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The Best Car Battery

Last updated on July 27, 2023

We looked at the top 11 Car Batteries and dug through the reviews from 107 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Car Batteries.

 

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Best Car Battery

Our Review Process

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If you are religious about your car maintenance, make sure to always ask your technician to check the life of your battery when you bring it in for routine maintenance. No one wants to be stuck because of a dead car battery. You’ll need a tow, a friend nearby to get you and some extra cash for a new battery when that happens. There is nothing good to say about that experience.

But you don’t have to experience this and can prevent it by taking several, easy precautions. In addition, when you take the precautions, you can shop for the battery you want without being in a rush. This will save you time and lots of money.

Your first step to preventing that dead car battery situation is to watch your time. There is no definite amount of time that batteries last, but an average of three to five years is what technicians estimate. There are quite a few factors that contribute to battery life: weather, maintenance of the vehicle and frequency of use. It is extremely important to test your battery every year and before you head out on a road trip.  If you buy your car used, make sure the battery that is in it is the appropriate size for the vehicle.

There are also certain things you can look for that indicate neglect. Heavy-duty use can really wear on a battery that is not suited for the technological equipment in the vehicle. Low water levels can damage your battery, as well as intricate mechanical audio or video enhancements in the car. These are all ways to prevent that dead car situation that kills your finances and really isn’t good for your vehicle.

Once you have realized that you are going to need to replace your car battery, you’ll want to know how they work so you can buy the perfect one for you. As most batteries do, a car battery stores energy for your car. Inside the battery is acid that produces electricity when reacting with the lead plates. The bigger the engine, the more powerful battery you’ll need.

Modern cars demand much more out of their batteries because of all the upgraded technology within them, so sometimes even a small vehicle will require a powerful battery if it has lots of electronic features. The Optima RedTop Starting Car Battery is great for a vehicle with high-end audio systems with a 12-volt power cell.

Your auto manual should assist in figuring out the battery your car needs. There are a few things to look for when buying the best car battery: Automotive battery electrolyte is a term that you should understand. The negative and positive lead plates turn into lead sulfate when the battery discharges. At that point, the electrolyte is depleted in sulfuric acid and becomes almost entirely water. During the charging process, the positive plate of lead dioxide and the negative plate of lead interact to give the electrolyte back its acidity. This acid is very dangerous so always be sure to wear protective gear when dealing with batteries.

Cranking amps tells the consumer how much the battery’s starting power is. You will need to look in your auto manual to find the CA number for your car battery. The cold-cranking amps is especially important to those operating a vehicle in frigid temperatures. It is the measure of amps deliverable in temperatures below freezing. A battery’s chemical process is significantly slowed down in temperatures below freezing to nearly half of what they are when the temps are warmer.

Maintenance-free is important and also pretty standard with today’s best car batteries. In the past, vehicle owners would have to add distilled water if the electrolyte levels were off. Automotive battery terminals or posts are supposed to be kept clean for optimum performance. When you get your car maintenance, ask the mechanic to clean those for you. There is a cleaning kit you can buy for those as well, so you can clean it on your own. Keeping these things in mind when you buy your next battery is what will save you time and money by extending the life of your battery.

For racing cars, you’ll want a high-output battery with an M6 Terminal Bolt. This type of battery is spill-proof and resistant to vibration. Some models have an absorbed glass mat, which is an extremely great feature since it suspends the electrolyte in fiberglass, keeping it safer from the elements. If you are looking for a replacement battery, the ACDelco Advantage AGM Automotive Car Battery is your best option. This replacement battery has very specific dimensions, so you must make sure the specs match up to your vehicle.

For an extended life battery, take a look at the Odyssey Automotive & LTV Car Battery. This battery has a 70% longer life in comparison to deep cycle batteries. The faster recharge of a full charge in 4-6 hours is an incredible feature as well. This is good for race cars as well, but always be sure to check your vehicle’s specifications in the manual to ensure a good match.

