Most people search for this one in a parking lot, with a car that just clicked instead of starting. Here is the short version first, then the details that decide what you will actually pay.
The Short Answer
Market ranges, not AutoBlast's price: Kelley Blue Book's Fair Repair Range for a car battery replacement, parts and labor, for New Jersey ZIP 07004 (Fairfield), checked October 7, 2026: $334 to $510 for a 2018 Toyota Camry and $439 to $538 for a 2019 Honda CR-V. That is one North Jersey ZIP code, not a statewide figure. Each range covers both dealers and independent shops, and your car and your town can land outside them.
- At a parts store or Walmart, you pay for the battery and, on most cars, nothing for installation. AutoZone says it installs for free in most vehicles at most locations, and Walmart says it installs batteries bought there for free at participating Auto Care Centers.
- At a shop, you pay for the battery and the labor, and you should get a check of why the old battery died. That matters when the charging system or a drain killed it.
- Either way, New Jersey charges sales tax on the battery, and on the labor when there is labor.
For AutoBlast's price on your car, call (856) 546-8880 with the year, make and model. Our car battery replacement page explains what the job includes.
How Much Is a Car Battery? What Moves the Price
Four things decide where a battery job lands:
- Battery type. By AutoZone's prices, a standard flooded (lead-acid) battery costs less than an AGM battery. AutoZone says a car with start-stop, a high-end audio system or lots of power-hungry electronics probably needs AGM. Some start-stop cars take an EFB (enhanced flooded) battery instead.
- Size and rating. The group size, terminal layout and cold cranking amps have to match what your car's manufacturer specifies. AutoZone notes that a compact car may only need a smaller, inexpensive lead-acid battery, while a luxury SUV with multiple onboard electronics may call for a larger, high-capacity AGM.
- Where the battery lives. Under the hood is a quick swap. Under a seat, in the trunk or behind a fender liner adds labor, so ask before you go whether a free store install covers your car.
- Registration. Many BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volkswagen and Volvo models, and some newer Ford and GM vehicles, have to be told a new battery is in. That takes a scan tool and adds time.
The warranty is the fifth line on the receipt. Look at the free-replacement period, not just the total length, because that is the part that gets you a new battery at no charge if this one fails early.
Free Store Install vs a Shop: Which One Fits Your Car
The free install at a parts store is a good deal for the right car. It is the wrong deal when the battery is not the real problem. Here is how to tell which side you are on.
The free install is usually fine when
- The battery is under the hood and easy to reach.
- The car does not need battery registration.
- The battery is simply old, three to five years in (AutoZone's usual life for a standard battery), and the car started fine after a jump.
- There is no battery or charging warning light on the dash.
- You can drive the car to the store.
A shop install is worth paying for when
- The old battery died young. A battery that quits well short of the three to five years AutoZone gives a standard battery often had help: a weak alternator, a drain with the car off, or the wrong type. A new battery will go the same way unless that is found.
- You have needed more than one jump this season. Repeat jumps point to the charging system or a drain, not just the battery.
- The battery or charging light is on. With the engine running, a healthy charging system holds roughly 13.5 to 14.5 volts. If it is low, a new battery will go flat too.
- The car needs registration. Without it, the car keeps charging the new battery as if it were the old, worn one, which shortens its life.
- The battery is under a seat, in the trunk or behind a fender. These are the cars to ask about before counting on a free store install, and the ones where a rushed swap breaks clips, covers or terminals.
- The cables or terminals are corroded or damaged. A new battery on a bad cable acts like a bad battery.
- The car will not start at all. You cannot drive it to the store. Call first, and we will tell you whether a jump, a tow or a battery is the next step.
If two or more of those fit your car, call (856) 546-8880 before you buy a battery. We test the battery and the charging system first, so you find out whether you need a battery, an alternator, or a drain diagnosis.
Why South Jersey Batteries Die in December and January
AAA puts it simply: the cold has a cumulative effect on a car battery, and the colder it gets, the weaker the battery. That is how a battery that started the car fine in September leaves you stuck in January.
