How long does a car battery last?
A car battery typically lasts three to five years in London use, and short trips, cars left parked for weeks, extra drain from dashcams and summer heat all push it towards the lower end.
A car battery typically lasts three to five years in London use, and short trips, cars left parked for weeks, extra drain from dashcams and summer heat all push it towards the lower end.
What shortens a battery's life in London
- Short trips. Starting the engine takes a lot of charge, and a ten-minute run across town is rarely long enough for the alternator to put it all back. Repeated day after day, the battery slowly runs down and wears faster.
- Cars that sit for weeks. A parked car still draws a small current for its alarm, clock and modules. Leave it long enough and the battery goes flat, and every deep discharge takes some life out of it.
- Extra drain. Dashcams with parking mode, trackers and other accessories wired to stay on add to that background draw.
- Heat. Summer heat speeds up wear inside the battery. Winter is usually when you find out, because a cold engine needs more power to crank.
- Stop-start systems. Cars with stop-start use AGM or EFB batteries built for frequent restarts. A replacement has to be the correct type, or it will wear out early.
How to tell how much life is left
Age on its own does not tell you much. A four-year-old battery can be healthy, and a two-year-old one can be failing after a few deep discharges. A battery test measures state of charge and cold cranking amps and checks the alternator, which shows whether the battery is still sound. For the warning signs to look out for, see signs your car battery is dying.
Getting the most from a battery
Give the car a longer drive every week or so rather than only short hops. If it is going to sit for weeks, use a battery maintainer or smart charger. Switch off accessories you do not need when the engine is off, and get the battery tested before winter once it is a few years old.
Test or replace it where the car is
Jump Start London tests batteries at your location from £25, anywhere in London, 24/7. If the battery has reached the end of its life, we fit the correct replacement from £95 in the same visit, and if it has already left you stranded, we jump start from £49 with the test included.
More: battery health test, mobile battery replacement.
Common questions
Should I replace a car battery after five years?
Not automatically. Five years is a typical upper figure, not a deadline. Get it tested: if it still holds charge and cranks well, it can carry on, and if the test shows it is failing, replace it before winter.
Why did my new battery go flat so quickly?
Usually short trips, a car left parked for weeks, or a drain from an accessory. If it keeps happening, the charging system may be at fault, which a battery and alternator test will show.
Battery getting old?
Call for a test, a price and a real arrival time.