Our Picks For The Top Car Batteries

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Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Best Overall
10.1

Odyssey 65-PC1750T Automotive & LTV Car Battery

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Odyssey

Automotive & LTV Car Battery

This car battery has a 70% longer cycle life than typical car batteries. You can expect it to last between 3 and 10 years. It's also got one of the fastest recharge times. In just 4 to 6 hours, the battery will be 100% charged and ready to go.

Overall Take

Longer Service LifeIf you're looking for a car battery with a longer service life, this model is your best bet.

Pros
" Works even in the most freezing of winters or in the hottest of summers."
Cons
"The lifting handle is a bit flimsy."
 We Also Like
10.0

ACDelco 48AGM Professional AGM BCI Group Car Battery

ACDelco

Professional AGM BCI Group Car Battery

If you're looking for a high-quality car battery with all the bells and whistles, this model is your best bet. It features a calcium lead positive grid for better conductivity, as well as a high-density negative paste for improved performance.

Overall Take

Improves PerformanceThis car battery is designed with improved acid circulation, which helps keep the battery nice and cool, while also extending its life.

Pros
" Lasts significantly longer than traditional batteries."
Cons
"It is more expensive than traditional batteries"
 Low-Maintenance

Optima 8025-160 25 RedTop Starting Car Battery

Optima

RedTop Starting Car Battery

This car battery is virtually maintenance-free, which makes it an ideal choice. It starts quickly and efficiently, even when the temperatures outdoors are not ideal. The battery is also extremely durable and 15 times more resistant to vibration.

Overall Take

Optimal Starting PowerBad weather is no problem for this car battery, which has excellent starting power no matter what the outside temperatures are.

Pros
" Great resistance to extreme climates"
Cons
"Some users have struggled to get the battery to fit snugly in their car’s battery box."

Delphi BU9094R MaxStart AGM Premium Reverse Terminal Car Battery

Delphi

MaxStart AGM Premium Reverse Terminal Car Battery

Overall Take

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
18

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the car batteries available to purchase.
11

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

107

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Battery Focus, Jump Starter Reviews, Only Portable, Best Brand Reviews, Battery Savvy.

5,000

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 11 Car Batteries and also dug through the reviews from 107 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Car Batteries.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

What to Look For

  • Short trips around town will really tax your car battery because they don’t give it a long time to charge.
  • Keep your battery secure under the hood so it doesn’t vibrate and move with bumps and bends. If it is moving around, the circuits can short.
  • Cleaning the terminals will also give your battery a longer life. The terminals are easy to clean and it will extend the life of your battery.
  • The general maintenance of your vehicle is also important to your battery life. If one moving part is out of commission, it can seriously tax your battery and shorten its lifetime.
  • Idling is not good for your battery, especially if you have lots of electronics on.
  • Test your battery frequently, so you know if it needs replacing or to detect another serious issue within your vehicle.

Car Battery Rankings

1. Odyssey 65-PC1750T Automotive & LTV Car Battery

Overall Score: 10.1
Reviews Included: 12

2. ACDelco 48AGM Professional AGM BCI Group Car Battery

Overall Score: 10.0
Reviews Included: 10

3. Optima 8025-160 25 RedTop Starting Car Battery

Overall Score: 9.9
Reviews Included: 6

5. Odyssey PC680 Car Battery

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 12

8. Mighty Max ML35-12 Deep Cycle AGM Solar Car Battery

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 19

More to Explore

Car batteries are the most recycled product in the world. This is because roughly 99% of the battery and its parts can be re-purposed. Buying a recycled battery also saves a significant amount of money in comparison to buying a brand-new one.

Car batteries weren’t used until the 1920s. Before the 1920s, cars didn’t use batteries because their electrical components were very limited and didn’t require batteries. The first company to put batteries in vehicles was the Hudson Motor Car Company in 1918.

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