Driving on a bent tire rim creates extremely dangerous driving conditions. Your vehicle will be more difficult to steer, and you possibly lose a wheel while driving. If you suspect you’ve got a bent rim, it’s safest to pull over and immediately call a mechanic.

Your heart probably skips a beat every time you hit that sneaky, unexpected pothole in the middle of the road. But, if no lights come on on your dash, you’re probably in the clear…right? Well, if you’ve bent your tire rim, the damage could be devastating—and potentially deadly.

Not to panic:

Jerry

, the

car insurance

comparison shopping app, is here with everything you need to know about how long you can drive with a bent tire rim—including the signs of a bent rim, how much it costs to fix, and (of course) how to save some cash on your car insurance policy.

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How can you tell if a tire rim is bent?

First, you’ll want to take a look at the exterior tire rim. Whip out your phone flashlight and be on the lookout for scratches, dents, or other signs of damage. But, not every bent rim is visible to the naked eye. The following symptoms also indicate that you may have bent a tire rim:

shaky steering wheel

thumping noise when you accelerate

Decreased vehicle handling

A shaky, vibrating vehicle

Difficulty steering and steering the car

Even though you may not be able to see the dent, you will certainly be able to feel it when you’re driving. Keep your eyes, ears, and other senses peeled!

Pro tip If you need the shaking in your car towards the front of your vehicle, you’ve likely bent one of your front tow tire rims. The same logic applies to the rear wheels.

Can you drive on a bent rim?

You should never drive on a bent rim for longer than you have to—drive the minimum distance you need to pull over safely. Then call up a mobile mechanic or get a tow.

The longer you drive with a bent rim, the greater the risk to yourself and your fellow drivers on the road. A bent tire rim causes uneven contact with your wheels to the road. If they’re not touching the ground evenly, a wheel could fly off while you are driving and cause an accident.

Even if your tires somehow manage to stay on your car, an unchecked and unfixed bent tire rim can do irreversible—and super expensive—-damage to the body of your car.

MORE:

How to fix alloy rim scratches

How much does it cost to fix a bent rim?

There’s no one answer for how much it will cost to fix a bent rim: what you end up paying will depend on the extent of the damage.

In more serious cases, the rim may not be able to be fixed, and the only option you’ll have is to get it replaced. If that’s the case, you’ll probably pay between $200 and $500 per wheel.

If it is fixable, you generally should go that route. Fixing a bent rim costs on average between $70 and $85. Keep in mind that the size and material of your tire rim also play a part in the cost—you can estimate an additional $10 to $15 per added diameter inch and a flat $35 to $50 more for alloy wheels.

How can I save money on car insurance?

Unforeseen dips and bumps in the road—the ones that make you say “oh no, did I just hit something?”—can cause some costly damage to your vehicle. Moments like these are exactly why having a great car insurance policy is so important. It’s not just for your safety; it’s also for your wallet.

When you shop for your policy with

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had a super simple app that was easy to navigate. And their terrific customer service made everything even easier. Plus I saved $700 in a single year.” —Lucia M.