Signs Your Car Needs a Wheel Alignment

Here’s how to tell if your car needs an alignment.

  • Drifting: Your car drifts left or right, especially when you apply the brakes.
  • Hard to steer: An excessive amount of steering input is required to keep you in the lane.
  • Shaking: The car’s steering wheel shakes.

Before you take the car in, check if your tires are deflated. Having one tire measure substantially more or less than what the owner’s manual calls for could cause the same effect of drifting left or right or vibration in the steering.

Imperfections in the road surfaces could be your vehicle’s worst enemy in keeping proper alignment. If you regularly drive on poorly maintained roads or one riddled with potholes or accidentally hit a curb or a parking bumper, you may knock your vehicle out of alignment.