Is your car’s battery due for a replacement soon? Are you wondering if switching to an Interstate battery than your current brand is worth it? If so, one thing you need to learn is the Interstate Battery warranty and return policy.
According to Interstate battery, you only need to present the battery requiring replacement to any All-Battery Center branch. You may also do this in any IB-authorized warranty dealer. You may want to call ahead to ensure that they have your battery in stock. The dealer will then test the battery. If found to be defective, they will replace it outright with a new one.
Read on to learn more about the Interstate battery warranty and return policy and what it covers.
Interstate Battery Warranty
Provides Warranties Ranging from Six Months to Four Years
Interstate Battery provides warranties ranging from six months to four years for the free replacement period. This can also reach up to six years with the additional discount period.
MTZ Model Batteries’ Warranty
For instance, the MTZ model batteries come with a 4-year free replacement warranty. If any factory defect surfaced within that period, you would get a free battery.
MTP Automotive Batteries’ Warranty
On the other hand, MTP automotive batteries have a 30-month free replacement period. However, you can get a huge discount on a replacement if you get one after that.
The amount discounted will depend on how old the battery is. For instance, if it is less than four years old, you can get a 45% discount on a new battery.
Allowed to Get an Identical Replacement
If you are eligible for a battery replacement, you may only get an identical replacement. It could at least be reasonably equivalent to the original battery. Also, the SRP when you bring your battery for replacement may not be similar to your original payment.
There may also be some cases when dealers use different pricing structures. A dealer might offer you a lower price than others. However, you will still need to pay local taxes. If the dealer insists, there may also be labor costs for installation.
What Kind of Warranty Comes with an Interstate Battery?
Interstate battery typically provides warranties on their products ranging from 6 months to 4 years from purchase. Some batteries even come with a combined warranty covering six years or 36,000 miles. The car’s warranty covers the brand new car’s battery in most cases.
What kind of warranty comes with an Interstate Battery?
Free Replacement
Under the Free Replacement warranty, Interstate Battery provides a free, brand-new replacement unit if it malfunctions. However, the damage or malfunction is still subject to certain conditions.
External Damage
For instance, if the battery has external damage. It could be a cracked or dented casing resulting from its accidental dropping or hitting with a blunt object.
Issues with Battery Terminals
It could also be that the battery terminals seemed damaged. The warranty does not cover anything that could have been spotted via a visual inspection before finalizing the sale.
Composite Warranty
Some of the Interstate Battery products come with a composite warranty. To be more specific, certain battery models have a period of Free Replacement and then go into a Pro-Rata warranty.
Pro-Rata Warranty
You do not get a free replacement once the battery is in the Pro-Rata warranty period. You can purchase another one at a huge discount instead. In addition, new batteries purchased will be placed under a new warranty.
MT Model Automotive Batteries’ Composite Warranty
For instance, a free replacement warranty covers the MT model automotive batteries for the first 18 months. After that, it will be in a Pro-Rata warranty.
In this case, you can buy a new one at 45% of SRP. However, this type of warranty is also subject to the same terms regarding damage as the free replacement warranty.
How and When to Get Your Car Battery Warranty
No Need to Register Your Warranty
If your battery malfunctioned or sustained damage that is not your fault, you can claim the warranty. Unlike some other battery brands, you do not need to register your warranty.
Take the Battery to an Authorized Dealer
If you believe that your Interstate Battery is malfunctioning, take it to an authorized dealer to claim your warranty. You do not need to go to the same store where you brought it from initially.
Wait for the Dealer to Test the Battery
To ensure you will not be wasting your and the dealership’s time, you should call before going. Ask your nearest dealership if they have the same model battery. Once there, you can hand over the battery. Wait a while for the dealership to finish testing it.
Get Your New and Properly Functioning Battery
Once the dealership confirms the defective battery, they will hand over a new and properly functioning one to you. Along with the new battery, you will also get a fresh warranty. This means that the timer essentially resets for the warranty.
More on Interstate Battery Warranty
Before you claim the warranty for your Interstate Battery, you need to check a couple of pointers.
Warranty Period
The car battery starts at the date of purchase of the original owner. If you bought a secondhand car with an Interstate battery, the warranty started when the original owner bought it.
This also applies when you bought the battery but did not install it until after a couple of months. The warranty period started to count down when it left the store, not when you installed it.
