Top 7 Best Stores to Buy Cheap Car Batteries

Looking for a cheap car battery that still lasts? This guide compares where to buy one, from Walmart to auto parts stores, Batteries Plus, Amazon and eBay, with what each offers on price and warranty, plus how to pick the right battery. Prices in this article are from when we checked and change often, so confirm the current price for your group size before you buy.

Walmart

Visit: Walmart Batteries

If you want to buy a really cheap vehicle battery, then the best bet is Walmart. There is no need to apply for or use any coupon at all. Walmart batteries are super economical, and the warranty period is as good if not better than AutoZone or Advance Auto Parts. Walmart car batteries can be purchased at local stores or online. The Marquee is a store brand, and it is EverStart batteries. The batteries come in two categories MAXX and Cheaper. The MAXX batteries have a 5-year warranty, and the cheaper batteries have a 2-year warranty.

We compared Walmart battery prices with local auto parts stores such as PepBoys, Advance Auto Parts, and AutoZone. In all cases, Walmart had the lowest price on car batteries. On average, Walmart car battery prices were 10% to 25% cheaper than AutoZone, PepBoys, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Advance Auto Parts (except online purchases), and Salvo Auto Parts.

Advance Auto Parts

Say you want to buy a new battery for your car. You can buy one for around $170 at a store like Advance Auto Parts and pick it up at your local Advance Auto Parts. You can save 10 to 30 percent on your car battery by paying for it online and clicking ‘Pick Up in Store’ at checkout. Advance Auto Parts is a cheap place to get your battery. Since you pay for the battery before coming to pick it up, you are essentially walking into the store with part of the money already spent. This is better than paying the total price at a storefront because you get a discount when you buy the battery online.

How to buy a cheap car battery from Advance Auto

1. Visit   Advance Auto Parts > Car Batteries website. Enter your car information. Make, Model, Year
2. Pick the battery that fits your car, which shows IN STOCK at a store near you.  
3. Select Pick Up At Store under Delivery Options. Don’t select ship to home.
4. Apply the Advance Auto Parts coupon code. Look for a discount code at the top banner of the website. If you don’t have an Advance Auto coupon, check for current discount codes on the Advance Auto Parts home page or under the Special Offers page. Copy the code and apply it at checkout under the Promotional Code field. 
5. Once you pay for the battery online, write down the order number you will get at the end of the checkout. Next, head to the Advance Auto Parts store to pick up your battery. They usually have the battery ready for you in 15 minutes.
6. If you prefer, ask the Advance Auto Parts associate to replace your car battery free of charge. 

CORE CHARGE: You will notice a core charge ranging from $18 to $25. You can get the core charge refunded by returning your old dead battery to Advance Auto Parts.

When changing the battery, don’t forget to return the old battery to refund the core charge. Don’t get stressed if you haven’t removed the old battery. You can take your old battery back within a month to get a refund for your money for the core charge.

If you can jump-start your car, drive it to the store and have the associates replace the battery. Note that a few vehicles, such as BMW, Mini, and Porsche, require battery registration to be carried out. Auto parts stores cannot perform this procedure for you.

BatteriesPlus

Visit: Batteries Plus

Batteries Plus offers all types of car batteries. You can have your battery delivered to your house when ordering online. You can pick it up from the store after ordering online; you need it that same day. Whether you want a classic or modern luxury car battery replacement, doesn’t matter. You will save money compared to the alternative, which is buying from your dealer. Batteries Plus partners with local stores you may not know have batteries for sale. Please enter the zip code on their home page to find cheap car battery stores near you. Another advantage of BatteriesPlus is that they will install it for free if you choose store pickup.

Amazon

Not many people think of Amazon when buying car batteries. While you can purchase car batteries on Amazon, they do not have the lowest prices. You can find a new replacement battery for any make and model. If you have time to kill, you can read reviews on any battery. You can’t beat Amazon’s one-day shipping if you need the battery fast.

eBay Motors

Visit eBay: Automotive Batteries.

EBay is another choice if you are looking for the cheapest car battery. You can find the best prices on car batteries from premium brands such as Bosch, Optima, or DieHard. You will find those here if you are looking for the absolute cheapest car batteries.

You will need to go to the car batteries section. See the link above if you know the battery group and filter results by that. If you don’t, enter your car’s make and model, and you will see batteries that fit your car. Look for the Fast ‘n Free items if you need the battery quickly.

