Services
Insurance
Loans
Repairs
Advice
About

Can a car jump-start a truck?

My friend just called me saying his truck’s battery was dead and wanted to know if I could drive over and help jump-start it—the only thing is, I just have a regular car and I don’t know if that’ll work. Can a car jump-start a truck?

avatar
Andrew Biro · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Great question! A car can jump-start a truck without issue if the jumper cables are connected properly.
To jump-start your friend’s truck—or really any vehicle, even a semi-truck—with your car, follow these instructions:
  • Position your car so the hood is in front of the other vehicle’s hood
  • Connect one end of the positive jumper cable to the positive terminal on the dead battery and the other end to the positive terminal on your car’s battery
  • Connect one end of the negative jumper cable to the battery post on your car and the other end to some bit of exposed metal on the vehicle you’re jump-starting (never connect to the dead battery’s negative terminal—there could be unseen battery leakage that could damage both vehicles)
  • Once the cables are connected, rev your engine for a minute or two to charge up the dead battery
  • After a couple of minutes of revving, the truck or vehicle with a dead battery should be able to start without difficulty
Now you know how to successfully—and safely—jump-start a truck with your car!
Make sure you aren’t overpaying for your car insurance with licensed
car insurance
super app
Jerry
. All you have to do is sign up, answer a short questionnaire, and Jerry will start comparing dozens of affordable quotes from the nation’s top insurers, finding you the best deals possible.
View full answer 
WHY YOU CAN TRUST JERRY
Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.

Join 4M+ members in lowering their car insurance

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings