Why Are Car Batteries So Expensive and Where Should I Be Shopping for The Best Value?

Ladam-07 on 28/05/2018 - 16:14
Last edited 28/05/2018 - 16:47 by 1 other user

I have 2 cars and had to replace the battery in one of them 6 months ago after it died just out of warranty (3 years). I need to replace the battery in my other car and the cheapest I can find around here is a $170 Century (on special down from $220) for 460CCA. I have checked the places around me, Repco, Supercheap auto and Autobarn. Where else should I be looking?

Does anyone know the breakdown of what makes the Lead Acid that expensive. They have gone up far more than CPI over the last 15 years.

Automotive Battery

Comments

  • xuqi on 28/05/2018 - 16:19
    +4

    What makes you think car battery pricing (or anything else for that matter; i.e. medical insurance, utilities pricing, council rates, etc.) has anything to do with CPI?

    We live in a capitalist system so pay whatever manufacturers (and every other prick) asks, period…

  • nocure on 28/05/2018 - 16:26

    Supercharge battery will easily last 5-6 years

  • Sterio on 28/05/2018 - 16:29
    +4

    Costco have decent prices for Exide batteries

    • npc on 28/05/2018 - 16:33

      I have one from Costco, it's price was ~$110 2 years ago.

    • adam-07 on 28/05/2018 - 16:39

      Thanks. I don't have any Costcos around me.

  • mskeggs on 28/05/2018 - 17:00
    +2

    Repco house brand are apparently rebadged Century.

  • Baysew on 28/05/2018 - 17:04
    +2

    The price of lead has increased in that time.

    And recently lead went up when - Lead prices rise after China shuts imports from North Korea

    • adam-07 on 28/05/2018 - 17:41

      It's getting to the point that in a few years my next battery could be a Lithium-Ion one or even a super capacitor one. As the prices of those are coming down.

      • tonyjzx on 29/05/2018 - 13:44

        Is there a lot of lead in a modern battery any more?

        I curious because I was using a 'calcium' battery 10 yrs ago.

  • JimB on 28/05/2018 - 17:06

    'They have gone up far more than CPI over the last 15 years.' - so has the CCA of batteries.

    I know a place that sells car batteries cheap in Melbourne. Free installation too.

    I paid $170 installed for Exide Extreme 700CCA with a 42month warranty.

    • adam-07 on 28/05/2018 - 17:42

      That is a good price for a huge battery. Not sure something like that would even fit in my yaris. :)

      • JimB on 29/05/2018 - 13:43

        Well I'm sure they can supply a 460CCA cheaper that what you got quoted.

  • Stimps on 28/05/2018 - 17:35

    I went to Battery World and got one installed, price was the same as Super Cheap. They will also test it and check the water levels in future for free.

    • adam-07 on 28/05/2018 - 17:46

      I have to regularly top up the water in my current battery. Every 3 months or so. I think the heat from the engine is helping it boil off. The batteries I saw today were all maintenance free, like no caps to open and fill up. So I'm a bit worried it will still boil off and I have to claim it under warranty.

  • noob999 on 28/05/2018 - 18:52
    +1

    I found this place to have the good Battery Prices. (when there is no 20-30% discount at SCA or Repco)

    https://www.onlinebatteries.com.au/

  • SPCTRE on 29/05/2018 - 00:57

    Recommend getting maintenance free battery where it’s completely sealed and no need to top up with distill water. They are more pricey though.
    Exide are pretty good for the money you pay.
    Can get them at Costco or beaurepairers (slight discount if RACV member).

  • ShannonN on 29/05/2018 - 10:09

    Just got a 520 CCA battery for my Ford 125 fitted from my mechanic cheaper than a lot while is IS a maintenance type battery it has 2 yr warranty so I'm happy the supercharge you beaut gel type died after 3 yrs just out of warranty :)

  • ozzpete on 29/05/2018 - 19:43

    Our local car audio place has some great deals on batteries . Frankies car audio (Wollongongong area) . I think they do good deals on batteries, to bring you in, then they hope to sell you other goods.
    Music shops often do the same with guitar strings. Half price guitar strings, to get on your good side, to sell you other stuff much more expensive.
    Look out for sales also, at the usual places, as well as car audio places, not sure who else sells them .
    Be wary purchasing from cheap sellers online, make sure the batteries are not too old, and have not been sitting round for too long (old stock).
    NRMA does batteries for $99 last time I bought 1, a year ago, not great batteries, but come with replacement warranty . My friend bought cheap battery from NRMA with 2 years warranty, he had an issue with it, NRMA came out, checked it, then replaced it free under warranty. I was not member of NRMA before, so I had him there when I purchased my $99 battery. You don't need to be a member, as long as you have a member there with you when purchase, they can just say its for them .

  • doctordv8 on 30/05/2018 - 06:56

    They are a must have item, price reflects.
    They are quite high in quality and precious(haha) metal, price reflects.
    Maintenance Free are safer in rollovers and minor mishaps, price reflects.
    Inflation, market forces, small Australian market and competition or lack thereof etc, price reflects.
    Wages, advertising, dangerous goods storage/transport, profits blah blah blah, price reflects.

    Go visit a few reputable sellers and ask them the questions to understand the pricing over last 20 years, and the quality and or technical requirements to reflect the differences in a changing market and install applications.

    Sometimes only the people in the know are the people in the store and or installers. I understand/accept the battery pricing as I have been in the Automotive industry for 40 years, and they are not even double the price ….yet.

    Litre for litre, beer and or water is more expensive, lol

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