Just remember that some functions, like cranking, are a lot easier with two people. It’s also a great tool if you’re buying a used car, used battery, or have some lying around your garage. When a good replacement battery can cost hundreds of dollars, it’s a small investment to give you lots of warning if a battery starts to go bad, and gives you a chance to put it on a charger with a repair cycle to buy a few more months, too. Using the best car battery tester, like our Editor’s Pick, can tell you more than just “good or bad.” They can give you a real insight into how your battery charges, cranks your engine, and what it’s internal health is like.

This is great if you only use your car a few days a week, or if it’s going to be parked more than a week like when you’re on vacation. If you’ve started working from home and your car is sitting longer than it used to, you can help make your battery last a lot longer by putting it on a trickle charger. Skip the pointless troubleshooting, this one trick will quickly tell you if your battery is OK or if it needs to be replaced.Ĭar batteries only last so long, usually about 5-8 years, but slow starting doesn’t mean yours is going, it could just mean it needs some help. There’s only one way to answer the question, “Is it my battery, or something else” when your car won’t start: Hook up the best car battery tester and get a readout of what’s going on.

Car battery tester