If you are looking to replace the battery in your car, you first need to know what your car battery lifespan is. This will help you keep on top of maintenance as well as ensure you don’t end up with a flat or even a dead battery. You can also read our guide on how to replace a car battery.
How Long Does a Car Battery Last?
What is the lifespan of a car battery, you may wonder. As each battery is different, there’s no clear answer to how long a car battery lasts.
A good rule of thumb to remember is that a car battery will last between three to five years. If you start to notice your battery deteriorating, it’s worth checking to see when it was last replaced. If it’s over three years old, it could need replacing.
What Affects a Battery’s Life?
This is also very dependent on where you live and how often you use your car. People who live in cooler climates may find their car batteries last longer than those who live in hotter climates.
If you own a car that is newer and has a lot of electronics inside it, this can also reduce the car battery lifespan.
Tips for Prolonging Battery Life
In order to give your car’s battery a long life, there are a few things you can do to prolong the average lifespan of a car battery.
Try To Limit Shorter Trips
Without getting too technical, once your car is running and driving around, the alternator will keep the battery charged. However, if you aren’t driving around for long enough, your battery will have less and less charge each time you use it. This can reduce the car battery lifespan drastically.
Don’t Leave Your Car Unused
Another thing to keep in mind is that a car battery will slowly lose charge as time goes on. If you don’t regularly use your car or are going to keep it off the road for an extended period of time, it’s worth investing in a trickle charger to keep your car battery topped up.
Keep Your Battery Tightly Secured
To improve the average lifespan of a car battery, a good tip is to double-check the fasteners from time to time. If these are loose, your battery will move around when you’re driving and could get damaged.
Make Sure the Battery Is Not Overcharged
If you have had the misfortune of coming out to a car with a flat battery, take care not to overcharge your battery. This can start to boil the mix of distilled water and sulphuric acid and can completely kill the battery. In some cases, this can cause the battery to swell and even catch fire.
Limit Electronics Use When the Engine Is Off
If your engine isn’t running, then your alternator is no longer charging the battery. If you spend a lot of time listening to the radio with the engine not running, or using other electronics such as heated seats or in-car entertainment, this can quickly reduce the average lifespan of a car battery.