Yes. Shops can and do refuse to perform the covered alignment under a lifetime plan in several situations. The most common reason is that worn suspension or steering parts are preventing a proper alignment. Other reasons include modifications outside the plan's terms, impact damage, or a missed required visit that voided the plan.
The parts issue is the most frequent reason drivers hear "no" at the counter. If the technician measures your car and finds that the wheels can be brought into specification only by pushing components to their adjustment limits, and those components are worn, most shops will decline to perform the adjustment. Their reasoning is technically sound. Adjusting a car with worn tie rods, ball joints, or bushings will not hold because those parts allow the wheels to shift right back out as soon as the vehicle is driven.
The practical result is that the driver is presented with an estimate for suspension repairs. Those repairs are billed at full price, entirely outside the lifetime plan. Only after the parts are replaced will the shop perform the alignment that the plan was supposed to cover. Many drivers describe this experience as a bait-and-switch, even when the shop's reasoning is technically correct.
The second common reason is modification. Most lifetime plans exclude vehicles with non-factory ride heights, adjustable suspensions, aftermarket control arms, or wheel spacers. The written terms often use vague language such as "vehicles in factory condition," which gives the store discretion to refuse service on any car that has been modified. Different locations within the same chain may make different decisions on the same vehicle.
The third reason is impact damage. If your car has hit a serious pothole or a curb, and the alignment problem stems from bent or damaged parts, most lifetime plans do not cover the associated repair. The plan pays for the adjustment. It does not pay for parts damaged in an event.
The fourth reason is administrative. Missing the plan's required return interval, changing the vehicle's ownership, or failing to provide proof of purchase can all leave a driver with a plan the shop refuses to honor.
Because the "free" alignment under a lifetime plan is often contingent on factors not obvious at the time of purchase, an honest conversation about your specific vehicle before any work begins is more valuable than a paid-for promise that can be declined.
Hoover Street Auto Repair has served Ann Arbor drivers since 1980 under a fair trade policy, and our advice is always free even when we recommend against an alignment. Learn more about our wheel alignment service.