Hybrid car batteries are not as affordable as your everyday gas vehicle. In fact, you may be shocked at the price if you’re not ready for it. How much does a Toyota Prius Battery Replacement cost, for example?
In this guide, I will lay out the price of the Toyota hybrid battery. I will also show you the warning signs that you need a new one.
How Much Does A Toyota Prius Battery Replacement Cost?
The average price to replace the high-voltage battery in the Toyota Prius is somewhere around $2,000-$4,500. Even if you go the used Prius battery route, it could be about $1,500 plus labor to put it in.
It is best to budget for this expense when the hybrid car life purchased.
Factors Affecting Toyota Prius Battery Replacement Cost
#1. New vs. Used.
The costliest option available is a brand-new Prius battery. This is not needed in many applications.
You can also select a used Toyota hybrid battery, which will be the lowest cost. Otherwise, look for a local refurbished Prius hybrid battery as an in-between option.
#2. Labor Costs.
You will have to pay an above-average amount of labor costs because of the specialized work being done. Plus, finding a mechanic who knows what they are doing with hybrid batteries will be a challenge. It may only take a couple of hours to replace the battery, but this is the technicians’ specialty, and they charge you for it.
If you decide to visit a local car dealership, you will have the highest labor costs. Check to see if driving to the outskirts of the city will provide more competitive labor costs for a very similar service. Just make sure that they have the right credentials for the job!
#3. Warranty Coverage.
There are some rare cases when the warranty will cover the cost of your Prius battery replacement. If you have a Prius model that is a 2019 or older, you have an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on the battery.
If you live in a state that is governed by California emissions laws, that warranty is 10 years/150,000 miles instead.
Going forward from 2020, Toyota extended the warranty coverage. Now, all newer models provide the 10-year/150,000-mile battery warranty instead. If your hybrid battery fails under warranty, you want to visit your local dealer for help, ensuring the fastest service and free battery replacement.
How Often Does a Toyota Prius Battery Have to Be Replaced?
The Prius hybrid battery typically will not fail before the warranty runs out. Thus, it should last a minimum of 100,000 miles or eight to ten years. However, you will likely do a battery replacement at some time throughout the hybrid car’s lifespan. The more you take care of the hybrid, the less batteries you will be changing.
There are a few ways to temporarily patch things up, but none of these are going to extend the battery life much longer. You will still replace the battery down the line, which is one of the most expensive components of owning a hybrid.
Signs that your Toyota Prius battery is failing
#1. The battery will not hold a charge.
As with a regular gas engine battery, a worn-out hybrid battery will not hold a charge the same way as it ages. This is a tell-tale sign that it is time for a new battery.
Additionally, if the battery is regenerating energy prematurely, you will want to get it tested. Additionally, if you are not getting juice from a fully charged battery, you will want to have to replaced.
#2. Poorer fuel economy.
The Toyota Prius has an amazing fuel economy rating, which is why many drivers choose to drive this vehicle. Yet, when the battery starts to fail, the fuel economy is one of the first issues to change.
If you keep track of the fuel economy, you will get an early warning that something is wrong. Over time, it is going to get worse until you completely replace the battery.
#3. Battery power fluctuates.
The really great thing about driving a Prius is that you can very easily see the battery charge. Most models include an indicator to show the level of charge for the battery.
If you notice that this indicator is changing while you’re driving, this could be a problem. As it goes up and down for no reason, you are most likely dealing with a failing hybrid battery.
#4. The gas engine is running too often.
If you’ve been driving your Toyota Prius for any amount of time, you know when the gas-powered engine kicks in. You can tell when the engine takes over, thus taking over the battery.
As the battery starts to fail, this is going to happen more often. Perhaps you notice it happening during your normal routine, which relies on the previously charged hybrid battery. As it starts to increase in frequency, you clearly have a battery that is failing.
Reasons to Avoid Prius Battery Repairs
In a previous article, I talked about how some people look to prolong the replacement and utilize a Prius battery repair.
However, let’s discuss why one should avoid these practices.
- Temporary: These hybrid battery repairs are only temporary. You are not going to extend the life of the battery incredibly. Even after all the labor and cost of repair, you will still need to have a replacement anyway, and wind up costing yourself more money in the long run.
- Void warranty: If your hybrid battery is still under warranty coverage, repairing it is going to void the warranty. Plus, why would you want to void the replacement when it is covered for free?
- Dangerous: The hybrid battery is not like your typical car battery. If you do not know what you are doing, do not mess with it, or serious damage can occur.
Instead of looking to find a way to cheat the process of repair, suck it up and get the replacement task done.
Not only will you keep the hybrid vehicle driving as it should, but you’ll also guarantee there are plenty more miles where you can feel good behind the wheel of your fuel-efficient vehicle. Plan accordingly and be proactive so you are never put in a position of being unprepared for what is on the horizon.