If jumper cables have become your best friend, chances are it's time to replace your battery. Luckily, battery replacement is usually a pretty quick repair and batteries are easy to find. Here are some ideas if you are wondering where to go for a new battery.
Auto Parts Stores
There are many different automotive supply companies around the country. Stores like Carquest, AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts and Pep Boys all carry a wide range of batteries. Almost any town has at least one, and larger towns will often have two or three. The prices can vary a lot for the exact same part. Price checking can be to your benefit.
The advantage to purchasing from an auto parts supplier is they can test your old battery for you. This will help you to be certain the problem with your car is really the battery. Some stores will even replace the battery for you free of charge. You can also leave your old battery with them so you won't have to worry about disposal.
Department Stores
Many larger department stores including Kmart and Walmart have automotive departments. Walmart's Tire & Express Lube Centers can test your old battery, replace it with your new one, and recycle the old one. If you purchase a battery from a basic Walmart store those options are not available.
Garages and Repair Centers
Your local service station is more than capable of replacing a battery. This is the way to do it if you prefer sitting in a waiting room instead of sticking your head under the hood of a car. The benefit of this method, besides not having to touch anything, is that they will also look over your vehicle for you while it's there. This is a good way to find out if anything else on your vehicle needs work before you end up finding out for yourself on the side of the road.
Garages, and how honest their mechanics are, can be a concern for some people. If you don't have a mechanic you work with regularly, ask around. Or you can call the American Automobile Association (AAA). They keep lists of AAA-rated garages. The ratings are based on AAA's own inspections of the garages and from customer opinions they receive. They can tell you the closest one in your area and what services they provide.
Junk Yards
Junk yards will often remove parts from scrapped cars which are still functional and resell them. The concern with any used part are their very limited warranties. They are rarely warrantied for more than 30 days. Plus, with used parts only the part itself is covered under the warranty. If you pay someone to install it, their labor is not covered.
Lack of inventory can also be limiting. They often have only the parts from the vehicles they have scrapped out. The larger yards do often have many parts in stock and they also have networks enabling them to check with other used parts sellers to see if anyone else has your specific item.
There are many different automotive supply companies around the country. Stores like Carquest, AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts and Pep Boys all carry a wide range of batteries. Almost any town has at least one, and larger towns will often have two or three. The prices can vary a lot for the exact same part. Price checking can be to your benefit.
The advantage to purchasing from an auto parts supplier is they can test your old battery for you. This will help you to be certain the problem with your car is really the battery. Some stores will even replace the battery for you free of charge. You can also leave your old battery with them so you won't have to worry about disposal.
Department Stores
Many larger department stores including Kmart and Walmart have automotive departments. Walmart's Tire & Express Lube Centers can test your old battery, replace it with your new one, and recycle the old one. If you purchase a battery from a basic Walmart store those options are not available.
Garages and Repair Centers
Your local service station is more than capable of replacing a battery. This is the way to do it if you prefer sitting in a waiting room instead of sticking your head under the hood of a car. The benefit of this method, besides not having to touch anything, is that they will also look over your vehicle for you while it's there. This is a good way to find out if anything else on your vehicle needs work before you end up finding out for yourself on the side of the road.
Garages, and how honest their mechanics are, can be a concern for some people. If you don't have a mechanic you work with regularly, ask around. Or you can call the American Automobile Association (AAA). They keep lists of AAA-rated garages. The ratings are based on AAA's own inspections of the garages and from customer opinions they receive. They can tell you the closest one in your area and what services they provide.
Junk Yards
Junk yards will often remove parts from scrapped cars which are still functional and resell them. The concern with any used part are their very limited warranties. They are rarely warrantied for more than 30 days. Plus, with used parts only the part itself is covered under the warranty. If you pay someone to install it, their labor is not covered.
Lack of inventory can also be limiting. They often have only the parts from the vehicles they have scrapped out. The larger yards do often have many parts in stock and they also have networks enabling them to check with other used parts sellers to see if anyone else has your specific item.
Online
There are many online sellers of automotive parts. You can purchase from companies which sell only online, or from the websites of department stores and auto parts retailers. The benefit is the ability to comparison shop from the comfort of your own sofa. The downside is that there are sometimes shipping charges and you have to wait several days for a part you need. Also, once the part is received, it has to be installed and the old battery has to be disposed of.
If you shop online from an aftermarket retailer such as Carquest, you can often have the part shipped to the store closest to you and pick it up from them. Usually this is done with no shipping charges. The benefit is being certain the correct part will be there for you.
Auto Dealerships
Most dealerships, even the smaller ones, have service centers on site. They can replace the battery for you or you can purchase it from them and install it yourself. This is the best way to do it if you want to keep dedicated brand parts in your vehicle. However, their hourly rates and parts prices are generally much higher than anyone else.
Locating a battery is usually pretty easy. There are the odd occasions when a vehicle takes a hard-to-find battery which has to be special ordered. But more often the item will be right on the shelf. You only need to decide where you want to go and how "hands-on" with the project you wish to be.
There are many online sellers of automotive parts. You can purchase from companies which sell only online, or from the websites of department stores and auto parts retailers. The benefit is the ability to comparison shop from the comfort of your own sofa. The downside is that there are sometimes shipping charges and you have to wait several days for a part you need. Also, once the part is received, it has to be installed and the old battery has to be disposed of.
If you shop online from an aftermarket retailer such as Carquest, you can often have the part shipped to the store closest to you and pick it up from them. Usually this is done with no shipping charges. The benefit is being certain the correct part will be there for you.
Auto Dealerships
Most dealerships, even the smaller ones, have service centers on site. They can replace the battery for you or you can purchase it from them and install it yourself. This is the best way to do it if you want to keep dedicated brand parts in your vehicle. However, their hourly rates and parts prices are generally much higher than anyone else.
Locating a battery is usually pretty easy. There are the odd occasions when a vehicle takes a hard-to-find battery which has to be special ordered. But more often the item will be right on the shelf. You only need to decide where you want to go and how "hands-on" with the project you wish to be.
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