How To Find Your Car Battery Age
Like many car parts, batteries wear over time. All of our batteries at National are covered by a 4 or 5 year guarantee, depending on which battery you buy. But how can you tell how old your battery is, and should you get it replaced? In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about the age of your car battery.
How to determine the age of your car battery?
If your car is brand new, then the battery will be the same age as the car. However, if you’re not sure if your car battery was replaced before you bought it, here’s how you can easily find out the age of your car's battery.
The easiest way to find out the age of your battery is to locate the battery under the bonnet. Many batteries have a date on top of them which shows when they were manufactured. This date will help you figure out how old your car battery is.
However, if the battery is undated, you can find a code on the battery or battery cover. The first two characters on this code will tell you when the battery was manufactured. The first character is a number, ranging from 0 to 9. This tells the last digit for the year of manufacture, for example, 9 would be 2019. The second character will tell you the month of manufacture, from A-L (January to December). For example, K would be November, so 9K or K9 would be November 2019. The first two characters are interchangeable depending on who makes the battery.
How long do car batteries last?
Battery life can depend on a wide range of variables, so there’s no specific number for how many years a battery will last. Typically, batteries last anywhere between 3 and 5 years. Batteries degrade over time, so eventually, they won’t provide enough power to start the engine of your vehicle.
If a car isn’t used for a long period of time, the battery can go flat. This doesn’t necessarily mean it needs replacing though, as it could just need recharging or jump-starting. Short journeys may also decrease your battery's lifespan, as it may not have enough running time to recharge.
How to tell if your battery needs replacing?
There are multiple ways to tell if your car battery needs replacing. The main one to look out for is the battery warning light or engine warning light. If either of these are illuminated, you should have your car checked as soon as possible to avoid any breakdowns. We offer a FREE battery health check at National, which you can book using the link below.
Free Battery Check
Another way to tell if your battery needs replacing is if you have difficulty starting your car. If the car struggles to turn over, this may be down to your battery not providing enough power to start the engine. Over time, a battery will be able to provide less power, and therefore you may need a new one if you’re struggling to start your car. To purchase a car battery, click the link below.
Order Now
You can also have your car battery fitted at a location of your choice with mobile battery fitting! We'll come to a location that suits you, whether that be at home or at work. To find out more and book a mobile battery fitting, click the button below.
Mobile Battery Fitting
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