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Can I use a Prius to jump start another car?

I’ve always wondered if I could use my electric car to jump someone else’s vehicle. Can I use a Prius to jump start another car?

avatar
Bonnie Stinson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Theoretically, it’s possible to use a
Prius
to jump start another car. You’ll need to locate the battery and use jumper cables.
A Prius’s battery is not as strong as the batteries in standard gasoline vehicles. This means there is a real risk that you would drain your Prius battery by connecting it to another vehicle, rather than helping them jumpstart it.
The worst case scenario is that your electrical system is completely drained and you have to pay thousands of dollars to repair your Prius. The owner’s manual explicitly states not to jumpstart vehicles with your Prius.
If you need to jump a car using your Prius as the donor vehicle, here’s what you need to know:
  • Open the trunk/hatch area to expose the battery
  • Put the Prius in Power-On mode so it will draw from the high-voltage system
  • Connect the cables from the Prius to the dead battery in the other vehicle (red to dead, red to donor, black to dead, black to metal)
  • Wait a few minutes to allow the dead battery to charge
  • Disconnect your Prius and then allow the other vehicle to start its engine
It sounds like now might be a good time to make sure you’re happy with your
car insurance
situation. You could always add
towing & labor
coverage so you don’t have to worry about roadside assistance in the future. You can use the
Jerry
app to check your coverage and look for cheap rates.
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