Can You Drive With a Missing Lug Nut? − How Long?

A missing lug nut might create some driving issues. Uneven pressure, vehicle wobbling, and wheel fall-off might be severe problems caused by a missing wheel stud or lug nut. 

Sometimes, the lack of a single lug nut might create a serious accident.

So, can you drive with a missing lug nut? How long? Though you can drive with a missing lug nut, you should not drive far away. You can only drive a mile or two; then, it needs to be replaced with a new one.

In today’s article, we’ll talk about everything and show you how you can drive with a missing nut and how you know that you have no lug nut while driving. 

How Long Can You Drive With a Missing Lug Nut?

As said earlier, you should not drive with a missing lug nut. What if you need to go to an auto shop or a mechanic to replace that wheel nut? 

Only, in that case, you can drive slowly; it’s at most 2 miles. 

Therefore, it’s always a good practice to search for the nearest auto shop and drive there if it’s 2 miles away. Otherwise, you must go to the shop and buy the missing lug nut yourself.

What If you find the nearest auto shop within 5 miles? You should never drive that short because 5 miles is too much to drive with a missing lug nut. Follow the above tips and get the nut by yourself.

How to Drive With a Missing Lug-Nut?

If you have a nearby auto shop in 1 or 2 miles, you should drive carefully with your missing lug nut. It allows you to drive for very little time, but you must be careful about the other lug nuts and the wheel.

Always keep your eyes on the wheels and see whether it comes off or not. Besides, never put pressure on your accelerator, and don’t brake hard. 

These things indeed ensure a safe drive with a missing nut.

If you need to drive for 2 miles, check the wheels and other nuts after 1 mile. And be sure to have other lug nuts in place firmly. 

That’s how you can slowly drive with a missing lug nut.

What Happens If You Drive With a Missing Lug Nut?

Although it’s not recommended to drive with a missing lug nut, you may need to drive for a while. In that case, you may experience the following things.

Wheel Departure

If you drive with a missing lug nut, you may find your wheel is coming off the car. 

It happens if you usually drive and put pressure on the wheels. During that time, the other lug nuts may fail to stick to those wheels firmly. 

And they will come off the wheels one after the other. If you still drive with that missing nut, the other nuts will go off the wheels and fail to keep the wheels in place. 

After a while, the entire wheel may get detached from the car. That’s the worst case you’ll ever face with a missing lug nut.

Damage Wheel Bearings

The wheel bearing may get seriously damaged if you drive with a missing lug nut. 

Moreover, the bearings will be worn and torn when you put pressure on the missing lug-nut wheel. 

After a while, the bearing will be broken, and you can’t drive a single mile further. That’s why driving with a missing wheel stud is always a dangerous practice.

Fall off Other Lug-Nuts

Sometimes, the missing lug nuts weaken the other wheel nuts and bolts. 

This is because extra driving pressure will loosen all other lug nuts, the falling of the other nuts is a bad sign, and you can’t drive further. 

Extra Pressure on Wheel

Once you drive with a missing lug nut, it will put extra pressure on all the wheels. 

Consequently, the other wheels might be damaged and worn for a couple of extra miles. That’s why driving with a missing lug nut is not recommended. 

You should replace it with a new one and drive as far as possible.

Signs of Missing Lug Nut

Below are some of the signs that you can experience if you have missing lug nuts.

Wobbling Driving Experience

You may find a wobble if you drive with a missing lug nut. The entire vehicle may vibrate, and driving won’t be comfortable as before. 

So, a wobbling driving experience is the first sign of a missing lug nut. 

Uneven Pressure on Wheels

Another sign would be the uneven pressure on the wheels. Once you drive with a missing lug nut, you must feel the uneven pressure on four wheels. 

In such a case, you must check all the lug nuts and replace them with new ones.

Broken Wheel Studs

A broken wheel stud is sometimes another sign of a missing lug nut. 

It’s different than you always get a broken wheel stud, but a damaged stud or a couple of studs might give the last signal of your missing lug nut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to drive with a missing lug nut?

It’s not safe to drive with a missing lug nut. You should always check your wheels, replace the missing lug nut with a new one, and then go for the drive.

What’s the replacement cost of a missing lug nut?

The replacement cost of a missing lug nut is around $50-$70. It depends on labor cost and wheel stud quality. You may save labor costs if you know how to change the lug nuts.

Can I insert a missing lug nut by myself?

Yes, you can insert a missing lug nut without hiring a mechanic or going to an auto shop. For that, you need a lug wrench and a new lug nut. That’s it; you can insert the missing lug nut without spending an extra penny.

Closing Words

So, can you drive with a missing lug nut? Yes, you can! 

But it’s not the best idea to drive with a missing lug nut since it may damage your wheels and wear the bearings. Even the wheel may come off the vehicle within a while.

That’s why driving with a missing lug nut is not a recommended practice. If you need to drive for an emergency case or to go to a nearby auto shop, you may drive for a couple of miles.