You understand that your car requires a regular wheel alignment to keep the ride as smooth as ever but may hesitate about getting the service due to, you guessed it, pricing.
Fortunately, most of the time, the wheel alignment cost will not break the bank.
A front-end alignment typically costs between $65 and $100 (some brands are more, of course). At this price, it should be a regular part of your car care routine.
To make alignment even more economical, some auto detailers offer lifetime alignment packages for around $200. Your car will receive a scheduled alignment every 6,000 miles (or as needed) for as long as you own it.
In this article, I will dive deeper into the wheel alignment cost, factors affecting this cost and will cover some great opportunities to get your wheels aligned.
How Much Does A Wheel Alignment Cost?
Front wheel alignment will cost you about $50 – $150. In fact, it may not cost you anything, based on what you are paying for other scheduled maintenance. If you are doing all four wheels alignment, costs could reach closer to $200.
Of course, on top of the obvious factors that influence the cost, distance, type of shop, and type of vehicle, these above fees are very rough calculations.
| Front Wheel Alignment | Low: $50 | Average: $80 | High: $150 |
| 4 Wheel Alignment | Low: $80 | Average: $120 | High: $200 |
Average 2-Wheel Alignment Cost by Car Model
| Car Model | Min Cost | Max Cost | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | $80 | $150 | $100 |
| Honda CR-V | $100 | $200 | $150 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | $80 | $150 | $100 |
| Ram 1500/2500/3500 | $80 | $150 | $100 |
| Toyota RAV4 | $100 | $200 | $150 |
| Toyota Camry | $50 | $150 | $80 |
How Much Does A 4 Wheel Alignment Cost?
On average, a four-wheel alignment costs between $100-$200 total, but the cost can vary based on the type of car, the make and model, and where you get it done.
If you have an older car, it may cost you a little more because of the difficulty of getting the rusted parts loose to be able to adjust the wheels.
Is It Worth Getting 4 Wheel Alignment?
If your car model allows for a 4-wheel alignment, then yes. However, not all car models allow for a 4-wheel alignment, so you will want to check this out beforehand; although, usually, the difference in cost between a 2- and 4-wheel alignment is not significant, so it is worth it.
How Much Does A Rear Wheel Alignment Cost?
A rear wheel alignment will typically cost $50 to $150. This is comparable to a front-end alignment. A rear wheel alignment’s price is dependent on the components of the rear alignment you select and how many angles you desire to have adjusted.
A toe angle only alignment is slightly cheaper than a two angle or three angle alignment which will likely be an adjustment of the camber angle; camber adjustments can be a challenge sometimes.
What Factors Affect Wheel Alignment Cost?
1. Location.
Services centers have varying prices depending on where you live. Most work in the west and northeast coast seem to be the highest prices. You should pay attention to which state you are in, and also the type of area the work is being done.
Sometimes it makes sense to go to a service center just outside the busy city. You do not want to go to a no-name shop in the middle of rural America that does not have experience or the right equipment.
2. Type of Service Center.
If you go to a dealership, then you are going to spend more than a local service center. These dealerships are the highest cost of any location, but you also get factory-trained technicians who have the best knowledge of the vehicle make and models.
You do not want to forget about tire service centers. Many of these service centers provide better prices, and since they only do tire work, they really have a good handle on getting it done right.
3. Type of Alignment.
The last factor is the type of alignment. There is actually manual or digital alignment. If you go with a manual alignment you will be able to save some money, as this is also easier to set up. The equipment for manual alignment is usually either a laser based system that aligns the wheels.
Digital wheel alignments are generally more costly because of having to use the equipment to carry out the service. Your car goes on a rack. Sensors get attached to each tire. Measurements are taken from each tire and adjustments are performed on each tire accordingly.
While this digital wheel alignment is more expensive at the time, you will see a difference because of the extreme precision.
4. Vehicle type.
Not every vehicle needs a 4 wheel alignment. If you only need a 2 wheel alignment, you could save a truckload. An educated tire shop will determine what is right for your car make/model.
