The typical life span of a car battery is between three and four years. After that, you might think about having your battery periodically checked to make sure its life isn’t approaching its end. Nowadays, it’s uncommon for a seller of a new automobile or small equipment battery to not ask for a core or your old battery in exchange.
However, there are instances when old, used batteries have nowhere to go, are confined to a shelf, or are abandoned in a garage corner. When and if this occurs, it’s crucial to understand how to properly dispose of batteries and the risks associated with doing so.
No one needs to be reminded of the danger of dumping batteries and other electrical components into landfills without first learning the right procedures. Furthermore, improper disposal of automobile batteries can be hazardous to human health and negatively impacts the environment.
Some auto-parts stores will pay customers to return their used car batteries. You might be curious to know whether AutoZone has that offer. Keep reading to find out!
Does AutoZone Give Money For Old Batteries?
No, AutoZone won’t pay you for your old car battery. However, they will gladly take your old battery for recycling and give you a $10 gift card for bringing it in.
When you buy a new battery from AutoZone, the store will test your old one for free to determine if it can be revived; if it can, you’ll earn a discount on your new battery.
If you give them your old battery, they will mark it as “used” and offer it for sale at a discount. It’s a win-win situation since they can make money, and you can save money on a new battery. You get a 90-day warranty on the replacement unit and a reward if you return it when it dies, but they recycle the old battery if it’s not worth anything.
When you buy a battery from AutoZone, they also require a core price as a down payment. This is to ensure that you will return your old battery to be recycled. In exchange for sending back your old battery, AutoZone will refund your core deposit.
Doing the right thing by properly removing your old car battery has you wondering whether you may get paid to bring it to AutoZone? Most likely, the answer given above isn’t as pleasant as you would have expected, but it is also about playing our part in reducing the carbon footprint.
Here is why you should recycle your old batteries.
Why Should You Recycle Old Batteries?
Humankind has never left a bigger carbon footprint than it does right now. In other words, it means we’re actively working to destroy our home planet. One of the primary sources of this electronic waste is old car batteries. Proper disposal of these e-wastes is necessary if we are to lessen this carbon footprint and aid in the recovery of our environment.
Besides having disastrous consequences for our environment, lead-acid car batteries also contain several dangerous compounds. When a battery is discarded, the chemicals it contains might contaminate the surrounding area or even the ecosystem.
Contact with these poisonous compounds can cause skin irritation or serious health problems.
It means that if we truly care about our world and the well-being of others around us, we will need to dispose of old car batteries properly. Even if it only brings you a few dollars, this will be a valuable contribution to our cause.
You might wonder how you can properly recycle old batteries. Here are some ways to do that:
Proper Ways to Get Rid Of Your Old Batteries
Properly disposing of your old car battery is a great place to start if you’re concerned about your impact on the environment and want to protect it. If you are unsure of the best approach, we have listed a few options below. Your efforts will not only benefit the environment but also put some more cash in your pocket, though not as much as you might expect.
- Securing it in Your Vehicle
If you have an old car battery, you can keep it in the car until you find a better use for it. It’s a stopgap measure, but it will make you a more responsible car owner in the short term by preventing your vehicle from polluting the environment or endangering passers-by.
Your old battery can be safely stored in the trunk of your car if you lay it on top of a plastic container with a tight-fitting cover. However, remember that you’ll need to get rid of it at a certified recycling facility when the time comes.
Wear protective eyewear and hand seals if you must do this. You should also ensure the plastic container you use has a tight-fitting cover.
- Visiting a Mechanic For Replacing Your Car’s Battery
If your car’s battery dies, here’s what you should do. Having a professional mechanic take care of the disposal of your power cell is a hassle-free solution that ensures the cell is disposed of safely.
A skilled auto repair company can replace your car’s battery for you while you wait. With this, the mechanic takes care of removing the old power cell and replacing it with the new one, saving you time and effort.
Leave the old unit with the store, and they’ll take care of recycling or disposing of the batteries they removed. You’ll have to pay for the service, so this choice isn’t free.
- Bringing It Back To The Retailer
When replacing a dead car battery, it’s a good idea to verify the purchase receipt. A core deposit is a fee charged by many stores, including AutoZone, NAPA, O’Reilly, and others, to encourage customers to return their used batteries for recycling.
If you have already put down a core deposit on your old battery, you can receive that money back and put it toward the cost of a new one. The receipt for your old battery’s core deposit may have been lost, but you can still bring it to stores that accept old batteries for recycling.
As highlighted above, a used battery can be exchanged for a $10 AutoZone gift card. You can use this as if it were cash and buy a few things from their store. Most stores will test returned batteries to determine their usability; if they are not recoverable, the batteries are recycled.
- Designated Recycling Facility
When it comes to getting rid of an old car battery, one popular option is to take it to a designated recycling facility. If your car’s battery dies, simply take it to the local collection center.
Facilities like these often provide doorstep pickup services, dispatching a team to your area to collect your dead batteries. You won’t have to pay anything to use the services of a place like this because these are government-sanctioned facilities.
Want to learn more about AutoZone? Click here to learn if AutoZone takes Apple Pay, does AutoZone drug test and does AutoZone price match.
Conclusion…
If your battery has been in use for three, five, or even ten years, it may be on its final leg. Old batteries are less reliable, can’t handle the heat or cold, and can leak.
You would eventually need to get rid of them, and that too responsibly, given the risks they pose to human health and the environment.
AutoZone gives you a $10 gift card for returning an old battery and although this may not be much, it can help you responsibly dispose of your battery at a secure place.