- How much weaker: AAA told CBS Philadelphia in January 2017 that at 32°F a battery is 35 percent weaker than normal, and at 0°F it loses 60 percent of its strength. On one Monday that month, AAA logged a little over 2,300 calls in the Philadelphia area, 1,068 of them for dead batteries.
- How cold it gets here: NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for Philadelphia International Airport, across the Delaware from Camden County, put the normal January low at 26°F. The station averages 17.2 nights below freezing in December, 22.5 in January and 19.6 in February.
- How long batteries last: AutoZone puts a standard lead-acid battery at three to five years, depending on climate and use. AAA recommends a battery test once a battery is three years old and regular checks after that, so October or November, before the cold, is the time to test an older one.
Short trips make it worse, because a quick run to the store may not put back what the start took out. Our guide on how long a car battery lasts goes deeper on lifespan.
Which Battery Your Car Needs
- Standard flooded (lead-acid): for cars that were not built for AGM or EFB.
- EFB (enhanced flooded battery): fitted to some cars with start-stop.
- AGM (absorbent glass mat): AutoZone says a car with start-stop, a high-end audio system or lots of power-hungry electronics probably needs one. If your car left the factory with AGM, it needs AGM again.
- Size and rating: match the group size, the terminal layout and at least the cold cranking amps your manufacturer specifies.
The label on the battery you have now, or the owner's manual, tells you the type. If the last battery was the wrong type, the next one should not copy it.
Is It the Battery, the Alternator or the Starter?
- Slow, labored crank that gets worse in the cold: usually the battery.
- Starts after a jump but dies again soon after, with normal driving in between: suspect the charging system or a drain.
- Battery light on while you drive: usually the charging system, not the battery.
- One loud click, dash lights stay bright, engine does not turn: often the starter. See starter replacement cost.
- Cranks strongly but will not fire: not the battery. Our car won't start guide walks through the fuel and ignition side.
What to Ask on Any Battery Quote
- Which battery is it: type, group size and cold cranking amps?
- How long is the free-replacement period on the warranty?
- Does my car need registration, and is it included?
- Was the charging system checked, and what did it read?
- Is there a core charge, and is the old battery recycled?
- Is sales tax included in the number you gave me?
On the last two: lead-acid batteries are regulated as universal waste and cannot go in the trash (EPA, Universal Waste), and New Jersey's Division of Taxation says batteries are taxable with or without labor, at the 6.625 percent Sales Tax rate (ANJ-6).
Battery Replacement at AutoBlast in Audubon
If your car cranks slowly, needed a jump this week, or is on a battery more than three years old, here is what happens when you bring it to AutoBlast at 21 S. White Horse Pike in Audubon:
- A load test on the battery and a check of the charging system, before anything is replaced.
- If the battery passes, we look for the real cause: the alternator, the starter, or a drain with the car off.
- If it fails, a replacement matched to your car's group size, battery type and cold cranking amps.
- A check of the terminals and cables.
- Registration or coding on vehicles that require it.
- Recycling of the old battery.
When the right battery is in stock, most replacements are done while you wait. Call (856) 546-8880 with the year, make and model for the price on your car, or read more on the car battery replacement page. If the car will not start right now, call first: if a jump gets it running, drive it straight to the shop without shutting it off, and we will test it when you arrive.
Drivers bring cars to us from Audubon, Haddon Heights, Haddonfield, Collingswood, Oaklyn, Mt. Ephraim, Bellmawr, Barrington, Cherry Hill and the rest of Camden County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $200 expensive for a car battery?
It depends on what the $200 buys. If it is the installed price at a shop, it is below both Kelley Blue Book ranges quoted in this guide (Fair Repair Range, parts and labor, for New Jersey ZIP 07004, Fairfield, checked October 7, 2026: $334 to $510 for a 2018 Toyota Camry and $439 to $538 for a 2019 Honda CR-V), so ask which battery it is: the type (flooded, EFB or AGM), the cold cranking amps and the free-replacement warranty. If it is the price of the battery alone, compare it with the same group size, type and warranty at two or three stores before you decide.
Will AutoZone change my battery?
In most cases, yes. AutoZone says it offers free battery installation in most vehicles at most locations when you buy the battery there. It does not list the exceptions, so call ahead if the battery is hard to reach (under a seat, in the trunk or behind a fender liner) or if the car needs the new battery registered with a scan tool.
