An apparatus for lifting motor vehicles, with a carrying element for carrying the motor vehicle to be lifted, wherein this carrying element has at least one sensor device for detecting a weight force of the vehicle to be lifted, wherein the carrying element has at least two carrying arms which are arranged in a central region of the carrying element and which starting from the central region extend in at least two different directions. At least one sensor element for detecting a partial weight force is provided in each case on these carrying arms, wherein a force determining device for determining the weight force takes into consideration the partial weight forces determined by the at least three sensor elements.