There’s no single legal interval for wheel alignments — it’s a maintenance item, not a roadworthy requirement — so the right answer is a sensible routine plus a list of triggers. Australian conditions push the dial towards “more often”: kerbs, potholes, corrugated dirt and unsealed roads knock angles out faster than smooth city bitumen. Here’s a schedule you can actually follow.

What’s the recommended wheel alignment interval?

The figure most Australian tyre shops quote is every 10,000km or about every six months, whichever comes first. Some sources phrase it as roughly once a year for easy highway driving, with every six months advised for rougher roads or heavy use. As a practical guide, pin it to 10,000km for most drivers — it lines up neatly with a routine service and with many tyre rotation intervals, so you can bundle the jobs. Always check your owner’s handbook, as some manufacturers specify their own figure.

When should you get an alignment regardless of the schedule?

These events can knock an angle out in an instant, so don’t wait for the next interval:

• After fitting new tyres. Fresh rubber deserves a straight start — see whether you need an alignment after new tyres. Most shops offer it at the same fit.
• After a kerb strike or pothole hit. The single most common cause of sudden misalignment on Australian roads. If the car felt different afterwards, book it.
• After any suspension or steering work — new struts, control arms, tie rods, or a suspension lift. Changing ride height changes the angles.
• When you spot the symptoms. Pulling, an off-centre steering wheel or uneven tyre wear are your cue — the full list is in signs your car needs a wheel alignment.
• Before a big trip. A long highway or touring run magnifies the fuel and wear cost of a small misalignment, so it’s worth a pre-trip check.

Does Australian driving change how often you need one?

Yes. The interval is a starting point, not a rule. If you regularly drive unsealed or corrugated roads, do a lot of kilometres, or your area is riddled with potholes, lean towards the six-month end or check more often. If you do mostly gentle, sealed highway kilometres and your tyres wear evenly, once a year may be fine. Your tyres are the real evidence: even wear means your routine is working; uneven wear means check sooner.

What does it cost to stay on schedule?

As a 2026 guide, a standard-car alignment runs roughly $50–$150, with 4WDs, SUVs and performance cars dearer; many shops run specials around tyre purchases. Confirm pricing with your store. Weighed against a set of tyres that a bad angle can ruin in a few thousand kilometres, a six-monthly check is cheap insurance. If you’re deciding between service levels, see whether a four-wheel alignment is worth the extra cost for your car.

Can you just rely on how the car feels?

Partly. A pull or crooked wheel is a clear prompt, but alignment can drift out of spec gradually without an obvious feel — and by the time you notice uneven wear, you’ve already lost tread. That’s why a periodic check matters even when nothing feels wrong. Pair it with a quick tyre inspection each time you check pressures. For the mechanics of what’s being set, see the camber, caster and toe explainer and the difference between alignment and balance.

Bottom line: Check your wheel alignment every 10,000km or about every six months as a baseline, and immediately after new tyres, kerb or pothole hits, suspension work, or any pulling or uneven wear. On rough Australian roads, err towards more often — your tyres’ wear pattern is the honest guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is a wheel alignment a legal requirement in Australia?

No. Alignment isn’t part of a roadworthy or safety inspection — it’s preventive maintenance. But driving on badly misaligned, unevenly worn tyres can push the tread below the legal minimum of 1.5mm, which is an offence.

Should I get an alignment with every tyre rotation?

Not necessarily, but they bundle well. Rotation is typically every 5,000–10,000km; aligning at the longer rotations, or at least every second one, keeps both jobs on a tidy schedule. Always align when fitting new tyres.

How do I know if I’ve left it too long?

Uneven tread wear is the giveaway — one edge worn faster than the other, or a feathered, saw-tooth feel across the tread. A pull or off-centre steering wheel also means you’re overdue.

Do I need an alignment after every pothole?

Not every minor one, but after any hard hit that jolted the car or changed how it drives. When in doubt, a check is quick and cheap relative to the tyres it protects.

Does an EV or heavy SUV need aligning more often?

Often yes. Extra weight and instant torque can accelerate the effect of a small misalignment, so heavier EVs and large SUVs benefit from sticking to the shorter end of the interval. Confirm with your handbook.

Intervals and prices are a 2026 guide only and vary by vehicle and store — confirm with your tyre fitter and owner’s handbook. External references: mycar’s alignment guide (every 10,000km) and Fulcrum Suspensions’ Australian alignment guide (every six months or ~10,000km).