Why is 12 V replacement battery so expensive?

I bought a cheap 12 pack of bathroom tissue today. It cost $9.00. Batteries are no exception in this day and age. Have you bought any antifreeze lately?

 

The batteries "recommended" for most Prius models......until VERY recently.....are all AGM type.
That automatically raises the price, but also the reliability.
An added factor is volume; not a lot of Priii out there.

Living in a "high cost" area will boost the price too.
How many different places have you tried ?
I think most reports of the best price have come in around $175.

 

it is a very unusual size. you can go with something much cheaper, but you have to be willing to live with some risk.
also, if you shop around auto parts stores, some do as good as $150. for an oem equivalent

 

It is expensive because it is AGM type battery. You cannot use normal type of battery because it will have fumes which is toxic. Since the battery is in the car, the fumes will be easily inhaled. Plus the Prius' AGM can last around 7 years which calculating per month actually is not that bad.

 

gen 4 is under the hood, still expensive and an unusual size

 

Which brand and the # of ply?

 

The official Toyota parts online with pickup at my local dealer is about $155 for just the battery. I'll be installing the battery myself in a few months when my car hits 5 years old.

Out if curiosity, how much does a dealer charge to install?

 

Thanks! Still way cheaper for me to install. Doesn't look difficult to either. Maybe Toyota parts online will be cheaper for the battery (no install of course)

 

That depends on where you LIVE.
And which dealer you ask.
There is no "stock" price.

 

Didn't we already talk about the possible pitfalls of ordering batteries online ??

No, I guess we didn't in this thread.

In general, batteries can NOT be shipped with the acid IN them.
So your "mail order" battery will come with the acid in a plastic bottle and you must add it yourself AND then charge it up. If you don't have an appropriate charger that can be a problem.

Then.....what do you do to properly dispose of the old battery ??

And.....what do you do if it turns out your new battery is bad ??

 

Prices went up since COVID....I think. My cost from Toyota and Worldpac used to be in the $160-$170 range but went up to $190-$200 when I checked last week.

 

Earlier I stated Toyota parts online with local dealer pickup. My local dealer parts online are quite a bit cheaper than just walking in. While i haven't ordered a Prius 12v battery before, I doubt ordering it this way would result in the acid being in a bottle.

 

$200. at my dealer last year, plus tax. i have seen dealers charge upwards of $200. for installation.

maybe the most expensive at $450. all in

 

I ordered a ACDelco battery for mine a while back from Amazon...maybe a year, I don't remember. Free shipping...It came with the acid already in it. It was $165 but only a 24 month battery. The positive post was bent and the plastic around it cracked because some idiot at Amazon put the original "this side up" box into an Amazon box upside down. They sent me a replacement, but did not want me to ship back the bad one due to hazardous chemicals. No fluid had leaked out. I straightened the post, epoxied the crack and installed it on my Prius (installation took about 10 minutes), sold the other one for $125 new in the box.
So Sam, All that crap you posted about ordering a battery online is horsehockey!

Also a battery can be bought at various auto parts stores and installed yourself. I checked and most said they would have to order it, they didn't have it in stock. That's when I decided to just order it myself and get in in 2 days.

 

No I got an AGM battery.....the point is not what I got and I'm not recommending the battery I got....the point was that you CAN order a battery without all the so called problems another poster stated would happen.