Maybe you have old car batteries lying around, or you're wondering if you should take your car battery out of your scrap car and sell it separately. Car batteries can be valuable and should always be recycled to mitigate environmental damage, but how much are scrap car batteries worth? In this guide, we aim to provide the answer.

How much is a scrap car battery worth?

There is no definite, one-size-fits-all answer to this complicated question, unfortunately. Car batteries fluctuate in condition, and so do the prices that scrapyards will buy them for.

It mostly depends on the lead content as this is the most valuable part of a car battery. In general, scrapyards tend to pay around £5 for a scrap car battery or more if the lead content is high. This is then recycled or put to use in another car so that its valuable lead and other components do not go to waste and cannot cause environmental damage.

You might be able to get more for your scrap car battery if you sell it privately on eBay, for example, where you can set a price that you want for it. Some people look for old serviceable car batteries for projects and may be willing to pay more money if it is the specific type they are looking for. Be careful, though - sending car batteries via Royal Mail is not permitted and they should be sold for collection only.

Are there other options besides selling?

If you aren’t looking to gain a profit but want to ensure the battery gets recycled properly, research local recycling centres that have facilities for this. This can be a simple and quick solution, but there are no tangible benefits for you.

On the other hand, if your car battery is flat and you need a replacement, but your car is fine, your local garage may be able to replace it for free, taking your old car battery as payment.

Should I remove the battery when scrapping my car?

Clearly, car batteries have some worth. You could remove your car battery when scrapping your car if you are willing to put in a bit of extra time and effort into selling it separately. Keep in mind, though, that this could lower the scrap value of your car.

 Find out how much your scrap car is worth here!.