Walmart is known for being one of the largest retail corporations in the world. With locations in dozens of countries, it’s one of the largest retail suppliers and online wholesalers that’s ever existed. While Walmart is known for selling groceries, household goods, and other things, it also carries automotive parts. In fact, some Walmart locations offer radio installation, wheel alignments, and other basic repairs for your vehicle. These locations are known as Walmart Auto Care Centers.
When it comes to Walmart Auto Care Centers, you can usually get a great deal on your repair because of Walmart’s size. Plus, some promotions and Walmart memberships can further drive the price down. If you’re planning on getting a wheel alignment done, it’s worth considering if Walmart Auto Centers are right for you.
Read on to discover how much a Walmart wheel alignment costs and to see if it’s the right fit for you.
What Is an Alignment?
A wheel alignment is part of standard automotive care and maintenance that needs to be done to keep your car running smoothly. The main purpose of a tire alignment is to reduce the wear that happens to your tires by adjusting the angle they connect with the pavement. These alignments need to be done when you replace your tires but sometimes it can happen when you hit a big hole in the road.
Wheel alignments usually work by angling your suspension to meet OEM specifications. This is done with an alignment machine that measures the angles, and then they compare the angle to the OEM specifications. To adjust the angles, the technician adjusts the caster, camber, or toe of each wheel. Once it matches with OEM specs, the alignment is complete.
When Do You Need an Alignment?
You need a wheel alignment every time that you have new tires placed on your vehicle. The angle of the tires is important for the lifespan of the tire, so make sure you get an alignment when you put new tires on your car. Thankfully, most repair shops will align your wheels for you when they install new tires. Walmart used to offer this service but no longer does as of 2022.
Aside from needing an alignment when you install new tires, it’s a good idea to check your vehicle’s alignment every 6,000 miles or with every oil change. Having a professional look at your alignment can save your tires some life if something got messed up by you hitting a pothole or driving on uneven surfaces.
Signs that You Need a Wheel Alignment
Knowing when you need a wheel alignment can help you preserve the lifespan of your tires. Therefore, it’s important to know the signs that suggest it’s time to have your wheels aligned. Some of these signs are subtle, while others are more obvious. Learn more about them below.
Your Vehicle Pulls to One Side
When it comes to wheel alignment, the first sign that you need one is when your car feels like it’s pulling to one side of the road. It can be either the left or the right, but you’ll feel it dragging, even if you’re on a straight road.
Abnormal Tire Wear
One of the best ways to check for a subtle misalignment is to check your tires. If you notice that the tread is not wearing down evenly, it’s possible that your wheel is not aligned properly. You’ll also want to check all four tires because some tires might not be dealing with this issue.
The Steering Wheel Doesn’t Feel Right
Another sign that your alignment is off is if your steering wheel isn’t centered in the cabin. This will be slightly off, so it can be challenging to notice. You may also notice that your steering wheel doesn’t return to its original position if you let it go on a turn.
These are only some of the signs that you need a wheel alignment and some other issues may also appear that are specific to your situation and vehicle.
How Much Does an Alignment at Walmart Cost?
A wheel alignment at Walmart varies based on the type of wheel alignment that you need. Unfortunately, you can no longer get a wheel alignment at Walmart because the company decided to remove it from their service list. Still, it’s worth it to look at what a Walmart wheel alignment cost in the past to see what a good deal is in the future.
In the past, Walmart used to offer a wheel alignment for $50 to $75 for a standard two-wheel alignment. If you needed a wheel alignment for all four wheels or a more complicated suspension system, it used to cost about $75 to $100. Ultimately, you usually only had to pay $100 for a wheel alignment when you shopped at Walmart.
What Factors Determine the Price of a Walmart Wheel Alignment?
When Walmart was doing alignments, the price of an alignment varied based on what your vehicle needed. In some cases, it could be more or less than the average cost. We list some of the factors that influenced the price of a wheel alignment below.
- Walmart Location: Some Walmart locations may have had different prices based on location-specific deals.
