No-one wants to pay over the odds for something straightforward, but research has shown that a car battery price can fluctuate wildly depending on where you buy it from. Here’s why.

The worst culprits charging the highest prices are often dealers. Battery manufacturers can only recommend a retail price, so it’s up to each dealership to set its own charges. Many people who’ve bought their car new from a dealer think they have to use that outlet again for replacement parts, but that’s not the case. You can often get a better car battery price elsewhere. Then there’s large chains of physical stores. While these can be cheaper than dealerships because they buy in bulk, they may also inflate prices to cover the expenses of running their bricks-and-mortar store. Remember, sellers may also be quoting for battery installation, which can hike prices up. But if you’re capable of fitting the battery on your own, you can save a fortune on this.

For many people, the best car battery price available will be online. Provided you know the exact specs you need, you can shop around from home to get a great deal.