Car Battery Replacement Cost
The short answer
Fitting a car battery costs £80 in labour with SV Autos, plus the £20 call-out and the battery itself, which we price for your car. We come to wherever the car is, which matters with a battery, because a car with a flat one isn't going anywhere.
A battery is the one job where being mobile genuinely changes the maths. If the car won't start, taking it to a garage means recovery or a jump start and a nervous drive. We come to the car, test whether the battery is actually the problem, and fit a new one where it sits.
What it costs
| Job | Labour | What that covers |
|---|---|---|
| Battery replacement | £80 | Fitting, plus coding the new battery to the car where it needs it. Modern stop-start cars usually do. |
| The battery itself | Quote | Quoted for your car. Type and size are dictated by the vehicle, and a stop-start car needs an EFB or AGM battery rather than a standard one. |
| Battery and charging test | £20 | If you aren't sure the battery is the fault, this is our diagnostics fee, and it comes off the repair if you go ahead. |
| Alternator | Quote | If the charging system is the real problem, a new battery won't fix it. Looked at first, then quoted for your car. |
Labour only. The £20 call-out and the battery go on top. We won't sell you a battery if the battery isn't the problem.
How our pricing works
Labour
The prices above. Fixed for the job, not charged by the hour, so a job running long is our problem rather than yours.
£20 call-out
One flat fee to come to you, anywhere in our area. No mileage charges and no surcharge for being further out.
Parts
Quoted for your exact car. They vary too much between makes and models to publish honestly, so we price them properly rather than guessing.
You get the three added together, in writing, before any work starts. If the job changes once we are looking at the car, you hear it from us first.
What changes the price
Any price that starts with "from" needs explaining, or it is just a hook. Here is what actually moves the number for your car.
- What type your car needs
- A standard lead-acid battery is the cheapest. Stop-start cars need an EFB or an AGM, which cost more and aren't optional: fitting the wrong type shortens its life sharply.
- Does it need coding
- Many cars from roughly the last decade have to be told a new battery has been fitted, so the charging system treats it correctly. We can do this, and it's included in the fitting price.
- Where the battery lives
- Not always under the bonnet. Some cars have it in the boot or under a seat, which adds time.
- Is it actually the battery
- A car that won't start isn't always a flat battery. If the alternator has stopped charging, a new battery will go flat again within days. That's what the test is for.
Your questions
How much should it cost to replace a car battery?
With us the fitting is £80 in labour, plus the £20 call-out and the battery for your car. The battery is the variable part: a standard one for a small petrol is a good deal less than an AGM for a stop-start diesel, and the car decides which it needs, not us.
What are the signs of a dying car battery?
Slow, laboured cranking when you turn the key is the classic one, especially on a cold morning. Headlights dimming at idle, electrical oddities, a battery warning light, or needing a jump start more than once are all worth taking seriously. A battery that has needed jumping twice will need it a third time.
How long does a car battery last?
Typically four to six years. Short journeys shorten that considerably, because the alternator never gets long enough to put back what starting the car took out. If yours is over five years old and starting to sound slow, it's not going to improve.
Is it the battery or the alternator?
The quick test: if the car starts fine off a jump and then dies again later, or the battery light stays on while driving, suspect the alternator rather than the battery. If it starts fine once running and only struggles after sitting overnight, the battery is more likely. We test both rather than guessing, because fitting a battery to an alternator fault just wastes your money.
Can you replace a battery if the car won't start at all?
Yes. That's the normal situation for this job. The car doesn't need to run for us to test and replace the battery, and it doesn't need to be moved anywhere.
Will I lose my radio code or settings?
On most modern cars, no. We keep power to the car while the battery is swapped where the vehicle allows it, which preserves the settings and stored codes. On some older cars a radio code may be needed, and we'll flag that before we disconnect anything.
Prices on this page are labour from £20, plus the £20 call-out and parts. Confirmed with James and current at the time of writing.
Tell us what your car's doing
A clear price agreed before anything is booked. No obligation, no pressure.
We reply within 48 hours, and if it's urgent it's quicker to ring or send a WhatsApp. There's a flat £20 call-out and then a clear price for the work, agreed before anything starts. Nothing to pay up front, no cancellation fee, and you settle up once the work is done, by card, cash or bank transfer.