- The Type of Alignment: Some alignments cost more than others, but four-wheel alignments are the most expensive.
- Vehicle Type: Larger vehicles may cost more than smaller vehicles for a wheel alignment because of the size of the suspension components.
- Discounts and Promotions: In the past, Walmart had discounts and promotions that reduced the price of a wheel alignment.
Overall, Walmart was an affordable option for wheel alignment, and even with these factors, the job rarely cost more than $100.
What Automotive Services Does Walmart Still Offer?
Walmart still has automotive centers that offer a wide range of services. While you can’t have your wheels aligned anymore, you can still have tires installed and rotated. Learn more about some of Walmart’s other services below.
Tire Installation
Walmart may not offer a wheel alignment, but they will put your tires on. The cost varies based on the location and tires that you choose, but you do have the option to purchase and install your tires with Walmart. Walmart can also check for pressure, balance your tires, and rotate them as part of your routine maintenance plan.
Oil Changes
The most important part of any routine maintenance plan is an oil change. Fortunately, Walmart still offers oil changes for a reasonable price. They can provide you with some of the top-rated oil brands and replace oil filters along with your engine’s oil. Walmart will also top off some of your other fluids and ensure that everything is running smoothly once the oil is changed.
Battery Replacement
Batteries last for about three to five years, depending on the weather and how you drive. Thankfully, Walmart has plenty of batteries to get you back on the road fast. They can provide you with a high-quality battery and install it for you. Check your voltage and make sure it’s at 12 to 14 volts to see if you need a new battery.
Walmart will also help you with your vehicle’s fluids. They can top off and replace transmission fluid, windshield washer fluid, coolant, and other fluids.
What Are Alternative Alignments Options?
Since Walmart doesn’t offer wheel alignment services anymore, you’ll have to look for some other options. The good news is that there are a handful of places that are in a similar price range as Walmart. Some of these places include:
- Firestone Complete Auto Care: $80-$200
- Jiffy Lube: $50-$95
- Local mechanic shops: $100-$150
- Goodyear: $70-$100
- Tire: $50 to $129
- Big O Tires: $80 to $120
- Tires Plus: $70-$90
- Midas: $89-$130
These are only some of the places you can choose for a wheel alignment. Keep in mind that chain locations, Like Firestone, offer lower prices than most local mechanic shops. That said, the quality of work may vary from location to location.
Walmart Wheel Alignment FAQ
Have questions about getting a wheel alignment at Walmart? We answer some of the most common questions below.
How Long Does a Wheel Alignment Take?
Wheel alignments don’t take much time at all, especially if someone who knows what to do does the job. Expect a two-wheel alignment to take around 30 minutes and a four-wheel alignment to take about an hour and a half. That said, the size can impact how long it takes but usually for only a few minutes.
Why Did Walmart Stop Offering Wheel Alignments?
It’s hard to know why Walmart stopped offering wheel alignment at its auto care locations. One possible reason is that the company didn’t want to be responsible for a car’s balance. Another potential reason they stopped the service is because it wasn’t profitable for the amount of time that they spent doing the work. Sure, it was nice to have low prices, but it was significantly cheaper than most places.
Does Walmart Let You Install Tires for Free?
Walmart does not offer free tire Installation. Even if you purchase the tires with Walmart, you’ll have to pay to have them installed, which costs about $70. That said, you can check for promotions on their website or call your local store to see if there are any deals available.
Final Thoughts
Whether Walmart is the right place for you comes down to what you need, your budget, and who you trust to work on your vehicle. Walmart isn’t usually known for being one of the best places to get automotive repairs done; however, it’s becoming a more popular place to shop for any parts that you need. It’s also a great place to get small work done on your vehicle for a good price. You’ll pay less than you will at your local mechanic, and Walmart Auto Centers even beat out popular places like Pep Boys.
Unfortunately, Walmart no longer offers wheel alignment services. Therefore, you’ll have to look elsewhere. That said, you can have tires installed at Walmart and look elsewhere to places like Pep Boys for a wheel alignment and expect to pay similar prices of $50-$100.
