Question: I just bought a car and while it starts fine, the battery looks a bit old. I don’t want to get stranded somewhere, so how do I check the date on a car battery?
Answer: You can figure out the age of a car battery by checking the manufacture date code. Battery manufacturers have varying ways that they display the date their products are made, so a good rule of thumb is to look up the date code specifics for the manufacturer of your battery.
First, you’ll need to inspect your car battery. Its location depends on the make and model of your vehicle. The battery will generally be visible as soon as you open up the hood, but it can also be located in the trunk, under the back seat, or in other places depending on your car. Check your owner’s manual to be sure of the battery’s location.
Once you determine where your battery is, you’ll need to inspect it to find the date code. The way the date code is displayed varies from battery manufacturers—some put a sticker on the top or the side of the battery and then state its age in numeric form. For example, 4/23 would mean that the battery was manufactured in April 2023.
However, some battery manufacturers use an alphanumeric code in the form of a heat stamp or engraving onto the battery case. This looks like an embossment into the plastic.
The code is made up of a system of corresponding numbers from zero to nine and letters from A to L. The number corresponds to the last digit of the year the battery was manufactured and the letter to the month of the year. A is for January, B is February, and so on. So if your battery was manufactured in February 2023, you’ll find a code that reads B3. The characters are often interchangeable, so 3B will mean the same thing.
Even if you’re not experiencing immediate issues, keeping track of your car battery age and condition is good practice so that you know when to replace it before a problem arises.
When should you change the battery?
Car batteries typically last three to five years. When your car is slow to start, that’s generally an indication that you need to check your battery and possibly change it. Some auto parts stores and car mechanics can test a battery to see if it is in good condition or not. If your battery is older than five years, it’s probably a good idea to have its condition checked by a professional.
If you buy a used car and can’t figure out the age of the battery, you may want to consider changing it for a new one—that way you know its exact age.
Eric Schad is an insurance writer with over a decade of experience writing in the insurance, music, and finance industries. Eric’s mission is to craft compelling writing that answers car owners’ most-often-asked questions in a straightforward, easy-to-understand way. Eric has written close to 8,000 short-form articles for Jerry. Prior to joining Jerry, Eric had years of experience in freelance copy and web content writing.
Andrea Richard is a writer and editor with nearly 15 years of experience crafting content for a variety of industries. In writing for Jerry, Andrea’s mission is to deliver relatable and informative content so readers can better understand the costs associated with car ownership and car leasing. A native Floridian and a road trip enthusiast, Andrea first learned to drive on a Honda Accord when CDs were still a thing. She has served on the Society of Professional Journalists Florida board of directors and volunteers as a judge for national journalism contests. Her work has earned several awards for feature writing, investigative reporting and branded content campaigns.
Everett Cook is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 10 years of experience across a variety of industries. In editing for Jerry, Everett’s mission is to help readers have a better understanding of the costs of owning or leasing a car and to better understand their vehicle in terms of insurance and repairs. Prior to joining Jerry, Everett was an editor for Axios. His previous work has been featured in The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Atlantic, Atlantic Re:think, The Boston Globe, USA Today, and others. He’s also been a freelance writer and editor with experience in SEO, audience building, and long-term content roadmaps. Everett is a proud graduate of the University of Michigan.
