As you know, your car battery is the heart of your vehicle. It provides the power needed to start your car, truck, or SUV. In addition, it powers your windshield wipers, lights, and radio even when your engine is off. If you need to replace a dead car battery or upgrade your current one, it’s important to understand the difference between each type of car battery.

What are the four main types of batteries used in cars? 

The four main types of car batteries are value-regulated, gel cell, dry cell, and deep cycle. Value-regulated batteries are the current state-of-the-art design. This type of battery differs from traditional sealed flooded wet cell batteries because it features a sophisticated valve design.

Gel cell batteries have all the benefits of a fluid electrolyte without a chance of spilling. They are also a lot easier to keep stable at all temperatures, making them good for various driving needs.

Meanwhile, dry cell batteries use a glass mesh and work like wet cell batteries. The biggest difference is that dry cell reduces spilling and allows the battery to be positioned in any direction. Lastly, deep cycle batteries are most common in camping and boating. Additionally, they can be recharged and can power extra lighting and environmental systems if needed.

How to choose the best car battery for your car

There are two significant factors to think about: your driving style and your engine size. You may want a large-capacity battery. However, it might not be the right fit for your specific model. 

The best way to find out which battery is right for your car is to reference your owner’s manual or technical handbook. There you’ll find many options that will work for your car – so you won’t have to second-guess your purchase. Do your research because there’s nothing worse than being stuck on the side of the road with a dead battery!

Do you need another way to pick out the correct car battery? If so, you can use a battery fitment lookup in an online catalog. All you will have to do is look for the individual options. From there, you can find out the combination of battery type, features, and price point that works for your budget. The process is simple and will only take you a few minutes.

How choosing the best battery can affect your car’s performance

According to the experts at AutoZone, “Battery type affects performance in small but important ways because each design for a battery has a different performance range. They only vary slightly in voltage, but their construction also determines how fast they charge and how much energy they can store.”

“Some battery types are typically only used in recreational vehicles and boats in modern constructions, but you should always check to see what kind of battery you have before buying an upgrade,” AutoZone added.

Something else to consider is buying the right type of battery based on your vehicle’s requirements and the climate you live in. Remember, every time you turn your car on, the battery has to crack out power and voltage.