How much does AutoZone charge to put in a new battery?
Nothing on most vehicles, according to AutoZone: installation is free with the battery purchase in most vehicles at most locations. You pay for the battery itself, plus New Jersey sales tax. If your car turns out to be one of the exceptions, get a shop quote as well.
Who has cheaper car batteries, Walmart or AutoZone?
Neither one is cheaper on every battery, and prices change. Compare the same group size, battery type, cold cranking amps and free-replacement warranty at both, using each store's lookup by year, make and model. Both install for free when you buy the battery from them: AutoZone on most vehicles at most locations, and Walmart at participating Auto Care Centers, depending on the battery and the vehicle.
What is the cheapest place to buy car batteries?
Usually a parts store or a big-box store that installs for free with purchase, as long as your car is an easy swap and the battery is the only problem. It stops being the cheapest option when the car needs registration, when the battery sits somewhere hard to reach, or when the old battery died because of a charging or drain problem, because the new one will die the same way.
What car batteries should you stay away from?
The wrong type for your car (a flooded battery in a car built for AGM), a battery with fewer cold cranking amps than the manufacturer specifies, and a battery that has sat on a shelf for months. Check the date code on the case and the free-replacement period on the warranty, not just the total warranty length.
What kills a car battery the most?
Age and cold together. AutoZone puts a standard lead-acid battery at three to five years, depending on climate and use, and AAA says the cold has a cumulative effect: a battery is 35 percent weaker at 32°F and loses 60 percent of its strength at 0°F. Other common causes are short trips that never recharge it, something drawing power with the car off, and a charging system that is not putting enough back in.
Which car battery has the longest lifespan?
AutoZone says AGM and premium batteries generally have better durability and performance than basic lead-acid models, and handle extreme temperatures and heavy electrical loads more effectively. AutoZone puts a standard lead-acid battery at three to five years, depending on climate and use. Fit the type your car was built for: a car that came with AGM needs AGM again.
Do car batteries give warning before dying?
Often, but not always. AutoZone lists the signs: the engine cranks slowly, the headlights or interior lights dim at idle, corrosion or swelling on the battery case, the battery light stays on, the check engine light comes on with low-voltage codes, and power windows or the radio start acting up. Some batteries fail with no warning at all, which is why AAA recommends testing a battery once it is three years old.
How long does a battery replacement take?
About 15 to 20 minutes when the battery is under the hood, 20 to 30 minutes when the car needs registration, and 30 to 45 minutes when the battery sits under a seat, in the trunk or behind a fender. Checking the charging system adds time if the first test points away from the battery.
Can I replace a car battery myself?
On an older car with the battery under the hood and no registration requirement, yes: take the negative cable off first, put it back on last, and keep tools from touching both terminals at once. Skip it if the car needs registration, if the battery is in the trunk or under a seat, or if you are not sure the battery is the problem.
What do I do with my old car battery?
Return it where you buy the new one. Lead-acid batteries are regulated as universal waste and cannot go in the trash, and stores that sell batteries take the old one back for recycling. Many add a core charge to the new battery and refund it when you bring the old one in.
Sources
- Kelley Blue Book, battery replacement prices: Fair Repair Range, parts and labor, for New Jersey ZIP 07004 (Fairfield), checked October 7, 2026: $334 to $510 for a 2018 Toyota Camry and $439 to $538 for a 2019 Honda CR-V.
- AutoZone, How Much Is a Car Battery?: free installation in most vehicles at most locations, battery life and AGM durability (page as captured July 18, 2026).
- Walmart, Battery Install: free installation with a Walmart battery at participating Auto Care Centers.
- CBS Philadelphia, AAA Receives Over 1,000 Calls For Dead Car Batteries Due To Cold Weather (January 10, 2017).
- NOAA NCEI, 1991-2020 monthly normals, Philadelphia International Airport (USW00013739).
- NJ Division of Taxation, Publication ANJ-6, Auto Repair Shops & New Jersey Sales Tax (Rev. 10/17), and the Sales and Use Tax rate.
- U.S. EPA, Universal Waste.
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