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How can I tell how old a car battery is?
How do I determine how old my car battery is? I bought a second-hand vehicle and want to make sure I maintain it well. The previous owner didn’t mention how old the car battery was, so I’m wondering if I need to replace it.
Phoebe Mah · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
It’s good you’re looking at ways to maintain your new (to you) vehicle!
If the previous owner did not mention how old the battery is or the last time it was replaced, try these tips to help you determine how old the car battery is:
- Look for the sticker: Find the battery under the hood. Each battery has a sticker on it that indicates the manufactured date. On average, you should replace the battery after three years.
- Check if there is an alphanumeric code: If you don’t see a sticker, don’t worry; look for an engraving or stamp on the battery. This code typically contains many characters. But the information that highlights the manufactured date of the battery are the first two characters.
The first number ranges from zero to nine and indicates the last digit of the year the battery was manufactured. The second character is a letter between A and L. This describes the month of the year it was manufactured. These two characters are interchangeable. For example, if you see 6B or B6, this would mean the battery was built in February 2016.
Since you just bought a new (to you) vehicle, make sure you have an auto insurance policy to cover it. If you want cheap car insurance quotes fast, try using the number-one-rated car insurance app,
Jerry
. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, the Jerry app gathers affordable quotes, helps you switch plans, and will even cancel your old policy. The average Jerry driver saves $879 a year on car insurance!Hopefully, that helps!
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- Gregory R.
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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.
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