Not sure how to choose the right car battery or where to buy one locally? O’Reilly Auto Parts can help. This guide explains how to select the correct battery for your vehicle, understand battery types, compare ratings and specs, and safely charge or replace a car battery. Looking for more car-care guidance? Visit our How To Hub for additional step-by-step maintenance tips Whether you prefer shopping online or visiting a nearby store, O’Reilly Auto Parts makes it easy to find the best car battery and get trusted, expert support along the way.
Understanding Car Batteries
When To Replace Car Batteries
How To Choose a Car Battery
Battery Selection
Store Services
Car batteries store the power necessary to start your vehicle, and are recharged by the alternator while the engine runs to ensure they’re ready for the next start. Batteries use electrolyte material and internal plates to store power, and evaporation and corrosion can occur over time that prevents them from storing as much power as they should. Car batteries generally fall into three main types:
- Lead-acid (flooded): Cost-effective and reliable for everyday use.
- AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat): Spill-proof, ideal for vehicles with higher electrical demands and start-stop technology.
- Lithium-ion: Lightweight and high-performance for specialized applications
Always refer to your owners manual before installing a new battery to ensure it meets the power needs of your vehicle. Key car battery specifications to understand and consider include group size, Cold Cranking Amps (CCA), Reserve Capacity (RC), Amp-Hours (Ah), and warranty coverage.
Batteries can become weak or fail over time, especially in extreme weather. The heat of the summer can often damage an auto battery, but you may not notice that it’s weak until the cold of the winter sets in. Watch for these early warning signs to avoid getting stranded:
- Slow engine cranking or clicking sounds
- Dim lights or electronics shutting down at idle
- Battery/charging warning light on dashboard
- Swollen battery case, excessive corrosion, or rotten egg smell
Most lead-acid batteries last 3–5 years, while AGM batteries often have a longer service life. Heat accelerates wear, and short trips may prevent full recharging after the engine has been started. Always make sure to keep battery terminals and posts clean, ensure the battery is secure, and test your battery annually after the third year of use. Visit one of our local O’Reilly Auto Parts stores for a free car battery testing service, where our experts can advise you on your best options.
Selecting the right battery starts with group size, fitment, and your vehicle’s electrical needs. Use your vehicle's manual or O’Reilly Auto Parts’ online battery finder to match terminal layout, hold-down style, and capacity requirements. When you’re choosing the right battery for your application, consider the following car battery specifications:
- Cold Cranking Amps (CCA): Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) measure a battery’s ability to start your vehicle in cold weather. Colder climates often require a higher CCA rating, but it’s important to choose a battery that meets or exceeds the minimum CCA recommended in your vehicle’s manual. Always follow your vehicle's manual guidelines, and make sure the battery you select also meets the required minimum Ah rating.
- Reserve Capacity (RC): This is the amount of reserve power the battery can deliver, which supports accessories when the engine isn’t running and the alternator is not charging the battery or providing power to the vehicle.
- Amp Hours (Ah): Indicates how long the battery can deliver power. Higher Ah means it can run accessories longer. Always follow your vehicle's manual recommendations.
Whether you’re deciding where the best place to buy a car battery is in-store or online, we offer trusted brands, car battery warranties, and guidance every step of the way.
Super Start offers batteries for a wide range of vehicles and equipment—including cars, trucks, ATVs, and more. Below are some of the automotive battery options available, offering reliable starting power, deep-cycle performance, and spill-proof AGM (absorbed glass mat) technology where applicable.
We simplify the car battery purchase process by offering:
- Free car battery testing and charging
- Hassle-free core returns and battery recycling
- Nationwide warranty support for Super Start car batteries
- Fitment tools to help you find the right car battery for your vehicle
Visit your local store or shop online to discover where to buy car batteries online and in-store, compare options, and confidently maintain your vehicle’s battery.
Car Battery Cores & Recycling
Old car batteries, called cores, can be recycled so that the materials can be reused and to reduce pollution. Proper recycling reduces environmental impact and supports new battery production, and for this reason, core charges are often applied to new battery purchases to encourage the return of the old battery. Some statistics on the amount of recycled material produced by battery recycling include:
- 200 million pounds of lead annually
- 12 million pounds of plastic
- 6 million gallons of acid
Even if you haven’t purchased a new car battery, you can still bring old lead-acid batteries to O’Reilly Auto Parts for free battery recycling. Many locations even offer a $10 gift card per battery. Check local stores for restrictions, and learn more about free fluid and battery recycling and other available store services.
FREE Car Battery Testing
Extreme temperatures can cause battery failure. Whether you notice signs of a failing battery or want to be proactive going into summer or winter, O’Reilly Auto Parts provides free car battery testing. Our parts professionals can also charge batteries for free, which may be necessary before a battery test to ensure accurate results. If a car battery replacement is needed, our experts will help you select the right Super Start® battery and explain how to choose the best car battery for optimal performance.
Warranty
Your Super Start Warranty begins the day you buy your battery and expires at the end of the warranty period printed on your receipt. If a Super Start battery fails during the free replacement period, the original purchaser will receive a replacement from O’Reilly Auto Parts, free of charge.
Any Super Start battery that fails as a result of improper installation, freezing, abuse, misuse, low fluid level, or another faulty part is not covered by warranty. Get full details about the Super Start Battery National Warranty.