Other Auto Parts Stores

O’Reilly Auto Parts: O’Reilly Auto Parts also has many car batteries and guaranteed brands from $90 to $198. Pep Boys: Pep Boys is another retailer of auto parts that supplies different levels and types of car batteries at competitive prices.

What is the best car battery for my car?

The best battery for your car is the correct group size, meets or exceeds Cold Crank Amps (CCA) and Cranking Amps (CA), and has the most extended warranty period. 

Car batteries can be expensive. At your car dealership, a battery can cost up to $300. Meanwhile, the battery cost in some luxury vehicles exceeds $500. Yet, the typical price for a new battery online falls in the $75 to $150 range. Look at some of the best places to buy cheap car batteries.

While we all want to save money, don’t be tempted to buy any battery brand’s lowest grade. If you are buying your battery online, you are already saving money. Battery makers, including AutoCraft, Bosch, DieHard, Duralast, EverStart, or Interstate batteries, usually have three grades:

1. Economy, Value: Shortest warranty
2. Silver, Plus
3. Gold, Platinum, Max: Longest warranty / Best Quality

A cheaper battery is not better when you plan to keep your car for over a year. What happens is that the economy batteries have the least life span compared to their expensive counterparts. It’s not uncommon that different brands of batteries produce the lowest-priced product, yet they are the most unreliable with little warranty. Cheap batteries can fail in as few as two years. The same manufacturer makes some of the best and the worst batteries. When shopping for a replacement battery, it becomes paramount that the new battery matches these parameters. Regardless of purchasing the most expensive brand, a 12-volt car battery is necessary. There are other specifications that the replacement battery must satisfy, such as CCA and Ah.

Group Size

• The group size ensures that the new battery is an exact fit. You can look up the group size on the old battery. It is printed on the label. Alternatively, on any of the websites above, you can enter your car specs, and they will show you batteries that fit your car.

Cold Cranking Amp

• The battery’s ability to start your engine in cold temperatures. The amperes a battery can deliver for 30 seconds at 32 degrees F.

Reserve Capacity

• It measures the number of minutes of reserve power the battery has at a specific load.  The reserve capacity is critical, especially for power-hungry, high-end luxury vehicles.

Do you know of an online site or a local store that sells them? Use the comment section below to share your thoughts and help other members.

Final Thoughts: Maximizing Value in Your Car Battery Purchase

If you are looking for a cheap car battery, Walmart will most likely be the local store with the lowest price. Walmart may come as a surprise, but most stores have a car battery section at the back of the store. Walmart even has the H8 batteries on many European vehicles like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. 

You should compare the prices and check for deals before buying. Check if it is an excellent battery to buy, such as ACDelco or Duralast. If you want a cheap budget battery installed for free, we recommend you go to AutoZone Auto Parts or Walmart. Without using coupons, the Advance car batteries are more expensive than the AutoZone batteries.

Factor in the core charge and the warranty

The advertised price is rarely what you pay. Nearly every retailer adds a core charge, typically $15 to $25, which you get back when you hand over the old battery. Bring the old one with you and the price drops accordingly. Buy online and ship it, and you will usually need to return the core to a physical store to recover that money.

The warranty matters more than the sticker price. A cheap battery with a one year replacement warranty often costs more over five years than a mid priced one with a three year free replacement period. Read whether the warranty is free replacement or prorated, because a prorated warranty pays progressively less the longer you have owned it and is worth far less than it sounds.

Check the date code before you leave the store

Batteries lose capacity sitting on a shelf. Every battery carries a date code, usually a sticker or a stamp with a letter for the month and a digit for the year. Anything older than about six months has already lost some of its service life, and you are entitled to ask for a fresher one. This single check is worth more than most of the price differences between retailers.

Match the group size and the cold cranking amps to what the car calls for. Fitting a battery with fewer cold cranking amps than specified will start the car fine in summer and leave you stranded on the first cold morning.

One last thing: if the old battery failed early, replacing it may not be the whole fix. A parasitic drain or a failing alternator will kill the new one just as quickly, and many modern cars also need the new battery registered to the charging system. A full system scan will show charging faults and handle that registration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the cheapest place to buy a car battery?

In our checks, Walmart’s EverStart batteries were usually the cheapest. Auto parts stores cost more but often test your old battery and install the new one for free.

How do I know which battery fits my car?

Match the group size, terminal layout and cold cranking amps listed in your owner’s manual or on the old battery.

Do I get money back for my old battery?

Most stores charge a core fee that is refunded when you return the old battery.

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