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Wheel alignment and tracking
Alignment is the angle each wheel sits at relative to the road and to the car.
What wheel alignment means
Kerbs and potholes knock it out. When it is wrong the car wanders, the steering wheel sits off centre, and the tyres wear unevenly and early. A four wheel alignment measures all four rather than just the front pair.
What the job covers
- Four-wheel laser alignment
- Front tracking adjustment
- Camber and castor adjustment where adjustable
- Alignment after suspension work
- Printed before and after readings
When you might need it
- The steering wheel is not straight when the car is going straight.
- The car pulls to one side on a level road.
- One edge of a tyre is wearing much faster than the rest of it.
What it costs, and what changes the price
Typically £30 to £90.
- A front-only adjustment costs less than a full four wheel measurement.
- Some cars have adjustment available at the rear and some do not, which changes what can be corrected.
- Seized adjusters add labour, and occasionally a part.
How long it takes
About an hour for four wheels, including the printout of before and after figures.
What the MOT data shows
Out of 42,728,066 MOT tests in 2025, these are the parts covered by this job that testers recorded as faults.
| Part | Recorded in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Track rod end | 1,091,631 |
| Tread depth | 1,051,590 |
Common questions
How often should it be checked?
There is no interval. It is worth checking after a heavy kerb or pothole, when fitting new tyres, and after suspension work.
Is alignment the same as balancing?
No. Balancing corrects weight distribution around a wheel and cures vibration at speed. Alignment sets the angles the wheels point at.
Will it fail the MOT?
Alignment itself is not tested, but the uneven tyre wear it causes very much is, and tread depth is one of the most common failures on the road.