Who Buys Used Car Batteries Near Me?

Did you know that batteries are one of the most recycled products in the US at about 98%-99%?

And because the components are acid and lead plates, along with a few other heavy metals, which are again not safe to dispose of, you simply cannot throw them in the trash.

However, you would be happy to know that there are places that buy used car batteries from you.

Many places around the country buy used car batteries for a pretty sum of money. Batteries are worth their weight even after they fail.

Here is a list of places where you can take your used car batteries to:

1. Junkyard
2. Metal Recycling Centers
3. Craigslist
4. Auto Repair Shop
5. Auto Parts Store
6. iScrap App
7. Facebook Marketplace
8. Yard Sale
9. United Battery
10. Global Tech Environmental
11. Pull-a-Part
12. Newspaper Classifieds

Before getting into detail, you should know about the core charge, which the state levies on your battery to discard it in a safe way when the time comes.

If you are replacing the battery at an auto parts store or Walmart, you should ask them to refund you the core charge. While it is not much, it can definitely pay towards your new battery.

Where Can I Sell My Old Battery?

Did you know that you can convert your old car battery into cash? It can be dead or working for a few years, doesn’t matter. It is worth a treasure for the right buyer.

1. Junkyard/Scrapyard

Why not start with a place that buys just about everything from refrigerators to even glass bottles, including your used car battery?

Your local scrap yard can buy your battery from you for cash. What they need from it is the lead core, and the price they fix for the battery depends on the cost of lead in the market.

Not all junkyards pay the same amount. They fix different prices, depending on the requirement of lead and plastic, which they scavenge from the batteries.

Hence it would do well if you call a few centers before finalizing the one that pays you the most.

Your battery can be of any condition, and it can fetch you a minimum of $7 at any scrapyard. Bring more batteries, and they will fix a better price for you.

2. Metal Recycling Centers

Both the metal recycling centers and the scrap yards are similar but very diverse in what they procure.

They offer different pricing for your batteries than the latter, so much that you might want to google for your nearest yard. And the results might be very different from that of scrap yards.

Most of them have their rates displayed on their websites. However, it doesn’t hurt to contact them for their pricing.

Again, as with scrapyards, you might get a better price if you are dropping a lot of stuff.

In the same lines, you might want to check where the nearest foundry is and call to check if they would take car batteries.

Foundries are always looking for metal for their casings and might accept your batteries for a better price.

3. Craigslist

No time to drive or call around for a better price; you can always go with Craigslist.

While there might be people who look around for dead car batteries on the listing, the need is for batteries with some juice in them. The newer the batteries are, the better price they can fetch you.

Modern cars are usually considered totaled even with minor collisions. In these cases, your battery might still be working.

If your battery is still in working condition, it might be the choice of people who look through Craigslist looking to score a cheap battery for their old, spare cars.

Take care to use the right keywords if you want your listing to appear in search results.

4. Auto Repair Shop

Auto repair shops also procure used car batteries, in lieu of cash, but the condition is that they should be in relatively better working conditions.

They do not accept dead batteries since they are not recycling centers and cannot do anything with these.

With working batteries, they can recondition, bringing it to its former glory. They then sell these to customers who are strapped for cash and cannot afford a brand new battery.

This is a better option than haggling with Craigslist customers who might not want to pay the amount you ask for. Again, they will test the batteries for efficiency before accepting it.

5. Auto Parts Store

If your question is who pays the most for used batteries, Auto Parts Store is the answer, especially when replacing the old battery with a new one.

Nationwide stores like Advance Auto Parts, Napa, AutoZone, and O’Reilly accept your old batteries and refund the core charge as a discount for the new battery.

Not just national stores, but also local stores do so though you might want to enquire first.

The core charge is nothing but a tax that the state levies on you for safe disposal of the battery.

While the stores will not hand over the refund as cash, it will be in the form of store credit, which you can use on a new battery or any other part if they permit.

So, if your question is, does AutoZone give you money for old car batteries? Oh yeah, they do. They also have car batteries for sale, in case you are looking to buy one.

6. iScrap App

Whether you are selling the batteries in bulk or just a single battery, iScrap App has the buyer for you.

The app maintains a list of buyers who might be willing to take the battery off you for cash. It is a great way to locate scrap yards and buyers for your car battery.

The app itself is easy to navigate, and you can also find how much you can get for your battery.