Bring the Original Receipt for Faster Transaction
In most Interstate Battery dealerships, the battery is the only thing you need to bring when claiming a warranty. They already have sales records of all the batteries they sold. They need the serial number. However, if you want to speed up the process, bring the original receipt when claiming the warranty.
Authorized Dealer Will Test the Defective Battery
Also, the dealership will not just take your word for it. They will be testing the batteries themselves to see if they are defective. They will also check for signs of neglect, misuse, and abuse. You have to take good care of your battery to have a valid warranty.
What Does Interstate Battery Do with Old or Defective Batteries?
Interstate Battery Stores Buy Old Batteries for Scrap Price
The batteries that Interstate Battery makes contain lead. This means that disposing of it yourself will not be easy. Fortunately, you do not have to dispose of your old battery yourself. Just bring them to any Interstate Battery branches as they will buy those off you for scrap price.
Have Been Recycling Almost a Billion Pounds of Lead Scrapped from Batteries
Lead is almost infinitely reusable and recyclable, but only in the hands of a responsible recycler. For many generations, Interstate Battery has been doing its part to make the world a greener place. Almost every year, they have been recycling almost a billion pounds of lead scrapped from batteries.
This is thanks to their huge network of battery distributors all over North America and the company’s recycling team. The company makes it a point to find scrap batteries from rural and urban areas.
They have moved millions of pounds of scrap lead from people’s garages, basements, and even landfills. They then placed them in the capable hands of responsible battery recyclers.
Recycled More Than 3 Billion Pounds of Scrap Lead Between 2016 and 2018
Between 2016 and 2018, Interstate Battery recycled more than 3 billion pounds of scrap lead from batteries. This accounts for nearly 25% of all recycled lead worldwide, making them the biggest lead recycler in North America.
Battery’s Brand Does Not Matter
It does not matter what car battery brand it is. Interstate Battery will gladly take the scrap lead and use it to make new batteries. According to Battery Council International’s (BCI) estimates, more than 99% of all lead-acid batteries made were recycled.
However, like Interstate Battery, responsible recyclers do not just recycle lead. They also use plastic and battery acid. At almost 100% recyclability, lead batteries are more recyclable than aluminum cans, paper, and glass.
Again, is Interstate battery a good battery? Interstate batteries are considered one of the best due to their high ratings. It is sturdy, reliable, and can provide excellent performance.
History of Interstate Battery
John Searcy Started a Small Business Selling Car Batteries to Dealerships
In 1959, John Searcy started a small business selling car batteries to Dallas, Fort Worth dealerships. He did everything from doing paperwork to delivering his batteries from the back of his old Studebaker truck.
Interstate Battery System
After two years of working hard, Searcy started his own company, Interstate Battery System. He got the name from the then-new Interstate highway system. It was still being built across the country at the time.
Miller Expanded the Company
After more than 15 years at the helm of Interstate Battery, Searcy retired and handed it over to Norm Miller. Miller would continue to expand the company. He even did so at a surprisingly fast pace. In 1980, Interstate had more than 50 dealerships scattered in all the states and Canada.
Interstate Battery Great American Race
Around this time, the company first held the Interstate Battery Great American Race. For 13 years, this race took vintage car owners on a two-week cross-country journey. This was one of the best marketing schemes that Interstate Battery has done. It led to making the brand known nationwide.
Tommy Miller Took Over as CEO and President
By 1990, Tommy Miller would take over for his brother as the company’s CEO and president. Meanwhile, Norm remained as the board chairman.
This is the time when Interstate Battery would get into NASCAR. The company became the title sponsor of Joe Gibb’s team in 1992, which eventually won the Winston Cup in 2000.
Types of Batteries Interstate Battery Makes
Although they are their best sellers, Interstate Battery makes more than just lead-acid batteries. Here is the complete lineup of the types of batteries the company manufactures:
1. Lead-acid
Gaston Plante, a French physicist, invented the lead-acid battery in 1859, the first rechargeable battery ever.
Feature a Negative Electrode with Porous Lead Material
Lead-acid batteries feature a negative electrode with porous lead material and a positive electrode made from lead oxide. For those who don’t know, the electrode is a conductor in contact with the circuit’s non-metallic parts.
Cheap to Make
Lead-acid batteries are incredibly cheap to make. They also have an extremely long life and can provide high-surge currents on demand.
