your feet turned out slightly. Grip the bar with a double overhand grip or hook grip, about shoulder width apart. Squat down to the bar. Your spine should be in full extension, with a back angle that places your shoulders in front of the bar and your back as vertical as possible.
    2. Begin by driving through the floor through the front of your heels. As the bar travels upward, maintain a constant back angle. Flare your knees out to the side to help keep them out of the bar's path.
    3. After the bar crosses the knees, complete the lift by driving the hips into the bar until your hips and knees are extended.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: deadlift hinge, the same as the Car Deadlift
    • Primary muscle: hamstrings, not quadriceps
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as the Car Deadlift
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Car Deadlift
  3. Axle Deadlift

    3. Axle Deadlift

    81% match

    Lower Back · Advanced · Compound

    A looser match: it works the lower back rather than the quadriceps.

    • Other
    How to perform it
    1. Approach the bar so that it is centered over your feet. You feet should be about hip width apart. Bend at the hip to grip the bar at shoulder width, allowing your shoulder blades to protract. Typically, you would use an over/under grip.
    2. With your feet and your grip set, take a big breath and then lower your hips and flex the knees until your shins contact the bar. Look forward with your head, keep your chest up and your back arched, and begin driving through the heels to move the weight upward.
    3. After the bar passes the knees, aggressively pull the bar back, pulling your shoulder blades together as you drive your hips forward into the bar.
    4. Lower the bar by bending at the hips and guiding it to the floor.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Movement: deadlift hinge, the same as the Car Deadlift
    • Primary muscle: lower back, not quadriceps
    • Body position: standing, the same as the Car Deadlift

Car Deadlift FAQ

What muscles does Car Deadlift work?

The car deadlift primarily targets the quadriceps through strong knee extension, but it also recruits glutes, hamstrings, spinal erectors, and core for stability. Biomechanically the upright torso and forward knee position increase quad moment arm, so focusing on knee drive increases quad loading.

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