NAPA Auto Battery Warranty (Coverage, Claims + More)


NAPA Auto Battery Warranty

NAPA batteries are private label batteries, meaning that they are made by another manufacturer, not by NAPA. NAPA’s private-label batteries are their bread and butter, however, so what kind of warranty do they place on them? 

NAPA sells Optima batteries that come with a 24-month warranty, along with NAPA’s own Legend and Legend Premium batteries that come with an 18 and 24-month warranty respectively. NAPA’s Power batteries come with an 18-month warranty. 

For what it’s worth, NAPA batteries are believed to be made by DEKA and are manufactured by East Penn.

Deka batteries (at least those for automotive and industrial use) come with a 24-hour warranty. Interestingly enough, NAPA cuts the warranty down by 6 months on some of its NAPA-labeled, DEKA-made batteries. 

What Batteries Does NAPA Sell and What are Their Warranties?

NAPA sells Optima, NAPA Legend Premium, NAPA Legend, and NAPA Power batteries. All of the batteries that are sold at NAPA come with a warranty. 

  • NAPA Power: These batteries come with an 18-month warranty
  • NAPA Legend Premium: NAPA’s premium batteries come with a 24-month warranty
  • NAPA Legend: NAPA Legend batteries come with an 18-month warranty
  • Optima: The Optima battery is a non-NAPA battery that comes with a 36-month warranty

The Optima battery is far and away the battery with the longest warranty offered at NAPA Auto Parts. The closest the NAPA batteries come is 24 months if you opt for the NAPA Legend Premium. 

If any of the above batteries are defective, NAPA will cover the full cost of the battery and refund your purchase or exchange your purchase for a brand new battery. NAPA also offers pro-rated replacements after the term of the battery has expired.

For instance, if you bring in a NAPA Legend battery after the warranty is expired, you will get a discount on the next NAPA battery that you buy. The discount is determined by both the age and condition of the battery. 

Anytime you visit NAPA’s website, you will have the opportunity to calculate the partial value of the battery you want to replace.

Of course, if you are responsible for a failing battery, then the warranty will be voided and you won’t be able to trade it in for a replacement, at least not for free. 

NAPA won’t accept batteries that have not been taken care of. If you bring it in with a cracked case, burned, broken as the result of an accident, dropped, or otherwise damaged outside of what would be considered a manufacturer defect, you won’t be able to use the warranty. 

Read also >> Napa Battery Warranty Without Receipt (What’s Covered + More)

Read also >> NAPA Gold Battery Warranty (Coverage, Claims + More)

What is Not Covered By NAPA’s Battery Warranty?

NAPA makes it pretty difficult for consumers that want to replace their batteries under a warranty claim. That’s because there are so many things on the list that have to be precise. 

  • The batteries essentially have to be unaltered in any way
  • Damaged from neglect, misuse, or intentional abuse
  • If the battery has been frozen
  • Explosive, fire, or collision damage
  • The case is broken or cracked
  • Additives that apply to the battery
  • An overcharged battery is unacceptable
  • Discharged
  • Improperly tested

Basically, what NAPA is saying, is that the battery goes in the car, it doesn’t work, and it comes back out when you file a warranty claim.

If anything, else happens somewhere in between, you’re in danger of not being able to file a claim on the warranty because NAPA won’t accept it.

NAPA Pro Rata

We mentioned this a little bit above but pro-rata is money that you get discounted from the new battery when you turn in the old battery.

You only get pro-rata when your NAPA battery is past its warranty coverage period.

So, even if your warranty period is over, you can still get a little bit of something out of it regardless. Pro-Rata replacements cover all of the batteries that you purchase at NAPA. It doesn’t matter if it’s an Optima batter or a NAPA Legends Premium. 

If your battery exceeds one of the above-listed warranties, you can still get something out of it. The way NAPA determines the value of the battery is by taking the original cost of the battery and dividing it by how many months the warranty was for. 

The resulting number is multiplied by the number of months that the battery has been used. The final number is deducted from the cost of the new or replacement battery that you are currently purchasing. 

Where to Review the Warranty Policy on NAPA Batteries

You can catch the entire PDF breakdown of what NAPA warranties cover by visiting their online Limited Warranty Policy Explanation here.

The list includes every warranty provision for every battery that NAPA offers, including batteries that are not part of the automotive or industrial industries. 

The list also includes what the warranties do not include and a bit of information on how the pro-rata policy works. This includes the formula for how NAPA breaks down their pro-rata routine, which we listed above. 

If you want to know how to keep up with the dates, NAPA’s PDF lays that out as well, using the sticker that comes with each NAPA battery. 

Best for Extreme Temperatures
Best Overall
Best For Hybrid Vehicles

Batteries drain faster in cold weather, and when it comes to extreme temperature tolerance, especially in northern climes, the Odyssey Extreme Series 34/78 – PC1500 battery is the best bang for the buck. It can operate at temperatures ranging from -40°C to 45°C (-40°F to 104°F).

The Optima 35 RedTop is the go-to battery for everything from commuter cars and pickup to classic hot rods and off-road machines thanks to its high power and reserve capacity, quick starting ability and leak proof lead acid design

The ACDelco Gold B24R Hybrid battery features an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) design which allows for the high cycling capabilities that hybrid vehicles need for optimum performance. They are, after all, constantly shutting off and restarting their engines. 

Best for Extreme Temperatures

Batteries drain faster in cold weather, and when it comes to extreme temperature tolerance, especially in northern climes, the Odyssey Extreme Series 34/78 – PC1500 battery is the best bang for the buck. It can operate at temperatures ranging from -40°C to 45°C (-40°F to 104°F).

Best Overall

The Optima 35 RedTop is the go-to battery for everything from commuter cars and pickup to classic hot rods and off-road machines thanks to its high power and reserve capacity, quick starting ability and leak proof lead acid design

Best For Hybrid Vehicles

The ACDelco Gold B24R Hybrid battery features an Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) design which allows for the high cycling capabilities that hybrid vehicles need for optimum performance. They are, after all, constantly shutting off and restarting their engines. 

All Things Considered

The warranty that NAPA provides on each of its batteries is relatively generous, even though there is evidence that the hidden brand behind NAPA’s private label is offering longer warranty coverage periods on the very same battery that’s listed under their own name. 

The most important thing to do when you purchase a NAPA battery is to never do anything with it outside of using it as it’s intended to be used. Anything else risks voiding the warranty.

References

https://media.napaonline.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/957385pdf?$PDF$

Jeff

Jeff is an automotive technician, technical writer, and Managing Editor. He has held a lifelong passion for cars, with a particular interest in cars like the Buick Reatta. Jeff has been creating written and video content about transportation, automotive, electric cars, future vehicles as well as new, used for more than 18 years. Jeff is based in Boulder, Colorado.

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