Cars that run on hybrid batteries operate differently than standard cars, vans, and SUVs do. Your hybrid car will give you plenty of warning signs when it’s nearing the end of its lifespan. However, if you aren’t familiar with the warning signs, you might not realize there’s a problem until the day your car refuses to turn on.
Signs hybrid battery is dying:
Hybrid batteries do not last forever. Most batteries will die after eight and ten years of use. If your battery dies under eight years of use, it might be covered by a warranty. Outside of that, however, it’s generally your responsibility to cover the cost of dead hybrid battery repair.
In many cases, hybrid cars have two batteries: the hybrid battery, and a smaller battery to operate electronics in the car. If the smaller battery is dead, there’s no problem - it can still be driven.
However, if your hybrid battery is dead, you face a much larger problem. You may wonder, “if my hybrid battery dies, can I still drive the car?” The answer is no. Your car will not turn on and you won’t be able to operate it until you repair or replace the battery regardless if you have a Ford Fusion or Toyota Camry Hybrid.
If your hybrid car battery is dead, you might assume you need to replace it. However, is it worth replacing a hybrid battery? It’s important to do the math first — this move doesn’t always make financial sense.
How much does a hybrid battery cost? A new hybrid battery's price generally runs between $2,500 to $8,000 depending on the model, making it an expensive piece. Cost-wise, replacing the battery is equivalent to the price of an engine or transmission in a combustion-engine vehicle
You can also get a refurbished battery for between $1,000 and $2,000 depending on the model. In many cases, these provide a guarantee similar to that of a new electric battery.
It might be a good idea to replace the battery if your car is relatively new, still has a high resale value, and the cost of replacing the battery is low. Doing so may get you several more years of use out of the car, or you can resell it for a good price.
However, if your car’s value has depreciated significantly, repairing the battery may not be a good use of your money. This is because you will not get a return on your investment. Chances are, other parts of your car will begin dying soon afterward, and this will not be your last pricey trip to the mechanic.
In that case, it’s time to consider selling the car as-is.
There are still plenty of options for selling your non-running hybrid car with a dead battery. You can use the funds you get from selling the car, combined with what you saved from not buying a new battery, to purchase a newer vehicle.
You can sell your car to:
If you want to replace your car as soon as possible, trading your hybrid Toyota, Lexus, Honda, or Ford into a dealership may be a good idea. However, due to the high cost of repairs, you might get a low trade-in value for the car.
Junkyards and scrap yards specialize in tearing apart vehicles and reusing the components and metal inside. You can be paid for the scrap metal value of your car if you sell to them. It is a good idea to get different quotes from yards near you to determine what your vehicle is worth. However, not many regular junkyards will be able to provide you with a hybrid battery scrap value because they are so complex and hard to recycle.
Many private individuals in your area may be interested in purchasing and fixing up a hybrid vehicle. In some cases, this is the best way to get the most for your car. However, this depends on demand in your local area. It can take several weeks to months to complete a sale privately.
The fastest way to sell your non-running car for a fair price is to go online. Online car buyers can offer you quotes in a matter of minutes and typically include free towing so you do not have to worry about the cost of transporting it. However, not all online car buyers are alike.
CarBrain specializes in buying less-than-perfect cars. With over a decade of experience, we know how to determine a fair market value for your vehicle, no matter what condition it’s in. We can generate a quote for your Prius with dead battery, Nissan Leaf, or another hybrid battery vehicle in under 90 seconds.
Additionally, our offers always include FREE towing and FREE title transfer. There is never a charge to use CarBrain’s services — we pay you, not the other way around. Our offers are guaranteed for seven days, so you have time to think it over. And if you like our price, we can help you schedule a pickup in under 48 business hours, allowing you to get paid fast.
To sell your dead hybrid car to CarBrain, all you have to do is complete our easy three step process:
Get a guaranteed quote! To get a guaranteed quote fast, upload photos of your vehicle in its current condition and its VIN.
Schedule your pickup! Once you have our quote, you can decide whether or not you want to sell. If you like our offer, we can help you schedule a pickup at a time convenient to you.
Get paid! The tow truck driver will arrive with a check in hand. All you need to do is hand over the car keys and sign the title, and you’ll be paid on the spot. It’s that easy!
Don’t wait any longer. Find out what your car is worth today by getting a quote from CarBrain.
If your hybrid vehicle's car battery dies, you have to replace it. You don't need to get rid of the entire car, luckily, but you will need to purchase a new or refurbished hybrid battery to continue driving. Keep in mind that while a battery for a regular vehicle will run you somewhere between $50 and $100, a hybrid battery replacement cost can easily reach $2,000 or more.
Unfortunately, no. If your hybrid car won't start because your hybrid battery dies, you cannot drive the car anymore.
You would have to replace the battery in order to keep driving the vehicle, even if it's a hybrid and it still has gasoline. This is because the combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle is much less powerful, and it cannot support the vehicle the way the electric battery does.
Some early signs that your hybrid battery is bad or is going bad include decreased gas mileage, your combustion engine turning on more frequently and difficulty holding a charge. If you are experiencing bad hybrid battery symptoms, you may be looking at a potential battery replacement soon.
Hybrid batteries do die. You can typically expect a hybrid battery to last for about 80,000 to 100,000 miles, but some have been known to go longer. In some cases, defective batteries can go early, but this is uncommon.
It's perfectly possible to sell a dead hybrid car, particularly if the only thing wrong with it is a dead battery.
CarBrain, for instance, can make a fair market offer on your vehicle in just 90 seconds. Our offers are guaranteed for seven days and come with FREE towing, guaranteed. We'll pay you on the spot for your car when we pick it up in under 48 business hours!
If your Prius has a dead battery, you can still sell it for good money. Repairing it isn't an option if the battery is completely dead, but plenty of businesses know how to recycle the parts inside, including the electric battery. Call your local junkyards, as well as services like CarBrain, and compare quotes to find out what the best price you can get for your dead Prius is.
Yes — despite claims to the contrary, it is possible to tow a non running hybrid car. The car cannot be “rolled,” but a flatbed tow truck or rollback can carry it no problem.
Wondering what happens when a hybrid battery dies? If your hybrid car’s battery is gone, your vehicle is a paperweight until it can be replaced. Even if it has gasoline, it requires the battery to function — its combustion engine is much weaker than that of a regular vehicle, and it needs the juice from the electric battery to operate.