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How do you tell when your car needs a new battery?

My car has been having issues starting. How do you tell when its time to get a new battery for your car?

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Matthew Macgugan · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
A slow start could be a sign that you need a new battery! As it ages, the components in your battery will become less effective at creating the charge necessary to start your vehicle. There are a few other indicators that your battery needs replacing as well.
One common sign is persistent electrical issues. Your battery provides power to most of the electronics in your car. It will have a hard time running all of these components if it’s on its way out the door.
A bad smell and corroded connectors can also indicate it’s time to replace your battery. The battery may be leaking gas that smells like rotten eggs and has white powder around the terminals.
These can both lead to the power issues that are making your car start slow. Most car batteries need to be replaced every 4 to 6 years. If it’s been about that long since you’ve last changed the battery, it’s probably time for a new one. Lucky for you, new batteries only run about $50 to $100 for most vehicles.
Since your car is having issues starting, consider adding a roadside assistance membership with
Jerry
. Jerry’s roadside assistance membership protects you with their nationwide network of 55,000+ service providers and includes jump starts, lockout service, key replacement, and towing.
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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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