The secondary market has many used battery buyers. It doesn’t matter if you have a dead battery or one you just bought it. The condition and age of your battery will impact the price you can fetch for it and I will provide guidance on when you should consider each alternative. Below I will share options for selling a used car battery, how to get the most money for it, and my experience with the place that buys used car batteries near me.
Map of Who Buys Used Car Batteries Near Me
For “Who Buys Used Car Batteries Near Me” or “Where to Sell a Used Car Battery Near Me”, see the map below…
The place that buys used car batteries near me is my local auto parts store. There are several big box auto stores that buy them and some other options as well.
Who Buys Used Car Batteries Near Me
Regardless of the condition of your battery, I have a buyer option somewhere here for you. I have sold batteries that are completely dead and even batteries that I have recharged.
You certainly aren’t going to get rich, but selling them is a good side hustle. I usually collect a few batteries from friends who don’ t want to deal with them and then I cash in.
Exploring Your Options: Where to Sell Used Car Batteries
When it comes to finding places to sell used car batteries, you have several options at your disposal. Local auto parts stores are often willing to purchase these batteries, offering convenience and immediate cash in return.
Local scrap yards and metal recycling centers are also prime spots for selling used car batteries, as they value the lead content for recycling.
Additionally, consider contacting nearby auto repair shops, as they might be interested in buying old batteries for refurbishment.
For those seeking an online avenue, platforms like eBay can connect you with potential buyers. Lastly, traditional methods such as newspaper classifieds remain a reliable means to advertise your used car batteries to interested local buyers.
First, we will talk about the 3 best options for dead batteries in the order of most cash to least. Then we will talk about options for batteries with a charge left in them from most cash to least.
Consider the following options for those who buy used car batteries near me…
Auto Parts Stores
Best Option for Dead Batteries, Up to $12/Battery
Auto parts stores will take your dead battery and pay you cash for it. If you are curious why, let me explain something called a core charge.
When you buy a NEW battery at an auto parts store they charge you a core charge of about $12 (it varies by state).
This charge is a form of deposit that you get back when you return the dead battery. This deposit fee is to promote recycling and keep batteries out of landfills. The idea is that you will return the battery when it’s dead to get your deposit back.
So the way you make money on a dead battery is to return it and get the core charge back. The places near me that buy used batteries normally pay between $8.50 to $12 per battery. If it’s your battery essentially you are getting your core charge back from when you bought it.
You can make money if you have a way of getting dead batteries to return. I usually take them off my friends if I see one laying around in their garage for example and say “Hey you want me to get rid of that for you”.
So of the most popular auto parts stores that buy used car batteries near me are:
The key thing to note here: Places like Walmart charge you a core charge when you buy a new battery, but don’t issue it back when you return it. They say “We dispose of your battery for free”. That isn’t what we want…we want our core charge back. So just not that not every place that sells batteries will issue a payment for a dead used battery!
Auto Salvage Yards
2nd Best Option for a Dead Battery, Up to $8/Battery
Auto salvages sell used batteries from the cars and trucks they take in on the lot. They normally sell used batteries for about $18. This means they need to leave room in what they pay you so they can make a profit.
In my experience, I can get $5 to $8 per used car battery and $10 to $12 for each truck battery since they are bigger. The salvage yard is going to recharge the battery and then resell it for a profit. If the battery can’t be recharged, they will sell it as a scrap battery to a metal recycling plant.
Metal Recycling Plants
3rd Best Option for a Dead Battery, Up to $7/Battery
Metal recycling plants, also buy used car batteries. They are interested in the lead and other metals in the battery. The rate at which they pay for scrap batteries varies daily as it is affected by the metals commodity market.
The going rate as of today writing this is $0.16 per pound. So with the average weight of a car battery being 40 lbs, if you were to sell a used car battery to them today you would get $6.94.
You can check current prices here at iScrap. Find the going rate for today and multiply it against the weight of your battery.
Craigslist and eBay
Best Option for a Battery With Charge, Up to $50/Battery
If you have a car battery with charge still left in it, you can often sell it on eBay or Craigslist for between $35 and $50 depending on the brand and the charge remaining.
The best way to figure out how much your used battery is worth is to find out the original cost and then hook a volt meter up to it and see how much charge it is putting out.
When you post your battery for sale on these sites you should state the original cost and show a picture proving how much voltage the battery is producing.
After a quick check of eBay and Craigslist, I found various used batteries in selling in the price range I listed above. This is also a good side hustle if you know how to find and recharge used car batteries.
Auto Repair Shops
2nd Option for a Battery With Charge, Up to $20/Battery
Your local auto repair shop may buy used batteries. They will act as a middleman and resell it to someone who doesn’t want to pay for a new battery. These places will likely hook it up to a volt meter first and then make you an offer.
My local mechanic said they pay between $10 and $20 depending on the brand and condition. They will not take a dead battery even though they have the ability to recharge it, it’s just not worth the effort for them.
While you won’t get the same payout as you would selling it yourself online, you won’t have to deal with the public and that makes it an attractive option.
Buying Used Car Battery For Recycling
Battery recycling, particularly for old car batteries like lead-acid batteries, is a crucial step in our efforts to minimize environmental impact. Lead-acid batteries, commonly found in vehicles, contain hazardous materials such as lead and sulfuric acid, making their disposal a matter of utmost importance.
Fortunately, car battery recycling programs have become increasingly accessible, allowing consumers to responsibly dispose of their used batteries near metal recycling centers or battery recycling places.
Contributing to Sustainable Practices: By Selling Used Battery
When you bring your old car batteries to a recycling center, you are contributing to the safe and sustainable management of these materials. The process of car battery recycling typically involves dismantling the batteries and separating components like plastic casings, lead grids, and acid.
The lead is then smelted and repurposed to create new batteries, reducing the need for mining and the associated environmental footprint.
How Much Can You Get For a Used Car Battery
The amount of money you can get depends on a few factors:
- Is the battery dead?
- Does it still have charge (how much charge)?
- What was the original cost of it?
- Where do you plan on selling it (Different places pay different prices)?
As you can see from the options above a dead car battery should fetch between $7 and $12 depending on where you take it. A car battery with some life left in it should fetch between $20 and $50. if you have a truck battery you can add a few dollars to all the totals since they are larger and weigh more.
Before You Sell Your Used Car Battery…
Before you seek out who buys used car batteries near me, remember that anyone can take a dead battery, recharge it, and sell it for more. If you have the means to recharge it, you can either reuse it or sell it for a higher price. If you are considering selling it to a scrap metal plant, you can also try and wait for a time when the going rate on used batteries is better. They can net you a few extra dollars, which can add up if you have collected a few to sell at once.
Who Buys Used Car Batteries Near Me Conclusion
There are quite a few options for selling a used car or truck battery locally. In most instances, people have dead batteries and are looking for a way to get a few bucks back before they shell out cash for a new one. If that is your scenario, then your best option is the local auto parts store. It is convenient and offers you the highest amount for a dead car or truck battery.
Some folks actually make a side hustle out of collecting dead batteries and selling them. When I go to the place that buys used car batteries near me I usually bring 5 batteries at a time and go home with $60. It’s not a bad side gig when I am going to the auto parts store anyway.
