How Much Does Wheel Alignment Cost?

Answer 1

Wheel alignment is one of those car maintenance tasks that simply must be done, is no fun, and is difficult or impossible to do yourself. Because of this, you are going to find yourself in the position of needing to pay a shop to do the service. Answering the question, "how much does wheel alignment cost?" is a two-part job.

Consider the cost of not aligning your wheels.

When considering maintenance costs, it is important to keep in mind the money saved by following through with these important tasks. No one enjoys spending money on something that does not provide an immediately tangible benefit; however, if you do not align your wheels, you are sure to suffer increased wear on your tires. If you realize that a set of tires for a passenger car runs about $100, and a set for an SUV or truck can go much higher, you can begin to see the cost benefit of keep your vehicle in alignment. Besides the tires, many suspension, steering, and drive line components can be adversely affected by misaligned wheels.

The actual cost of alignment.

Depending on your region and corresponding cost of living, four-wheel alignment costs anywhere from about $60 to $90. One savvy way to mitigate this cost is to purchase "lifetime alignment," which is offered by some shops. Running about $140, lifetime alignment allows you to bring your car back at any time to have it aligned. If you do this just two or more times, you have saved money over the life of your car. This strategy makes the most sense if you plan on keeping your vehicle for more than a couple years.

Shop around your local maintenance shops to find out the best deals on wheel alignment. Check your mail for coupons distributed by area garages that specialize in these services.

Since wheel alignment is one of those pesky service jobs that is done only occasionally but requires expensive equipment that makes it difficult to do on your own, it makes sense to find a good strategy for getting it taken care of inexpensively. Follow the tips in this article and find yourself on the road to proper wheel maintenance.