WHEN the time comes to replace your car battery, it should be a simple process.

But with the dawn of fancy car technology, batteries are getting more confusing to buy. Here’s our guide to help you decide which car battery is right for you.

What is a car battery?

We won’t insult your intelligence, but car batteries do a bit more than they used to.

A big plastic brick, full of battery cells, with coloured labels at the top next to the terminals denoting positive and negative charge, car batteries will:

Start your car

That first turn of the key or push of the ignition button is the car waking up, courtesy of the the battery.

You don’t actually have to fire the engine, though if you play the radio for ten minutes or so without the engine running, most modern cars will message you and let you know you’re at risk of draining the battery if you continue.

When you hold that power button in, or give the key a full turn, you turn over the engine.

The battery is providing the power for the initial spark or heating elements to get your motor going.

Control your lights

Interior lights, warning lights and main headlights are all powered straight from the battery, so no engine power needed.

Power the 12V socket

These days we’re power-hungry drivers so USB ports, 12V sockets and hard-wired dashcams, with parking modes, will eke minimal drain from the battery when the engine isn’t on.

All fine in small amounts, but plenty of time and devices soon mounts up to too much.

How many years do car batteries last?

Though a battery should last anything between five and seven years, battery life depends on a number of factors, such a naughty diodes, faulty wiring, insufficient charging and power-hungry equipment – especially if it’s installed badly.

Constant depletion and recharging at a shallow level kills the cells contained in the casing.

You can’t do much with dead cells, and they need to be binned in a special safety bin (just like regular AA batteries).

Local supermarkets and garages often have the facilities for safe disposal.

If you’re concerned your current battery hasn’t lasted anywhere need that time, your only real option is to take it back to where you purchase it – ideally with proof of purchase.

Does my car need a new battery?

Look out for the following signs to figure out if your battery is failing:

• You’re repeatedly charging your battery manually (if you haven’t tried this yet, check out guide to the best battery chargers)
• Your car doesn’t seem to be turning over anymore and your car is really struggling to fire the engine in cold weather conditions
• A voltmeter shows a readout of 10.5V or lower

The battery can sometimes be blamed when the alternator is the component at fault.

Alternators last around 60,000 miles (though it can be as low as 40,000 or as high as 100,000 depending on the vehicle make and model).

If the battery is failing while the car is on the move, you might have an issue with the alternator, putting charge – or not, as the case may be -back into the battery.

If the engine won’t start or features won’t work at a standstill, it’s more likely a battery issue.

If you’re concerned and not sure, some local garages and well-known garage brands, like Halfords and ATS Euromaster, will check your battery charge.

What should I look for when buying a car battery?

Let’s get the basics right.

Performance of batteries can be affected by cold weather, and how long the battery can go without being recharged can save you from a whole world of inconvenience.

You’re looking to max out the numbers of cold cranking amps (CCA) and Amp Hours to avoid problems.

You also need to ensure the battery you select fits the space in your car, including the casing.

If your motor has fancy start/stop technology to improve its CO2 emissions ratings, and other electrical features, there are two types of battery – supporting as many as 360,000 starts – you can choose from for extra reliability:

• Advanced Flooded (AFB) – also known as EFB and ECM, these batteries offer better performance and durability compared to regular car batteries, specifically for start/stop features
• Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) – AGM batteries aren’t interchangeable with ECM batteries in the main, since AGM batteries are heavy-duty options. Often they need software reconfiguration when changed to ensure all functionality continues to work as expected. If you need one of these, we’d recommend calling in a professional.

These batteries shouldn’t be replaced with standard batteries for numerous reasons.

Modern cars’ electronic features, such as alarms, immobilisers, clocks and locking systems often need a bit of power even when the car isn’t being driven.

If you don’t drive for a while, you might find your battery needs charging.

Try to give your motor a run out every fortnight to avoid any inconvenience with power drain.

And it's best to not consider disconnecting the battery unless your owner’s manual suggests otherwise (and you have the knowledge to do so).

What Is The Best Car Battery Brand To Use For Lasting Performance?

Lead acid batteries are common, durable and relatively cheap to replace.

They support about 20,000 starts, and distributors like Halfords, offer three-year guarantees.

Calcium batteries support around 30,000 starts, giving more durability than lead acid – and you get 18% more starting power, helpful for cold weather journeys.

Silver calcium batteries come with longer guarantee, over 30% more starting power, and support as many as 50,000 starts.

And when it comes to brands, there are a number of reputable options out there.

Halfords stocks Bosch, Yuasa and its own brand.

This £71 silver calcium option has a CCA of 620 and 60 Amp Hour.

Halfords' own brand lead acid battery is around £58, with a CCA of 360 and 41 Amp Hours.

Battery Megastore.co.uk stocks Hankook, Varta, Bosch and Optima. It also has a handy matching tool, which uses your car reg to determine options suitable for your vehicle.

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