That’s not even the best part! Few scrap yards also allow you to schedule a pickup if you cannot spare the time. There is no need to carry a bulky battery and hurt yourself.

7. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is similar to Craigslist, but with more buyers and sellers. People opt for this all the time and have much more success than listings.

The reason is that you can easily find more about the person selling the product here, and Facebook is becoming more and more popular with every passing year.

Post all the specifications about your battery, including how long you have used it and any issues related to it.

Do not forget the pictures as this will bring your listing more viewing and will increase your chances of selling the battery.

And finally, add that this is a pickup; Or you might have to ship the battery, which will cost you a lot much more than it is worth.

8. Yard Sale

Do you have more items lying around that you are intending to sell?

Add your used car battery to that, but make sure that it has juice and is in working condition. Who knows, someone might actually be interested in your car battery.

The best part is that with the battery being as heavy it is, you do not have to carry the battery except maybe to your front yard.

If you are unsure of the value, slap on any price tag and then let the interested person choose a rate, allowing them to think of it as a great deal.

9. United Battery

Are you located in Portland or Longview? Why not call United Batteries. Old or new, working or dead, they buy all batteries. Do you have a lead-acid battery? Then they pay premium prices for it.

10. Global Tech Environmental

Are you a company trying to sell large amounts of batteries in bulk?

Global Tech Environmental is the place to call. They buy batteries(any kind really, not just automotive) in bulk from industries and scrap yards.

Stressing again that they buy batteries only from businesses and not individuals. And they also do pickups from anywhere in the US.

11. Pull-a-Part

Do you have an old junk of a car you are trying to dispose of?

Try Pull-a-Part; They can take your car battery, together with that junk car, and pay you in cash.

All you need to do is to visit their website, fill in the form, and get the quote.

Experts from Pull-a-Part call you back and fix your appointment, where they hand over the cash and tow your car, taking it off you in just one day.

12. Newspaper Classifieds

While this may seem very traditional and not a popular means, people do buy newspapers and also use the ads section like Craigslist.

You can do this in two ways:

• Firstly, you can either place an ad for your battery, with all the details, and people who need batteries will contact you. Many do this as a side hustle and collect batteries to recondition or sell later on. This will cost you money to place the ad.
• Secondly, you can also use this as a means to spot businesses like scrapyard who have placed ads for used car batteries. Call them and check how much they pay for used car batteries.

What Happens To My Used Car Battery?

Have you ever wondered why do they buy used car batteries and what do they do with it? The answer can be pretty revealing since it is not something we get to see every day.

Car batteries hold pretty dangerous substances and cannot be discarded as with other trash.

This is true with lead-acid batteries in particular. The components of the battery make it pretty dangerous to handle and also nasty if you let them go in the environment.

The traditional lead-acid battery contains 2 lbs of plastic enclosing a gallon of sulfuric acid and 20 lbs of lead.

There is no alternative to lead and sulphuric acid since the battery needs to be recharged repeatedly, and they should be able to hold the charge for a specific amount of time.

Batteries may also contain cadmium, nickel, and mercury, which again are not conducive to the environment.

Any new battery you buy from the market has at least 60% recycled material. Recycling the battery reduces the need for lead mining and also the production of plastic.

What Do They Do With Used Batteries?

If you happen to sell your dead batteries for cash, your battery is most probably recycled to be made into new batteries.

The battery is smashed into pieces to separate the components (plastic, lead, and lead-acid) easily.

The scraps are then sent to a VAT with liquid to separate the heavy metals and the plastic. With the plastic taken out, the liquid empties, leaving behind the lead and other heavy metals.

The plastic is then melted to form pellets, which the manufacturers buy to make casings for the batteries. The lead is purified and also reused in new batteries, which leaves the lead-acid.

Baking soda is added to the lead-acid to convert it into water. Later they convert the water to sodium sulfate, which is used in laundry detergents and other cleaners.

Conclusion

Next time you have a car battery lying around in your yard, do not leave it to the elements.

It can turn hazardous for the environment and your health. Instead, you can sell it; dead or working, there are always buyers for car batteries.

From scrapyard to auto parts stores, there are many places, which can relieve you of a dead car battery.

These places buy the batteries and recycle them for use in new batteries and other industrial processes. They make sure that the components are neutralized enough to be disposed of.

If you have a working battery with juice lying around, you can sell it on Craigslist, an auto repair shop, or even on the Facebook marketplace.

Your battery in any condition can bring you money. So, why not sell it to the right buyer?