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How long can a car continue to run on a battery alone?

My alternator is completely dead; it stopped working in the middle of my road trip. Ideally, I’d like to make it home before having the repair done. How long can my car continue to run on just the battery?

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Annette Maxon · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
I’m sorry to hear that!
Generally, 200 miles or less is how long a car can run on battery alone. However, this is only on a battery that is fully charged and in good condition. The less charge your battery has, the shorter the distance you’ll be able to drive.
Depending on how far you are from home, you may want to have the repair done sooner than later to avoid any more costly repairs that come with a more serious breakdown, like a tow truck.
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