Two-wheel (front) alignment costs £30 to £65 in the UK. Four-wheel alignment costs £50 to £120, with most independent garages charging £40 to £80.
| Vehicle type | Typical range | What affects it |
|---|---|---|
| Two-wheel (front) alignment | £30–£65 | Also called tracking |
| Four-wheel alignment | £50–£120 | Needed on most modern cars |
| Four-wheel, typical independent garage | £40–£80 | Most common price paid |
| Per wheel pricing | £30–£35 | Some garages price this way |
Written by Chris Fisher, founder of Clarity-GMS and a working independent garage owner.
Wheel alignment is the cheapest job on this list and the one most likely to save you money elsewhere. A car that is out of alignment destroys tyres, and tyres cost considerably more than the alignment would have.
Front (two-wheel) alignment, sometimes called tracking, costs £30 to £65. Four-wheel alignment costs £50 to £120, with most independents and fast-fits charging £40 to £80 for a family car.
Some garages price per wheel, around £30 to £35 each. Worth clarifying before booking so you are comparing like with like.
Front-only alignment adjusts the front wheels relative to the car's centre line. It is adequate on older vehicles with a simple rear beam axle where nothing at the back is adjustable.
Four-wheel alignment measures all four and aligns the front to the rear axle's actual thrust line. Most modern cars with independent rear suspension need this, and on those a front-only alignment can leave the car tracking straight but the steering wheel off-centre.
If you are unsure, ask what your car needs. A garage that recommends four-wheel on a car with a fixed rear axle is overselling; one that does front-only on a modern estate is under-delivering.
Uneven tyre wear, particularly one edge of the tread wearing faster than the rest.
The car pulling to one side on a flat, straight road.
Steering wheel off-centre when driving straight.
After hitting a kerb or a significant pothole.
After suspension or steering work — new springs, shocks, track rod ends or wishbones all change the geometry.
When fitting new tyres, so the new set does not wear out prematurely.
This is the straightforward economics. A set of four mid-range tyres costs £300 to £500. Poor alignment can halve their life, and it wears them unevenly so you replace them sooner than the tread depth alone would suggest.
A £60 alignment that prevents one premature tyre replacement has paid for itself several times over. It also improves steering feel, reduces the tendency to wander, and marginally improves fuel consumption.
Three measurements, in plain terms:
Toe — whether the wheels point slightly inwards or outwards viewed from above. The most common adjustment and the biggest cause of tyre wear.
Camber — whether the wheel leans in or out at the top. Affects wear across the tread and cornering grip.
Caster — the steering axis angle. Affects straight-line stability and self-centring.
On many cars only toe is adjustable without additional parts. If camber is out and not adjustable, that usually indicates a bent or worn component that needs replacing first — alignment cannot fix damaged suspension.
Ask for a printout showing before and after figures against manufacturer specification. Any garage with proper alignment equipment can produce one, and it is the only way to know the work was actually done and the car is now in spec.
If your car pulls to one side and alignment does not fix it, the cause is elsewhere — a sticking brake caliper, uneven tyre pressures or a worn suspension bush, and it is worth checking your brakes at the same time. A good garage will check those rather than simply adjusting geometry to mask the symptom.
Guide prices only. Actual cost varies by vehicle and local labour rates. Get free quotes from vetted local garages through Fix My Motor — compare and book without ringing around yourself.Wheel alignment is the cheapest job on this list and the one most likely to save you money elsewhere. A car that is out of alignment destroys tyres, and tyres cost considerably more than the alignment would have.
Front (two-wheel) alignment, sometimes called tracking, costs £30 to £65. Four-wheel alignment costs £50 to £120, with most independents and fast-fits charging £40 to £80 for a family car.
Some garages price per wheel, around £30 to £35 each. Worth clarifying before booking so you are comparing like with like.
Front-only alignment adjusts the front wheels relative to the car's centre line. It is adequate on older vehicles with a simple rear beam axle where nothing at the back is adjustable.
Four-wheel alignment measures all four and aligns the front to the rear axle's actual thrust line. Most modern cars with independent rear suspension need this, and on those a front-only alignment can leave the car tracking straight but the steering wheel off-centre.
If you are unsure, ask what your car needs. A garage that recommends four-wheel on a car with a fixed rear axle is overselling; one that does front-only on a modern estate is under-delivering.
Uneven tyre wear, particularly one edge of the tread wearing faster than the rest.
The car pulling to one side on a flat, straight road.
Steering wheel off-centre when driving straight.
After hitting a kerb or a significant pothole.
After suspension or steering work — new springs, shocks, track rod ends or wishbones all change the geometry.
When fitting new tyres, so the new set does not wear out prematurely.
This is the straightforward economics. A set of four mid-range tyres costs £300 to £500. Poor alignment can halve their life, and it wears them unevenly so you replace them sooner than the tread depth alone would suggest.
A £60 alignment that prevents one premature tyre replacement has paid for itself several times over. It also improves steering feel, reduces the tendency to wander, and marginally improves fuel consumption.
Three measurements, in plain terms:
Toe — whether the wheels point slightly inwards or outwards viewed from above. The most common adjustment and the biggest cause of tyre wear.
Camber — whether the wheel leans in or out at the top. Affects wear across the tread and cornering grip.
Caster — the steering axis angle. Affects straight-line stability and self-centring.
On many cars only toe is adjustable without additional parts. If camber is out and not adjustable, that usually indicates a bent or worn component that needs replacing first — alignment cannot fix damaged suspension.
Ask for a printout showing before and after figures against manufacturer specification. Any garage with proper alignment equipment can produce one, and it is the only way to know the work was actually done and the car is now in spec.
If your car pulls to one side and alignment does not fix it, the cause is elsewhere — a sticking brake caliper, uneven tyre pressures or a worn suspension bush, and it is worth checking your brakes at the same time. A good garage will check those rather than simply adjusting geometry to mask the symptom.
Guide prices only. Actual cost varies by vehicle and local labour rates. Get real quotes from local garages for your car.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-30
There is no fixed interval. Have it checked annually, after fitting new tyres, after any suspension or steering work, and any time you hit a significant kerb or pothole.
Most modern cars with independent rear suspension need four-wheel. Older vehicles with a fixed rear beam axle can be fine with front-only. Ask what your specific car requires.
Often, but not always. Pulling can also be caused by uneven tyre pressures, a sticking brake caliper or a worn suspension bush. A good garage will check those too rather than just adjusting the geometry.
Almost always. Poor alignment can halve tyre life, and a set of tyres costs £300 to £500. A £60 alignment that prevents one premature replacement pays for itself several times over.
Alignment is the angle the wheels sit at relative to the car and the road. Balancing corrects weight distribution around the wheel and tyre to stop vibration at speed. They are separate jobs and both may be needed.