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How can you tell if your car is out of alignment?

How do you know if your car is out of alignment or not? My son was driving our new car down the street and we started drifting to the left. I told him to keep the wheel straight, but he said that it already was. Is that an alignment issue?

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Joshua Levy · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
“There are plenty of easy ways to check your alignment, but the key is to trust your senses. If you feel like there’s something off, then you’re probably right!
Keep an eye out for these telltale signs of misalignment:
  • Vehicle pulling to the left or right
  • Uneven or rapid tire wear
  • Your steering wheel is crooked when driving straight
  • Squealing tires
If you notice any of these symptoms, then it’s likely that your alignment is off, and you should take your car in to get realigned. Making sure your wheels are well aligned could save you money on gas, tires, and other vehicle wear and tear in the long run.
Note that misalignment can be a minor issue, but it can also be symptomatic of a larger problem. Misalignment can sometimes arise from worn or broken parts, so it may be worthwhile to get everything checked out when you take your car in to be aligned.
Depending on the issue, your insurance may even cover it. While most plans won’t cover standard repairs, policies that include
mechanical breakdown insurance
) may help in certain circumstances. If you’d like to learn more about your options, try
Jerry
. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app can help you gather affordable quotes and sign up for a new plan in minutes!”
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

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