Buying used auto parts is not uncommon, but when it comes to batteries, people often overlook used car batteries. There are some excellent options for buying used batteries available, but you need to know what to look for and how to choose a battery worth your money. 

Battery Condition

When you consider buying used car batteries for a car or a truck, there are some things you need to look at. The battery's overall condition is essential, so inspect the outside case of the battery and check for cracks or damage that would allow the acid inside the battery to leak. 

Even if the battery is not leaking when you buy it, if there is a leak in the case, it could result in a leak later on, and the battery would not be any good to you if all the acid leaks out after it is installed in the car. Check the area on the bottom and sides of the case thoroughly and check around the terminals because the battery case will crack there if the car was in an accident or if the battery was improperly installed.

Holding a Charge

If you are buying used batteries from a dealer, they should test them before they sell them. Ask the dealer sealing the batteries if they have load tested the batteries you are considering and ask for the result of the test. A load test will simulate the conditions the battery will endure in your vehicle and determine whether or not the battery will be able to hold a charge over time.

If the dealer is not testing the batteries they are selling, it is probably best to buy your used batteries from another source so you can be sure what you are getting is going to work for you. A battery that leaves you stranded is not better than the old dead battery that was in your car in the first place, so if the battery is unstable or untested, it would be better to look for a dealer that checks out the batteries they sell.

Recycling Old Batteries

The old battery coming out of your car may have some value, even if it does not hold a charge anymore. In many areas, recycling centers will take the batteries, and they will even pay a few dollars for each battery you bring in as long as it is not leaking. 

The lead core has value and can be removed and recycled into other products or put back into production and mixed with new materials to make new batteries by manufacturers.