re: How long did your OEM car battery last?

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Best advice I ever got from the owner of my auto service provider is to replace the battery every 3 years as the average life of an auto battery in the in the Deep South is 3 1/2 years. Never been stranded or inconvenienced with a “dead” battery in 20+ years I’ve followed this practice.

This article helps explain why some auto batteries die sooner than others Why Batteries Die. Driving habits play a significant role in battery life.

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This is not a terrible strategy in the South for lead-acid batteries.

I've gotten as little as 3 years and up to 5 years in the past. At least if you replace every 3 years it's on your terms, not who knows where.

The newer AGM batteries on newer cars might be an exception. If the charging system is designed for an AGM they can last much longer. I have a 2018 F150 that I changed the OEM AGM battery out at 5 years just as a matter of "it was time".