How to tell if the car is aligned properly?

[MacFaith]

When driving, you should not only look ahead but also check the side mirrors. Beginners often struggle with this, but it gets easier with practice. Find a straight reference line and compare your car's position to it to check alignment. Sit upright and look from the highest triangular point of the left wiper - maintaining a fist's distance from the left white line indicates proper alignment.

[DelEmilia]

Last time I saw a friend buying a used car, I taught him a few tricks to check if the car was in good condition. First, walk around the car twice, paying special attention to the gaps between the doors and the hood seams. If there’s a significant difference in width between the two sides, there’s definitely a problem. Squat down to check the distance between the tires and the wheel arches—the gaps should be roughly the same for all four wheels. Then, lie down and take a look at the chassis frame. If you see signs of re-welding or severe rust, be cautious. Finally, take it for a short test drive. If the car drives straight when you let go of the steering wheel, it’s fine. If it pulls to one side, the chassis might be damaged. These methods don’t require any professional tools and can be done by anyone.

[StFernando]

After working in the repair shop for so many years, I've found that many car owners don't know how to check if the car frame is straight. The most straightforward method is to look at the roof drainage channels – they're absolutely symmetrical when leaving the factory, but repaired ones will show obvious repainting marks. Also, check the gaps between the front and rear bumpers and the car body; factory gaps are as uniform as if measured with a ruler. Actually, the trunk is another good spot – lift the mat to inspect the spare tire well, as accident-damaged cars often show deformation here. Finally, I'd like to remind everyone that door operation is crucial; repaired accident cars often have issues with doors not closing tightly or making unusual noises.

[WyattLee]

After driving a new car for five years, you can judge if it's still in good condition by checking three key areas: First, when parking, the steering wheel must automatically return to the center position; if it's tilted, it indicates an issue with the steering system. Second, listen for noises when going over speed bumps—if there's a clunking sound on one side, it's definitely a suspension problem. The most obvious sign is tire wear; if the tires are worn into a sawtooth pattern or severely uneven, it's absolutely due to misalignment. I check these areas every month since they affect handling safety, and during maintenance, it's most reliable to have a mechanic use an alignment machine to check the data.