Does a New Car Need Wheel Alignment?
3 Answers
No, here is the relevant information: Situations requiring wheel alignment for a car: Steering wheel misalignment - the steering wheel is not straight when the vehicle is driving straight on a flat road; Left or right drift - the vehicle drifts to the left or right when driving straight on a flat road; Abnormal tire wear - uneven tire wear or severe tire scrubbing; When replacing suspension, steering system, control arms, or other chassis components - the installation of a car's steering wheels, steering knuckles, and front axle has a specific relative position, which is called steering wheel alignment, also known as front wheel alignment.
New cars typically don't need immediate wheel alignment, as manufacturers precisely adjust the wheel angles before leaving the factory. I remember when I first bought my car, I asked a technician, and he said unless there's an accident or the steering wheel feels off after driving on rough roads, there's absolutely no need to spend that unnecessary money. Unnecessary alignments can sometimes interfere with the original settings, leading to more severe wear issues. The key is to pay attention to driving habits—like avoiding high-speed pothole impacts or sharp turns, which can cause suspension misalignment. After driving a new car for a few thousand kilometers, if you feel the car is unstable or one side of the tires wears out faster, it's not too late to have a professional shop check the alignment. The money saved can be used for self-checking tire pressure and replacement timing, which is more cost-effective and safer.
From a safety perspective, there's usually no urgent need for wheel alignment on new cars, as factory settings are already optimized. In my years of driving, I've encountered several cases where getting alignment done on a brand-new car just wasted effort. I recommend driving normally for a while first and observing whether the steering wheel vibrates or the vehicle pulls to one side—these indicate potential alignment issues. If ignored, tire wear will accelerate, affecting braking distance, especially making the car unstable on wet roads during rain. From personal experience, I once neglected post-accident inspection which caused high-speed instability—quite a scare. Routine maintenance checks at the dealership can casually include alignment inspection without extra cost. The key is developing good habits like monthly self-checks of tires and suspension.
