How Often Should You Change Your Car Battery?

Not all Dalton drivers know how often to replace their car battery or how much a replacement car battery costs. There’s no need to worry; Riverside Chevrolet Buick GMC is here to help! How often does a car battery need to be replaced? Car batteries generally last about 4-5 years, so you would need a replacement around that period of time. Curious about how to test a car battery? Our service team provides the information on how often to replace a car battery today.

How to Know if You Need a Battery Replacement

It’s typically pretty clear when you have a dead battery; this makes it easier to know how often you should change your car battery. Here are a few warning signs to look out for as you’re traversing the Rockmart roads and it’s time to replace your vehicle:

• You need to rev or jump-start your engine in order to start your car
• Your headlights are getting dimmer over time
• It takes a while for your engine to turn on after turning your key or pressing the push-start button
• You notice power fluctuations in your radio, instrument cluster, interior lights, etc.

There are a few reasons car batteries die, including excessive heat, rough driving conditions, frequent jump-starts, and time (after 4-5 years).

How to Test a Car Battery

Whenever you schedule routine maintenance, you should ensure that your technician checks your battery. However, you can also test your car battery at home without visiting our Adairsville-area service center!

Test a Car Battery Using Your Headlights

Start by turning your car on and leaving it in park. Next, turn on your headlights. Press the gas pedal and observe your headlights’ brightness. Does revving make the lights brighter? Your battery’s current isn’t strong enough to maintain normal brightness, meaning you may need a new battery.

Test a Car Battery Using a Digital Multimeter

You’ll need a second person to perform this test. Ask a friend or family member to sit in the driver’s seat, then step outside and reset the voltmeter to 20 DC volts.

• Hop the hood of your car and place the negative meter probe (black on the negative battery terminal (also black).
• Place the positive meter probe (red) on the positive battery terminal (also red).
• Ask your friend to turn on the headlights, then check the voltmeter.
• For a temperature of 80 degrees, 12.5 volts or higher will indicate a fully-charged battery.
• 12.3 volts indicates roughly a 75% charge.
• If the voltmeter reads 11.8 volts or lower, this indicates 25% or less of a charge — you likely want to change your battery soon.

How Much Is A Replacement Car Battery?

How much is a replacement car battery, exactly? For a traditional car battery, you might pay anywhere from $75-$120 for a new car battery. For a premium battery, you may need to pay up to $200. If you drive a hybrid car, you should expect to pay quite a bit more. Specifically, around $1,000-$6,000. The price tag is higher because hybrid batteries are much more complex than gas-powered batteries. However, the gas savings over the years should help offset the battery price.

Rely on Riverside Chevrolet Buick GMC for Car Battery Service & More!

If you have further questions about often to replace a car battery or how to know if your car battery needs to be replaced, feel free to contact us at your convenience. Our service team will get your vehicle back and running on the Dalton roads in no time. Wondering how much an oil change costs? We’ve got you covered on that too! Visit us today for all of your automotive needs, from car battery services to oil changes.