Most Popular Type Used for Automotive Purposes
From its invention, the lead battery took the industry by storm. It still makes the bulk of all the batteries made today. Lead-acid batteries remain the most popular type used for automotive purposes.
Lowest Energy Density of All Battery Types
However, despite its popularity, it has the lowest energy density of all battery types. In other words, you will have to recharge them often.
2. Calcium Batteries
A Form of Lead-acid Battery
A calcium battery, despite the name, is still a form of lead-acid battery. The only difference is that it uses a different type of alloy. Common lead-acid batteries use lead-antimony for the grid. Meanwhile, calcium batteries focus more on using lead-calcium-silver.
Have Higher Resistance Against Corrosion
Compared to typical lead-acid batteries, calcium batteries have higher resistance against corrosion. This means that calcium batteries have longer service lifespans. They can also retain an ideal starting power for a longer time.
Harder to Charge
However, despite the benefits, calcium batteries are only for specific applications. Specifically, they are harder to charge, requiring a higher charging voltage from the alternator.
3. Deep Cycle Battery
Deeper Discharge Level
Just like a calcium battery, a deep cycle battery is also a form of lead-acid battery. However, as its name suggests, it has a deeper discharge level. Typically, it is possible to discharge a deep cycle battery down to 20% before a significant drop in performance.
This battery is not usually for regular vehicles, such as cars and trucks. The reason is that they have alternators that continuously charge the batteries.
Ideal for Recreational Vehicles
These batteries are often ideal for recreational vehicles. Some examples are golf carts and e-bikes. Deep cycle batteries are also the usual choice for energy storage for residential solar panels and windmills.
4. AGM Batteries
Modern Take on the Traditional Lead-acid Battery
An Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) battery is a modern take on the traditional lead-acid battery. Because modern cars now come standard with several electronics, they need batteries that can supply enough energy.
Higher Output
AGM batteries have glass mats that cushion between thin lead plates. You will notice this feature allowing the battery to store more energy. It also has a higher output.
Have Valves That Help Regulate the Gas Buildup
In addition, AGM batteries have valves that help regulate gas buildup inside the batteries while charging. This can add another layer of safety.
Last Longer and Charge Faster
Compared to the traditional flooded batteries, AGM batteries are safer. They also last longer and charge faster.
5. EFB Batteries
Enhanced Flooded Batteries (EFBs) have similarities to the traditional flooded lead-acid batteries that have existed for over 160 years.
However, an EFB is a much-improved version of the old design. It can hold more energy and is more durable. It also boasts of its improved cycling. The materials used are relatively the same but constructed using a more efficient design.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Kind of Battery Does My Car Need?
If you ask about size, you will need to consult the owner’s manual. You may also want to check the label on the old battery if you still have it. It is possible to connect a larger battery than what’s intended for your car.
However, you will find that it will be pretty tricky to mount. Also, if the terminals are not in the right position, the cables might not even reach.
Should I Test My Car Batteries?
Technically, you should not test your battery, but your mechanic could. The main reason is that you might not have the right tools or even know how to do it.
To answer the question, should you have your batteries tested regularly? Not really. It is unnecessary to load test your batteries, especially if it is less than two years old.
However, if you live somewhere warm, have it checked annually. If you live somewhere cold, check it after four years. Batteries tend to fail quicker in warm, humid climates.
Can I Change the Type of Battery My Car Uses?
It might be possible to switch to a different type of battery but consult with a trusted mechanic first. It is better to err on the side of caution, always.
If your car comes with a specific type of battery, you don’t have to switch to a more advanced type. However, if you add a significant amount of electronics, you should get a battery capable of handling the load.
Is The Costco Interstate Battery the Same as Interstate Battery?
Yes, Costco is one of the partner retailers that carry Interstate batteries. However, the Costco Interstate battery warranty is different. Costco only covers up to 36 months from the date of purchase. On the other hand, other retailers can go up to 72 months.
Conclusion – Interstate Battery Warranty and Return Policy
To claim your Interstate car battery warranty, you only need to present the original battery to any All Battery Center. You can also visit any IB-authorized warranty dealer. You can walk into the service center to have your battery replaced. However, it would be best to call them first.
This will allow them to check if they have your battery in stock. The dealer will need to test and inspect the battery to see if it is still eligible for a warranty claim. If it is indeed defective, they will replace it with a new battery with a new warranty.
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