Owning and maintaining a car can become a hassle when that little light comes on that says you’ve got to change or fix something in it. More often than not, it’s your car battery. Luckily, those are pretty easy and cheap to install, but it can be quite a headache when you’ve got about 100 other things on your plate too. So, what better way to change it than to make a day of it at your local Costco?! But the question is, how much is a car battery at Costco?
Car batteries at Costco are priced according to their size and type. Currently, the price range for these batteries is between $100 and $200. You will also be charged a $15 core fee that will be refunded if you take back the old Costco battery.
However, the kicker is that you have to purchase a year-long membership to the store to shop there. Or pay a 5% surcharge if you are not a member. While that may seem like a lot to do, many people think it’s worth the time due to the variety of items and value.
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What is Costco?
For those of you who have never experienced the joy of a Costco trip or never heard of Costco in the first place, the store may sound like a great mystery. To put it simply, Costco is a wholesale store that offers a whole slew of name-brand and Costco-created products that customers can buy in bulk and at an excellent bulk discount.
What are the Car Batteries Brands and Types Available at Costco?
Costco is there for all of your home shopping needs, including your car! So fear not, Costco does sell car batteries as well, thanks to the Costco Auto Program! They’ve been in the business of helping customers with their cars for over 30 years, so you can find comfort in what you buy!
They offer two different types of batteries, Automotive and Recreational, so that you can buy them for both your car and things like a boat or golf cart. As for the kinds of batteries they have, Costco has Standard Flood Batteries and Absorbed Glass-matt (AGM) Batteries.
If you’ve got a luxury car or a car that you may have added a lot of additional car parts, you may want to consider an AGM battery as they’re meant to withstand battery draining fast and recharging quicker over regular batteries, but if not, then a standard is the perfect one for you!
As for brands, they offer Interstate batteries. Optima and Kirkland car batteries are no longer sold at Costco.
How Much Is a Car Battery at Costco?
If you’re in the market for a car battery, chances are you’ve looked in many different places for the right price. Luckily, Costco sells their batteries for a bit cheaper than most retailers, with their battery prices ranging from $100 to $200 depending on their group size and type (AGM or standard).
Unfortunately, Costco does not offer free installation services for the car batteries that they sell.
The following are the prices at Costco of some popular car models batteries:
| Model | Price (AGM) | Price (Standard) | Group size | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Ford F-150 V6/3.0L | $177.99 | H8(49) | 3 years | |
| 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser V8/5.7L | $93.99 | 27F | ||
| 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 V8/5.3L | $175.99 | $146.99 | H7(94R) | 3 years |
| 2015 Subaru Impreza H4/2.0L | $154.99 | $99.99 | 35 | 3 years |
| 2016 Nissan Versa L4/1.6L | $99.99 | 51R | 3 years | |
| 2017 Kia Forte L4/2.0L | $158.99 | $114.99 | H6(48) | 3 years |
These prices may vary depending on your location. The prices are subject to change without notice.
Benefits of Buying Car Batteries from Costco
Buying a car battery from Costco offers a whole slew of benefits that you may not think of right off the bat. You are getting quality batteries, but you’re also getting them a bit cheaper than you’d find at other stores. You also get a 36-month limited warranty, which is nice if you ever need to take it back.
Costco is also very open to letting customers know about the car batteries they offer and what you need to know about car batteries from their website.
They also have a question and answer section on their website, which includes information ranging from what a Cold Cranking Amp (CCA) is, to how you can tell your battery’s age! So they want to make sure their customers are as knowledgeable as possible before they come to buy a battery from the store.
Things To Consider Before Buying a Car Battery From Costco
Costco car batteries can be significant due to how affordable they are, but that’s not the only thing you should consider if you want to buy one. You’ll also want to research which battery type will work best for your car. You will also want to consider if you can install the battery yourself or if you can find a place to do the installation because while they sell car batteries, they do not offer battery installation.
While they have an automotive center, you’ll want to make sure you talk to someone in that department to ensure you’re getting the right size battery (as they aren’t just a car store, like Firestone or O’Reilly Autoparts), so you’ll want to talk to the right people there.
You can also look online to answer any questions about sizing and battery testing (as you should note if it passes a CCA test and how it’s charged when you purchase it).
Here is a recap of the main factors you should consider:
- Battery type
- Battery Group size
- CCA
- Battery installation
Frequently Asked Questions
Let’s take a look at some popular questions regarding Costco car batteries:
Are Costco car batteries a good deal?
Is Costco cheaper for car batteries?
Much like their other items, Costco prides itself on mainly having everything in the store at a better deal than you’ll find anywhere else. Car batteries are no different, as they do tend to be cheaper than competitors.
How long do Costco car batteries last?
Car batteries typically last 3 to 5 years, but it all depends on how much you use your car! Factors that go into your car battery’s life include how much you drive it, heat (from the car and even the temperature outside!), and electrical things like leaving your radio or headlights on for long periods.
How long is the battery warranty at Costco?
Can you return a car battery to any Costco?
Yes, you can return your car battery to any Costco location! To be safe, it would be wise to have the receipt and card used with you just in case they need to verify that you got the car battery at Costco (especially if you’re taking it to a different location).
Depending on the location and the policies the store has on returns, you can most likely take it to the Tire Center right away, and then they will go ahead and reimburse you for the returned battery, and even get you a new one on the spot.
But, if your Costco store doesn’t have an area for returns in their auto center, or they can’t do returns back there, someone there will hand you a return form that you can then take up to the customer service desk, and they’ll issue you a refund from there!
Are Costco batteries fully charged?
The answer to the question is both a yes and a no. If you get one of the newer ones on the shelf, the battery is fully charged, and you won’t have to worry about it draining quickly on you.
However, if it’s been on the shelf for a while, chances are the battery might not be charged to its full potential. This happens because batteries can slowly start to lose their battery life the longer they sit, not doing anything – so if that’s the case, you may want to do a quick charge to make sure it’s fully ready to go before you make any long trips with your new battery.
Who makes Costco interstate batteries?
The company that makes Costco’s batteries is called Johnson Controls. If the name sounds familiar, they are the company that used to create the Kirkland line of batteries for Costco (but they now have a different manufacturer). The brand is a trusted manufacturer for Costco and other giants in the industry when it comes to cars.
Does Costco take old car batteries?
Once your old car battery has fizzled out and you get your replacement battery at Costco, you can return that old battery to Costco. When you replace your car battery, you want to be mindful of the environmental impact, and Costco knows that!
Not only will you be helping save the environment by recycling it, but Costco will also give you a core credit you can redeem later! So you’ll get credit for reducing any batteries going into a landfill, and you’re also reducing the material cost of making them!
Final Thoughts
If you’re interested in getting a car battery, a great deal would be going to your local Costco and seeing what they have to offer in real-time! You can get great batteries, a valid warranty and you can even replace your old battery – not to mention maybe even do a grocery haul while you’re there! So it is a one-stop shop for all of your needs, and it’s worth checking out.
James is an engineer and a professional blogger. He has gained extensive experience over the years, handling all types of power projects. He loves to share his experiences with all things related to batteries, generators, and other power-related topics.