If you have any modifications to the suspension on your vehicle, the cost for the alignment may go up. Anytime a technician has to do extra work will make the cost more.
5. Service Packages.
A good way to save some money on wheel alignments is with service packages. If you are shopping with a local tire store, they may have alignment service packages that cover your tire rotations and/or alignments for the life of the tires you bought.
If you purchased a lifetime service plan for $250, and a normal wheel alignment is $95, you will have paid for the plan on your 3rd visit.
Service plans can be a value, especially if you happen to be someone that requires alignments on a frequent basis. If you regularly drive on rough roads or potholes, it is smart to take advantage of these plans.
6. Additional work.
It is easy to know what the average cost of a wheel alignment. Simply calling your local service location will answer that question. What you don’t know is what other parts need replaced.
If there are any broken parts, you might need to get them replaced before you get the wheel alignment done. Any parts and labor for these repairs will add to the average cost of a wheel alignment.
What is a Wheel Alignment?
Wheel alignment means that a wheel alignment technician makes adjustments to the angles of each wheel to be within the range of the manufacturer’s specifications in three critical measurements.
Here are the differences between toe, caster and camber adjustments.
1. Toe.
Toe is the term used to describe what direction the tires are pointing. Toe is arguably the most important part of any alignment, but is also easily the most adjustable part of an alignment.
With the right toe, a vehicle will drive straight without much adjustment needed of the steering wheel. Toe can also give additional safety in turns and prevent wear to the tires. Toe is measured as toe in or toe out.
- Toe in: The tires are pointing inward toward one another.
- Toe out: The tires are pointing outward away from each other.
For most vehicles a small amount of toe in alignment is better than toe out.
2. Caster.
Caster gives the measurement of the front suspension or steering axis. The right amount of caster affects how the steering feels, but has no impact on tire wear. Caster is measured positive or negative.
- Positive caster: The steering axis is tilted slightly towards the rear of the vehicle. Ideally, this will be where your vehicle’s wheel alignment is. When going from a turn back to straight, the steering wheel will be able to return quickly to the original position when it is positive.
- Negative caster: The steering axis is tilted in the opposite direction it should be. This will most often occur when the vehicle hits something.
Both caster angles on the left and right side of the vehicle should be close to equal. If there is a difference, that can cause issues with handling of the vehicle. Caster is not something that can usually be recognized without having a wheel alignment performed.
3. Camber.
Camber is the term used to talk about if the wheels are leaning in or out. Camber is the angle of the wheels compared to the flat surface axis of the road surface.
When camber is out of spec, tire edges can wear more quickly on the inside or outside of the tire. Camber can be described as either positive or negative.
- Positive camber: The wheels are leaning outward, away from each other.
- Negative camber: The wheels are leaning inward, towards each other.
In some cases, a small amount of negative camber can improve performance. If the rear wheels are slightly negative camber, then the vehicle can negotiate turns easier because more of the contact patch of the tires with the road.
However, too much negative camber can cause difficulties in steering. Plus, the tires will wear too quickly.
It is also possible to have one wheel have a different camber than the other. If you have one negative camber and one positive camber, the positive camber will override the ride and result in the vehicle tending to pull to that side.
How often should a wheel alignment be performed?
With the information you now have about wheel alignment and the procedure itself, your only question left must be when should the alignment on your car’s wheels should be done. The answer is that it depends.
If you commute for work more than drive casually on weekends, driving your vehicle into the ground will probably lead to spending more on repairs due to frequent overheating when compared to those who drive more casually.
On average, car experts recommend performing the procedure every two to three years, and doing so will keep the vehicle’s wheels aligned throughout the vehicle’s lifespan.
For those vehicle owners looking to go above and beyond, I would suggest changing the alignment even in cases where it seems too often, such as in combination with oil change cycles.
How do you know if you need a wheel alignment?
Assuming the averages are upheld, and you are only performing the alignment on average every two to three years, the chances of major issues occurring are extremely low.
