The Best Place to Buy a Car Battery

Finding yourself in need of a new car battery can be frustrating. So knowing where to shop for the best price can be a big help.

In this article, I’ll take a close look at a few of the best places to buy a car battery. You’ll find prices and information for Advance Auto Parts, Costco and NAPA among others. I visited each of the stores’ websites to see current prices on car batteries, the length of warranties and whether installation is included in the purchase price.

Where to Buy a Car Battery

When it comes to deciding where you should buy a car battery, there are a few factors to keep in mind: Make sure that you’re shopping for the right size, be sure to price compare, familiarize yourself with the warranty and see if the installation is included. You should also take the time to check the ratings and reliability of a certain brand or battery before buying.

Taking these factors into account, you’ll likely find the best deals on car batteries at a store near you instead of at online retailers. On top of great prices, you’ll also typically see lengthy warranties (compared to online stores) and free installation.

I’ve found that Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club and Advance Auto Parts are great places to buy a car battery. AutoZone and NAPA are also worth checking out!

Below, you’ll find more detailed information on these retailers including where to find the best price.

The Top 6 Places to Buy a Car Battery

To see where I could get the best overall deal, I compared the prices, warranties and installation fees for similar lead-acid 24/24F car batteries. This size battery fits several Acura, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Nissan and Toyota models including the car I drive.

Here’s what I found at the time of writing:

As you can see, you’ll have access to low prices, reliable warranties and free installation at stores you can visit in-person.

Overall, I found the lowest price at Costco. Costco doesn’t offer installation, which means I’d either have to install it myself or pay to have it installed somewhere else. But Walmart will install a car battery, no matter where you buy it, for only $10.

Walmart also offered the second-lowest price with free installation and a great warranty. Plus, you can use your Walmart rewards card to get 5% cash back by ordering the car battery online. Owned by the same company and offering the same benefits as Walmart, Sam’s Club offered the next-best deal.

While Advance Auto Parts has a higher initial price than AutoZone and NAPA, all three of the batteries from these stores come out to the same total of $139.99 after the respective refundable deposits (hang onto your paperwork!). You can also save 20% on your first purchase from Advance Auto Parts by subscribing to the company’s email list online. In addition to a 2-year warranty and free installation, that means Advance Auto Parts is another great place to purchase a car battery.

Lastly, you can find a wide variety of car batteries at Amazon for reasonable prices, but you won’t get the best deal. The warranties vary by battery, and in many cases, they aren’t valid because you’re buying through Amazon instead of a dealer certified by the manufacturer. And of course, installation is not included.

For the best overall deal, be sure to check out these top six places to buy a car battery:

1. Costco

Price Range: $90-$175
Available Brands: Interstate

If you’re a Costco member, you won’t be surprised to hear that this is where you’ll find some of the lowest prices on quality car batteries. Costco carries only Interstate Batteries, which are highly rated in several sizes and models by Consumer Reports.

While you can’t order a car battery online from Costco, you can use the store’s online battery finder to see which batteries will fit your car and how much they cost. From there, you can visit your nearest Costco in-person to make your purchase. 

Costco offers a 36-month limited warranty, but unfortunately, you won’t be able to get your battery installed here. Again, keep in mind that Walmart offers installation for batteries bought elsewhere for only $10. That still means you’ll most likely be saving big with this purchase compared to the prices at stores with free installation.

2. Walmart

Price Range: $55-$225
Available Brands: EverStart and Optima

Based on my research, Walmart offered some of the lowest prices in addition to great warranties and free installation if you buy your battery from the same location. Be sure to make your purchase online and use your Walmart rewards card for an additional 5% cash back. 

You’ll mostly see EverStart car batteries at Walmart, and that brand has several models that get high ratings from Consumer Reports. EverStart Value automotive batteries are available from $55 and up.

To get started, visit the website and enter your car make, model and year to filter your results by batteries that will fit. From there, you can browse the selection and order the battery online to be picked up in-store nearby.

3. Sam’s Club

Price Range: $85-$200
Available Brands: Duracell

If you’re a Sam’s Club member, this is a great place to check the prices of car batteries. The warehouse carries Duracell brand batteries, which are labeled “Best Buy” options by Consumer Reports. 

Sam’s Club locations with Tire & Battery centers offer free car battery installation. Batteries are also covered by a free replacement warranty for three years from the date that you buy them.

While the car batteries are available only in-store, you can browse the available selection online to price compare, read reviews, and check availability near you.

4. Advance Auto Parts

Price Range: $100-$365
Available Brands: DieHard, Optima, AutoCraft and more

While it may not seem like it at first glance, you can get some of the lowest prices available on car batteries from Advance Auto Parts.

When you visit the website, you can enter your email address to get a 20% discount on your first purchase. Even if you’re not a first-time Advance Auto Parts shopper, you can usually find an active promo code on the website. Finally, be sure to return the battery later to collect your $22 refundable core charge (again, save that paperwork!).

You’ll find DieHard, Optima and AutoCraft batteries among the brands at Advance Auto Parts. Warranties vary by product, but in general, expect to see a 2-3 year free replacement guarantee for most batteries Advance sells. Installation and testing are included at no additional charge.

5. AutoZone

Price Range: $97-$360
Available Brands: Duralast, ACDelco, Optima and more 

While AutoZone offers average prices for highly-ranked battery brands like Duralast, ACDelco and Optima, you can find great prices on value batteries such as Econocraft and Valucraft. 

Generally, AutoZone’s car battery warranties range from one-and-a-half to three years, but for the value brand batteries, expect to see warranties as short as three months.

If you purchase your car battery from AutoZone, installation is free. You can order a battery online to pick up nearby or shop for a battery in-store. You can also have the battery shipped to you if you’d prefer to install it yourself. 

6. NAPA

Price Range: $110-$335
Available Brands: NAPA

NAPA offers car batteries for every budget. When you visit the website, you’ll find four different categories including Power, The Legend, The Legend Premium and The Legend Premium AGM. These categories range from the most budget-friendly to the highest performance, respectively. 

NAPA batteries are highly rated by Consumer Reports. In fact, the NAPA Legend Premium 8424F is the highest-rated car battery in the group 24 & 24F category.

According to NAPA’s limited warranty policy, you can expect to see a warranty ranging from 18 to 36 months on automotive batteries. Installation is free when you buy the car battery from NAPA.

Final Thoughts

Overall, if you’re a Costco member or Sam’s Club member, you’ll likely find the best deals on car batteries at your favorite warehouse store. If not, Walmart is a great place to shop for car batteries. All three retailers offer 3-year warranties, and the latter two offer free installation.

Additionally, you can find some of the lowest total prices on car batteries at Advance Auto Parts if you use promo codes. Also, remember to collect your $22 refundable core charge.

Finally, be sure to check AutoZone, NAPA for other competitive prices and free installation. If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for, feel free to check out the wide variety available on Amazon. Just be mindful of warranty information and have a plan for installation. 

No matter where you decide to make your final purchase, be sure to comparison shop so that you know you’re getting the best, most current deal. If you aren’t sure how to begin shopping for the right car battery, check out Consumer Reports’ Car Battery Buying Guide. 

Where have you seen the best deals on car batteries? Let us know in the comments below!

Additional Clark.com Content to Help You Save on Your Car: