Expect your car battery to last about four years. However, car battery lifespan can vary by more than a year depending on several factors, including your driving habits and where you live.
Keep reading to learn how long your car battery should last, the signs you should replace it, and how to give the battery a longer life.
How Long Does a Car Battery Last?
Car batteries last between three and five years in most cases. Your friend in another state or a neighbor with the same model vehicle may have different experiences than you. A specific answer for how long car batteries last is impossible because of the contributing variables like how far and how often you drive.
- Driving distance: Short drives take a toll on your battery. Starting an engine requires a lot of power, and driving only a couple of miles to work or school doesn’t give the car’s alternator enough time to replenish the battery. Regularly discharging more than you replenish shortens battery life. Driving at highway speed for about 20 minutes is usually enough time for the alternator to recharge the car battery. Taking the long way to work once a week or a scenic weekend drive can be good for battery health.
- Driving frequency: Not driving your car at all can be worse for the battery charge than taking only short trips. Batteries naturally discharge over time if the vehicle sits unused. Even without the engine running, the battery uses power to maintain the vehicle’s computers and sensors. The car might be off, but onboard technology remains alert for signals from the key fob, operates the security system, and more. You’ll likely need to jump-start the car if you go for a month without driving it. Drive the vehicle for a weekly excursion or consider using a battery tender to maintain the battery’s charge level during long periods of inactivity.
- Your climate: Batteries can degrade faster in southern states’ high heat. Drivers in South Florida and Arizona who park outside might need to replace their car batteries after three years. The tradeoff is that cold weather negatively affects car batteries, which are more likely to fail during freezing temperatures. Generally, those who keep their cars in garages or live in areas with moderate temperatures will have longer battery life.
MORE: Why Does My Car Shake When I Brake?
Car Battery Replacement
While most car batteries need replacing after five years or less, some drivers might get 10 years of use. Protecting it from extreme temperatures and maintaining a full charge are two simple steps that can help provide a longer service life for the battery. Still, a car battery gradually deteriorates over time until it lacks the power to start the engine.
Because the potential lifespan varies, always check the battery’s health as part of routine maintenance when you have an oil change, even if you aren’t experiencing problems. Meanwhile, be aware of the obvious signs and any small hints of trouble.
- Car won’t start
- Battery warning light is illuminated in the instrument cluster
- Engine cranks but takes longer to start than it used to
- Interior lights and incandescent headlights are dimmer than usual
MORE: How Long Can You Drive on a Spare Tire?
Replace Car Battery Promptly
Don’t delay with car battery replacement if yours isn’t holding a charge. Nobody wants their car not to start when away from home and need to get back any more than when at home needing to get to work. Perhaps more importantly, prolonged driving with a bad battery can damage the car’s alternator. That alternator replacement will force you to leave your vehicle with a mechanic, have the potential for a $700 bill, and still need a new battery.
Replacing a dead car battery often costs $250 or less, and installation is straightforward. Your local auto parts store will help ensure your new battery is the correct type and size for your vehicle. When you purchase it from them, the shop’s technicians usually install the battery in the store parking lot at no charge.
