What Should I Do With My Old Car Battery?

If you own a car, boat, or a recreation vehicle, the high chances are that you might be having some old batteries idling somewhere in the garage. If left to accumulate, the old cells can make your garage look congested. It is for such reasons that you’re always advised to do away with the unused items now and then, including the batteries.

Often, when it comes to cleaning, many people don’t know what to do with an old car battery. Well, there are many ways to deal with your old or even dead cells. They include:

1. Taking it to an auto shop
2. Selling the battery at scrap yard near you
3. Posting them for sale at Craigslist
4. A local pawn shop
5. Posting them on eBay
6. Advertising the battery on newspaper classifieds
7. Reconditioning the battery for future use

These, among many other options, are ways in which you can deal with the old battery menace. The fantastic thing about these methods is that they can see you pocket a considerable amount of cash, which is better as compared to having the battery rust while in the garage.

Why Can’t I Dump the Old Car Battery in a Dumpsite?

If the car battery is dead, you may have thought of putting in a trash can and have it collected by the garbage guys. Well, that’s not recommended. It’s against the law to improperly dispose of the battery. The components found in the cell are hazardous and can cause harm if they found their way into the environment.

That’s why you’re always advised to take your old or battery to the relevant places so that the components can be neutralized. The battery is then brought back to the manufacturers for recycling. However, did you know that you can still make some good money from the old car battery instead of having to pay someone to dispose of the battery for you?

Without further ado, here are some of the top tactics you can use to make the extra cash!

7 Ways You Can Do to Profit from Your Dead Car Batteries

1. Your Local Auto Parts Store

Your local auto parts store is the most accessible place to start with when it comes to disposing of an old battery. Renowned stores such as AutoZone, Napa, and Advance Auto Parts offer good deals for drivers who bring in their old batteries when acquiring a new one. Most of these stores will offer a fee (core charge) to drivers who bring in their old batteries during a replacement.

The price is usually instilled by States to help encourage recycling. It ranges from $5 to $25, depending on the store. Therefore, you can check in with your local to find a store offering a better deal.

2. Scrap Yard

If you thought scrap yards only take in old microwaves and refrigerators, you are wrong. The scrap yard near you can take in your old battery as well, in exchange for cash. They collect the battery and then sell them to manufacturers who recycle. If you’re looking for some extra money, you can, therefore, drop the old battery at a scrap dealer near you.

Here at scrap yards, the price of the old battery is dependent on the current price for lead scrap. The fantastic thing is that you can earn more if you happen to have several cells that you want to dispose of.

3. Craigslist

Thanks to the power of the internet, today we have Craigslist. At Craigslist, you can post almost everything and find an interested party. When it comes to the batteries, the deal works better if the item is still working.

Selling the old battery via Craigslist is impressive as the demand and the current price determine what you can pocket. Another good thing with Craigslist is that it’s time effective, thus suitable for the busybodies.

4. Your Local Pawn Shop

Well, pawn shops are mostly known for dealing with jewelry and electronics. But, they are also a place you can drop in your old battery, in exchange for cash. The pawn brokers act as the link between you and a potential buyer.

They find a buyer on your behalf and pocket the profit. Therefore, you can start by calling the pawn shop near you and inquire about the rates. If the deal is worth it, you can go ahead and drop the battery at their location.

5. eBay

Like in Craigslist, eBay is also another platform that you can post almost everything, your old battery included. When it comes to eBay, it doesn’t matter if the battery is dead or still working.

There will always be a customer looking to having the battery at whatever state. Therefore, you shouldn’t let such as golden opportunity slip. You can list your product as a local pickup to earn more because you won’t have to incur the shipping cost.

6. Newspaper Classifieds

When reading the newspaper, you have probably come across an old battery posted for sale in the classified section. Also, you may find brokers in the section looking for old batteries. You can utilize these two opportunities to your advantage.

Start by calling the vendors looking for cells to find out their rates. If you find the prices not fulfilling, you can then proceed and make your post on the newspapers. Don’t be surprised at how many interested parties will call you with an offer. When it comes to picking the right buyer, always take your time to arrive at a buyer with the best offer.

7. Recondition

If you still find the old car battery useful, then the best way to deal with it is reconditioning. When we say reconditioning, we mean redeeming the old battery for future use. By researching over the internet, you will find tricks on how to recondition an old battery(Pop up). If you’re a DIY kind of a guy, you can borrow some of those ideas to work on the cell in question.

When working on the old battery, always remember to observe the safety precautions as the components inside the cell can be risky to both the environment and yourself. Once you’re done with the process, you can choose to sell the battery or continue using it in your car.

Conclusion

Allowing your old car batteries to pile up around the garage isn’t recommended. There are many ways to deal with this problem. Explained in this article are some of the ways you can help clean the garage while earning some cash in the process.

Some of the methods can make you a higher amount of cash than others. Therefore, you should take your time to consider that one which favors you and has good returns.

Sources:
1. How to Dispose of Car Batteries – wikiHow
2. What’s the best way to dispose of an old car battery? – Grist

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