Nonetheless, as previously indicated, if you fail to set a scheduling routine for the wheel alignments, you will most likely encounter alignment difficulties sooner rather than later. It is almost guaranteed that noticing wheel alignment problems will not pose a significant challenge.
How do you know that a wheel alignment service is due and that you will need to pay for the service? You need to check if:
- The wear and tear on the wheels is abnormally high.
- There is a lack of symmetry in the wear patterns of the vehicle’s tires.
- The steering wheel does not have the same angle as the wheels are pointed to, making it harder for the driver to steer the car smoothly in the desired direction.
- The vehicle tends to drift either to the left, right, or sometimes both sides, eventually becoming unmanageable for the driver.
- The vehicle produces unusual sounds with regard to the wheel while steering.
- The car’s wheels seem to produce persistent sounds that cannot be quieted no matter the circumstances.
Has looking back and remembering such instances helped you come across such situations? The good news is that it is quite easy to overlook some of these scenarios, especially with how hectic life tends to get.
Regardless of what the situation is, ignoring such a scenario should be the last thing that you do. Paying for a wheel alignment service will, without a doubt, provide countless benefits when it comes to the overall drivability of the vehicle.
How long does wheel alignment take?
One of the other reasons why you should avoid doing the alignment yourself is that a good mechanic will be able to finish working on the issue in no time.
If you try to do a wheel alignment on your own, the process will likely take multiple hours at the very least, if not more. On the other hand, that is not the case when a mechanic works on your car.
A standard wheel alignment takes a qualified mechanic about thirty minutes to one hour. This is highly appropriate for customers who prefer staying at the garage while their alignment is being done.
That also makes the wheel alignment cost a pretty reasonable value compared to other auto repair jobs. With just a little bit of money, you will save a ton of time while getting proper wheel alignment.
One thing that I have noted, however, is the possibility of your mechanic taking more time to complete the alignment because certain issues could arise during the alignment that would require further diagnosis.
These complications could also greatly increase the cost of your wheel alignment. If a mechanic compromises on your ball joints, track rod, or even the suspension system, you might be charged more than the usual cost for your wheels to be aligned.
What’s The Difference Between Wheel Alignment vs. Wheel Balancing?
When you have the wheels balanced you are compensating for the unevenness of the wheels. Each wheel has different weight distribution and the balance compensates for that.
The wheel alignment doesn’t balance anything. The wheel alignment is more focused on keeping the wheels aligned so the tires are in line with each other and pointing straight down the road.
If the wheel balance is not evened out then excessive vibration, premature tire wear, and other suspension issues will develop. Depending on your driving style, you may have to have the wheels balanced once every 6,000 miles.
A proper alignment ensures that the car is pointed in the proper direction and prolongs the lifetime of the tires.
These are different services, but you can have them performed at the same service station. In fact, some tire shops offer a combination service, which helps you keep it economical. Look to have your wheel maintenance services bundled to save extra money.
Are wheel alignments worth it?
Yes. Wheel alignments keep the tires performing their best, and wearing evenly. This will also save you the cost of having to do a wheel alignment and more because you will not have to change tires as often when you have regular wheel alignments.
Can You Do A Wheel Alignment At Home?
You can technically do a wheel alignment at home, but it can be hard to get good results without the right tools.
There are methods online for how to align your wheels at home, but the chances of getting results are small, and if you get it wrong you may find it more expensive to change the tires.
Is It Better To Get Wheel Alignment Before or After New Tires?
Most wheel alignment machines are attached to the rims of the vehicle, so it is irrelevant if you do the alignment with new or old tires. But if you choose to have new tires you will, of course, want to get the wheel alignment as soon as you can to avoid wearing the new tires.
If you are in need of a wheel alignment, I highly recommend you ask your nearest mechanic to get you an exact estimate for your car model. The average front wheel alignment, rear wheel alignment, or 4-wheel alignment may differ based on the make and model of your vehicle.
But by considering the factors I’ve discussed in this article; you should be able to get a sense of what you can expect to pay. I hope I helped you, I also hope you can leave with all the information you need to determine what wheel alignment your car needs.