How Long Should a Car Battery Last?

How long should a car battery last? What is the average life of a car battery? And when should car battery replacement be done? These are great questions to ask – and you’re not alone in asking them.

There are over 20 million registered cars in the Aussie fleet. If you think about it, that’s a lot of car batteries and a lot of drivers wondering about their longevity…

In this article, PD answers this interesting question and more.

How do I know if my car battery is dying?

A dying car battery will often give you warning signs.

These could include flickering dashboard symbols or other lights that all run off your battery. Likewise if you leave your lights on for an extended time this drains the battery and you’ll need to charge it before it goes again.

Another big warning is your car not starting. If you’re able to recharge your dead battery or jump start a car battery and it gets going fine, it might just have been low on juice. However if this happens more than once, your battery could be on its way out and needing to be replaced.

Any other vehicle malfunctions, like a bad alternator can also shorten your battery’s lifespan. Also keep a lookout for a lichen-looking substance on the battery terminals. These buildups are battery acid and they prevent the alternator from properly charging the battery. They also corrode the battery shortening its longevity.

If you smell a sulfurous smell when your car is on this is probably the battery giving up the goose. Take it in and have your mechanic check it out. Car battery replacement is better done before it’s actually 100% dead than after. For your car and your peace of mind.

Even if you don’t see any warning signs that would tell you it’s time for a car battery replacement, knowing how long a car battery should last is a top indicator.

How long should a car battery last in Australia?

How long should a car battery last? On average, it needs to be replaced on a three year cycle. But depending on environmental factors and your driving habits, it can also be anywhere between one and five years.

A battery check is on your car servicing checklist. Find out about choosing a mechanic and be sure to ask them about the state your battery is in. Keep your eye on factors that affect average lifespan and signs of failure.

More on this next.

What affects the average life of a battery?

What affects the average life of a car battery? Why in some cars will a battery last one year and in others as many as five?

Like anything else in life, a battery grows older over time. Seasonal changes help speed up this process too. For example, sweltering Aussie summers causes the batteries fluids to slowly evaporate.

Unfortunately, just like the sea air causes corrosion to the vehicle’s surfaces this dehydration can have a similar effect on your battery.

lower winter temperatures burn more of your battery’s energy on start up. The engine oil doesn’t move as quickly and your battery’s chemical reaction is also more sluggish.

As batteries age, the extreme Aussie weather changes can start to take a bit more of a toll. On the other hand when batteries are fresh out of the box (so to speak) you’re likely to barely notice these effects.

Besides weather, using your car naturally means that over time the battery will eventually fulfil its purpose and need to be replaced. However, the clincher is that not using your car is much worse for your car.

A battery in car that sits for an extended period will be more likely to fail and over time need to be replaced more quickly.

That’s because driving your car helps charge the battery, so a sitting car (and car battery) are essentially sitting ducks.

How long should an electric car battery last?

By contrast to a fuel run car, an electric car (EV) is more expensive. This has some perks such as a longer battery life (and of course, it’s also cheaper to run). An electric battery can last for up to eight years.

Read our top tips for buying an electric car. But be aware that the zero emission vehicle label can be misleading. While it’s true that EVs produce fewer emissions from the car itself, they still use electricity which is likely being produced from coal. Coal is a non-renewable form of fossil fuel.

The coal we burn to produce much of Australia’s power still causes pollution. It’s just not coming out of your car’s exhaust pip but earlier in the chain of events.

Car battery replacement tips

When it’s time to replace your ageing battery you want a new one that’s worth every dollar. New batteries that wait too long for an owner and sit on a shelf will actually be losing their charge. This also means a change, however slight, to their overall lifespan.

For this reason, don’t just ask how long should a battery last, also ask yourself the best way to go about car battery replacement. While we’ve already answered the former, for the latter, we recommend buying your new battery from a battery specialist that has a fast turnover.

A battery specialist that sells and places high volumes of their wares will also essentially be selling the “freshest ” batteries on the market. Easy as pie.

Protecting your car now and into the future

Since we’re talking battery health, what about your car’s overall well-being? Understanding how car insurance protects your pocket and your car is just as valuable as knowing how long a battery should last.

When you have a comprehensive car insurance plan, you’re financially protected in times of accidents, and damage to your car for a range of other reasons. This extends to third party liability and can include roadside assistance as an optional add-on.

Get your quote from PD for hassle-free car insurance today. Simply click below.