Topic: Preparing Items
Old car batteries are worth money at a scrap yard, but they are heavy, full of acid and easy to damage in the back of a car. Moving them the right way protects you, your vehicle and the battery’s value.
This guide covers how to load, secure and carry used lead-acid batteries to our Green Fields yard, what to do with a cracked or leaking one, and what to bring when you sell them.
The short version
- Keep every battery upright.
- Wear gloves and eye protection when lifting them.
- Cover the terminals and never let them touch metal or each other.
- Stand them in a plastic tub or crate in the boot, ute tray or trailer, never loose.
- Do not stack them on top of each other.
Why batteries need care in transport
A lead-acid battery holds sulphuric acid and lead plates. If it tips over, acid can leak out of the vents and burn skin, clothing and car carpet. If the terminals touch a metal surface or another battery, they can short and spark. Even a “flat” battery can hold enough charge to do this.
How to load batteries safely
1. Check each battery first
Look for cracks, bulges, leaks and white or green crust around the terminals. A battery in good condition can travel as normal. A damaged one needs the extra steps below.
2. Protect yourself
Wear gloves and safety glasses. Lift with your legs, keep the battery upright and hold it by its handle or base, not by the terminals.
3. Cover the terminals
Put the original caps back on, or cover each terminal with tape. This stops accidental contact with metal tools, car bodies or other batteries.
4. Use a tub or crate
Stand batteries upright in a sturdy plastic tub, crate or battery box lined with an old towel or cardboard. Plastic catches any spill and stops the battery sliding. Never put a battery straight onto carpet or a metal tray.
5. Secure the load
Wedge the tub so it cannot slide or tip when you brake or corner. In a ute or trailer, strap the tub down. Keep batteries out of the passenger area.
What to do with a cracked or leaking battery
Do not carry a leaking battery loose. Wearing gloves, place it upright inside a heavy-duty plastic tub or a second bag, keep it level, and call 08 7225 9998 before you come so we know it is on the way. If acid has spilled on a surface, keep children and pets away and neutralise small spills with bicarbonate of soda before cleaning up.
How many batteries can I bring at once?
As many as you can carry safely upright and unstacked. For a workshop or fleet load of batteries, ring ahead so we can have space ready. Mechanics and workshops can see what workshops usually bring in.
Selling batteries at our yard
Bring your batteries to SA Copper Scraps at 12 Belfree Dr, Green Fields, Monday to Friday 7:30am to 5:00pm or Saturday 7:30am to 2:00pm. Car, truck, marine, deep-cycle and machinery lead-acid batteries are bought and priced each. Bring current photo ID; you are paid before you leave.
See our car battery recycling page for the types we buy, and the scrap battery price guide for current guide prices. If you are wondering whether an old battery is worth keeping at all, read what to do with old car batteries in Adelaide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put a car battery in the boot?
Yes, if it stands upright in a plastic tub or crate with its terminals covered and cannot slide or tip. Never lay it on its side or put it loose on the carpet.
Are flat batteries still worth selling?
Yes. Batteries are bought for their lead, so a flat or dead battery is worth the same as a working one of the same type.
Do you buy lithium batteries?
We buy lead-acid batteries. Call 08 7225 9998 before bringing any other battery type.
