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  • Cover for when your manufacturer warranty expires
  • Financial protection for used cars from expensive repair costs
  • Car hire, roadside assistance and travel costs covered as standard

Does a car warranty cover a battery?

Your car battery is regarded as a consumable item, and these components sometimes only have a limited period of full warranty cover. This is certainly a detail worth checking when you first purchase the car, as manufacturers’ warranties can vary.

What about extended warranties?

If your car is no longer covered by its manufacturer's warranty and you take out an extended warranty, or you are purchasing a pre-owned car older than three years and you choose to take out a warranty, do make sure you check up on the specific details of the policy, as many warranty providers exclude the battery from the warranty cover. You can, of course, always ask the question does the car warranty cover the battery before signing up.

At Car.co.uk, our warranties are transparent and easy to navigate. This means offering different levels of cover. For cars between four and six years old, or with between 40,000 and 60,000 miles on the clock, your car battery is covered. If your car falls at the older end of the spectrum, and is between 6 and 12 years old, or its mileage is between 60,000 and 120,000 miles, you may not be surprised to learn that your battery is not on the list of parts covered.

What are the different types of car batteries?

SLI (starting, lighting and ignition) batteries are used for most cars. They have a shallow charge cycle, which means they charge up quickly and run down quickly too, but given that starting your car requires only a short burst of energy, these SLI batteries provide ample power for most cars.

Deep cycle batteries provide power over a longer time period and tend to be used for golf buggies and marine vehicles. The two most used types are VRLA (valve regulated lead acid) batteries which don't need regular maintenance and are sealed and AGM (absorption glass mat) batteries and gel cell batteries.

Hybrids and electric cars use lithium-ion batteries, which can store larger amounts of power and are much lighter in terms of weight.

Stop-start batteries

More manufacturers are producing cars with stop-start technology as a means of reducing the CO2 emissions produced. For example, Fiat, Volkswagen, Toyota, and BMW now offer this innovation on 15 million of their cars in Europe. Known also as 'micro-hybrids' or 'idle stop and go', fuel is conserved by automatically switching off the engine when the car comes to a halt and is idling (unless power is needed for the air conditioning). This can result in an increased demand on the battery and may mean that you may need to replace the battery earlier than you would in a car without this technology.

Looking after your car battery

We've all experienced that heart-sinking moment when your ignition dies and you realise you have a flat battery. It’s never the best start to your day!

In order to maximise both the efficiency and longevity of your car battery, the advice is:

  • ensure that the terminal connections are tight and free of debris
  • keep the terminal connections clean to avoid a build-up of dirt and grease
  • consider coating the terminal connectors with petroleum jelly to avoid corrosion
  • avoid long periods when your car isn't in use - even a short run will help to recharge your battery
  • if possible, parking your car in a garage in very cold weather can help
  • regular servicing will mean that your battery is checked at sensible intervals

Other related FAQs

Looking for more related content to this? We’ve picked a selection of related topics that you may find helpful

In general, car warranties do not protect you against flood damage.

Find out more

Although the windshield of a car can be damaged easily, most cracks and chips will not be covered by a warranty unless you can prove that the damage is as a result of a manufacturer’s fault.

Find out more

Normally, a warranty for a used, nearly new or new car will cover some of the labour associated with replacing or repairing a part which is protected under the terms of the warranty.

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The type of car warranty policy you have will determine whether turbo is covered or not.

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It is possible to take out car warranty cover that includes towing in the event you need roadside assistance.

Find out more

Modern clutches are designed to be highly durable, but they will eventually wear down and require replacement. So, can you expect your car warranty to cover your clutch? The answer to this question depends on the particular warranty you have.

Find out more

Regular servicing is the responsibility of every car owner – it not only ensures your vehicle is safe for you and others, but it also assists in maintaining its value. You might be wondering ‘does car warranty cover servicing?’ The answer is no, but although servicing is not covered by a car warranty, if an electrical or mechanical failure is discovered in your vehicle during the service, the necessary repairs should be covered.

Find out more

No, tyres are not covered by car warranty. These components are classified as ‘wear and tear’ items, therefore they are not included in warranty agreements.

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Some car warranty policies will cover light bulbs, however others do not. It’s important to check the terms and conditions of your policy to see what’s included in your cover.

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No, a car warranty policy does not provide cover for diagnostic tests.

Find out more
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Car.co.uk is a trading name of New Reg Limited which is Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 626225). New Reg Limited is a loan broker and not a lender. The information contained on this website is for editorial purposes only and not intended as financial advice. New Reg Limited has partnered with Autoguard Group for the purpose of offering car warranties in accordance with the terms and conditions documented on the warranty check-out page.
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