A battery that dies overnight, a slow crank on a cold morning, or a dash full of warnings on start-up usually means the battery, though we test the alternator in the conversation first. The right battery is the one with the group size the tray and cables were built for, at least the factory cold-cranking amps, and the AGM chemistry if the vehicle has start-stop or a lot of electronics.
Group size and cold-cranking amps
The group size sets the case dimensions and the terminal position; the wrong group will not sit in the tray or the cables will not reach. Common sizes are 24F on Toyota, Lexus and Honda, 35 on Nissan and Subaru, 65 on Ford trucks, 48 and 94R on GM and European cars, and 49 on many Mercedes and BMW models. Cold-cranking amps should meet or exceed the factory rating, especially in cold climates and on diesels.
AGM or flooded
Vehicles with auto start-stop, and most vehicles built after about 2015 with heavy electronics, need an absorbed glass mat battery. An AGM battery handles the deep, frequent discharge those systems cause; a flooded battery in that vehicle fails within a year or two. Some vehicles also register the new battery with the body module so the charging system knows it is new.
Battery or alternator
A battery that charges fine but is dead the next morning is the battery or a parasitic drain. Dimming headlights with the engine running, a charging warning, or a new battery that keeps dying is the alternator. Most parts stores test both for free, and we walk you through the difference on the phone before you buy either.
Car Batteries by make
- Ford — F-150, F-250 and Expedition Group 65 batteries; AGM on 2015+ trucks with start-stop.
- Chevrolet — Silverado and Tahoe Group 48 and 94R; AGM on 2019+ trucks.
- Toyota — Camry, Corolla, Tacoma and Tundra Group 24F and 35.
- Honda — Accord, Pilot and Odyssey Group 24F, with a Group 51R on older Civics.
- Mercedes-Benz — Group 49 AGM main battery plus the auxiliary battery on many models.
- Buick — LaCrosse and Enclave Group 48 and 94R; eAssist models have a separate lithium pack.
Read before you buy
Car Batteries FAQ
Yes, by ground carrier as hazardous material, which adds a day or two. For most customers a local pickup is faster, and we will say so; where a specific AGM or European battery is hard to find locally, shipping makes sense.
On many BMW, Mercedes, Audi and some GM and Ford vehicles from about 2010 on, yes. A shop with a scan tool does it in minutes. Skipping it shortens the battery's life.
Three to five years in most of the country; two to three in the hottest states, where heat kills batteries faster than cold does.