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How long does a car battery take to recharge while you are driving?

I know that once you start driving your car it begins to recharge your battery, but I was wondering how long it takes for it to be fully charged again. Will I have to drive far to get it back up to a full charge?

avatar
Sean Boehme · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That’s a great question! Lots of people know how to jump-start a car, but not many know how long it actually takes for their battery to recharge. Generally, it will take about 30 minutes to reach a full charge, but there are several factors that will determine exactly how long it takes for your battery to charge back up to full capacity.
Some of the key factors include:
  • The size of the battery
  • The health of the battery
  • The speed
    at which you drive
  • Your battery’s charger
Although your car battery will charge while idle, it will charge much faster if you drive. Driving higher speeds will make it go even faster, especially if you don’t have to slow down or stop much.
If your car battery charger only charges at a speed of two or four amps, it will take a lot longer for your battery to fully recharge. A 10 amp battery charger will go much faster than that, and a 40 amp charger should have the job done in minutes.
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