Learn about all about car battery life expectancy – How long it will last on the average and how to extend your battery life.
How Long Does a Car Battery Last?
Nobody likes to be stranded with a dead car battery. Whenever I get stuck, the first thing I always think is, “Does it have to be today?”
It works like this. The typical battery life expectancy is around three years. Higher quality batteries are rated for up to 5 years. In real life, you could get lucky and end up with a battery that lasts much longer than that.
Long-standing times i.e. a car that is not driven for a couple of weeks at a time, high temperatures which accelerate corrosion and discharging the battery accidentally by leaving the lights or another electrical device on… all contribute to the early retirement of your car battery.
Temperature extremes are bad news for battery life – Batteries are more likely to die or go flat during very cold periods as it takes more effort to start the motor in low temperatures. More current will is drawn from the car battery, therefore depleting it faster. On the other hand, hot weather will also lead to increased battery corrosion and degradation.
Your pattern and habits affect battery life as well. If you often make short trips, your car battery doesn’t have the chance to recharge fully. This leads to an acid imbalance that will corrode the battery and shorten its lifespan.
How to Extend Car Battery Life
1. Don’t add a new electrolyte (acid).
2. Don’t use unregulated high output battery chargers to charge batteries.
3. Don’t place your equipment and toys into storage without some type of device to keep the battery charged.
4. Don’t disconnect battery cables while the engine is running (your battery acts as a filter).
5. Don’t put off recharging batteries. Check your car owner’s manual for the battery maintenance schedule.
6. Don’t add tap water as it may contain minerals that will contaminate the electrolyte. Use only distilled water.
7. Don’t discharge a battery any deeper than you possibly have to.
8. Don’t let a battery get too hot to the touch or boil violently when charging.
9. Don’t mix battery types and sizes.
10. To extend car battery life, you should wrap a heat barrier around your battery to protect it from temperature extremes.Toggle panel: Yoast SEO
In Search of a Better Cost: What Is the Average Car Battery Price You Should Expect to Pay?
The average car battery price can differ based on a number of factors, including your location, the type of car battery you need and the type of car or vehicle you’re buying for. Expensive luxury cars, sports cars, trucks and SUVs typically require stronger, more expensive batteries (although that’s not always a rule), while motorcycles and small coupes will be less expensive to shop for. Also, it’s important to note the price differences based on technology differences and on whether or not you need additional services, or you’re fine with a DIY installation. Which battery is right for your vehicle.
Typical Price Related Factors to Consider
Industry experts will tell you that the average car battery price, depending on various factors, is between $90 and $200. Towing costs, testing and car battery installation services can increase the price, as can the purchase of batteries for expensive vehicles. A luxury car will typically require a special car battery, and a racing vehicle may need a high-performance battery that costs more than several hundred dollars. In addition, it just makes sense that a big V8 or diesel engine in a truck will take more current to start and will require a bigger, more expensive battery. Also, an important factor to consider is the brand you choose and the design of your new battery. While two batteries from two different manufacturers might both be lead-acid batteries, the cheaper, $50 versions will usually offer shorter warranty phase and service life, less performance and reliability than a medium-priced, $100 battery that features a newer, more efficient design.
Are You Buying a Premium Quality Car Battery?
There are many types of premium quality car batteries for which the average car battery price is slightly higher than what you’d normally expect for a typical battery design. Models that offer more than 1,000 cranking amps will cost at least several hundred dollars, while weight and life expectancy is also an issue. Expect to pay, on average, more than $300 and sometimes up to $800-$900 for a super-lightweight car battery that also offers high performance. The best high performance batteries, which give you lithium-metal performance and 5-6 years of uninterrupted performance aren’t always highly expensive, but you can still expect to pay more than $150 even for the least expensive ones.
Car Battery Technology and Pricing Recommendations
The price for lead-acid batteries is stable at about $50 to $300 per unit, with the average price staying stable somewhere between $100 and $150. These prices aren’t too exaggerated, and you’ll usually find decent car battery designs even under about $120. For lithium technologies, you can expect a slightly higher price, with most of the best batteries being available for $200 to $400 on average.
Car Battery Brands, Warranties and Service Offers
If you opt to just buy a battery with no questions asked, a typical, standard warranty and no need for replacement services, you can expect to come in below the average price, maybe well under $100. Also, some brands offer a better discount on their products, and some mechanics will help you out by installing your battery for you without asking for a lot of money. The only way to determine who can help you out and who can’t is to compare services and brand offers. To get a good discount, consider buying from the same company you typically rely on for repairs and regular service checkups. Also, avoid services such as towing or getting your battery replaced at a car dealership. In many cases, local auto parts stores and big box discount outlets will give you a favorable offer for the average car battery price on the market.