AAA Battery Tips

It’s road trip season in America, and all that extra travel causes unexpected breakdowns for millions of motorists every summer. Hot weather and those additional travel miles can put a strain on vehicle components, especially car batteries.

“Car maintenance should be done year-round, but you should pay particular attention to certain aspects during the warmer summer months,” said Matt Philips, operations manager of automotive services, AAA East Central. “While we rescue millions of motorists at the roadside during the summer, many of those breakdowns are preventable. One thing you can do to avoid a potential breakdown is have your car battery tested especially if it’s more than three years old.”

Car starter batteries—the 12-volt batteries used to start the engine and power accessories in most cars—typically last 3 to 5 years but can fail much sooner if not properly checked and maintained. Since the beginning of 2025, AAA East Central has already received more than 80,000 calls for battery issues.

AAA’s Mobile Battery Service program recommends regular battery testing and provides a convenient testing and replacement service for potential battery issues:

• A certified AAA emergency Roadside Assistance technician arrives wherever the vehicle is located – at a residence, business or stranded by the highway – 24/7
• Using state-of-the-art technology, the battery is tested within just a few minutes
• Motorists are given a detailed battery diagnosis and a recommendation for a jump-start, charge or replacement battery
• If a replacement is necessary, it can be installed on-site and the old battery recycled

More information about battery testing and replacement can be found here.

AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 69 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.  News releases are available at news.eastcentral.aaa.com.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.