How often do you get a wheel alignment?

The only times I have ever done an alignment is if the tire wear is uneven (tire rotation every 7,500 miles) during the tires lifetime at proper inflation (checked bi-weekly). Or, hit a pothole hard and the steering veers off to the left or right on a smooth level road.

Last car, my 2001 Honda Insight, ran 287,000 miles without an alignment before I sold it to get the Prius. Steering tracked straight as an arrow

 

only when i get new tires, but our roads are pretty smooth and i swerve around potholes.

 

Only if I see problem with uneven wear, adjusted rear camber myself as rear tyres started to wear on inside shoulder with no feathering across the tyre.

 

Once a year or less. It depends on if I have done a new suspension mod or not. I think I have only had 3 alignments in 158,000 miles.

 

Only in the case of abnormal tire wear or if the car will not track true and straight.

The last time I had an alignment on any of my cars was with my previous Jeep GC after the tie rods were replaced. That was at something like 150,000 miles.

I have always been able to get the mileage warranty plus some on my Michelin tires without needing alignments. I rotate and balance the tires regularly.

 

It's called the Wheel Alignment Shop Full Employment Act. The shop owner has a payment due on his boat.

 

My 2 cent worth. Here is the thing(align). If you get an align done make sure all four wheels are done. Next despite pot holes if the vehicle does not pull to the left or pull to the right while driving on a level road surface . Otherwise why am I giving some1 money for 10 to 15 minutes of sitting my vehicle on their equipment???

 

I agree with your comment of the value of a normal Prius "4 wheel alignment". There should be some criminal penalty for alignment shops and dealers calling their typical work a 4-wheel alignment.

Most shops and probably well over 90% of dealers don't align the rear wheels at all and the majority of both don't adjust the front camber unless you beat them into submission.

 

Once/year or as much as needed.
Alignments = a combo of caster, camber, and toe.
You can adjust toe in the rear so it is a 4wheel alignment.

 

I had mine done once in the 3 years I have had the car. I was having some "drift" while on the highway. I did have it done at a shop other then the one that recommended it, and that shop indicated the alignment was way off. I did do some driving in the NE and NYC where the roads were really bad and I am sure I had hit some big potholes.

FWIW my mileage did not improve after the alignment although the drift problem did improve.

 

I have yet to get an alignment at 160k, my car drives straight as can be, no vibrations at any speed, and tire wear has been great on all 4 corners. I just had the 4 wheel alignment check, and the rear was off (0.36 and 0.37, range is 0.03-0.30), while the front was perfect, even after all those miles.

While I have never had an accident, I had hit quite a few curbs, and also parallel parked dozens of times. I also have hit potholes in DC, which can be huge. I do maintain my air pressure, always have since I own a compressor.

I have always got 45 MPG, I can do better if I try, with my highest tank being about 56 MPG.

Dave