How Long Do ATV Batteries Last? Ultimate Guide 2025

Battery modern technology has improved over the last few years. Yet still, ATV batteries are expensive. There are a few things you can do though to maintain your battery running as long as feasible to aid you to obtain the most bang for your buck.

Under regular problems, an ATV battery will typically last for about 3-4 years. With correct maintenance as well as care, you could see an ATV battery last for more than 5 years. If your battery is lasting less than 2 years, you may have electric trouble or you not preserving the battery properly.

The top quality of battery you make use of will certainly likewise play a big role in how long it will certainly last you. Effectively preserved batteries can be made use of for more than 5 years. Quality batteries with correct & mindful use offer you a perfect experience all year long. We will certainly go over right here how long do ATV batteries last and what you require to do for upkeep.

Types of batteries for ATVs

There are 4 kinds of batteries that ATVs make use of, lead-acid, AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat), Gel Cell,  and lithium. There are a couple of others like deep cycle batteries, but these are specialized and just made use of by mechanics that already know precisely what they need. Each of these batteries has its advantages as well as can be saved from going dead in various means.

Lead-acid batteries

ATV Lead-acid batteries

Because these batteries have less general toughness and also amps than lithium batteries if they are left attached to a system for a long period of time without being reenergized, they will undoubtedly pass away. This can be a result of low water levels or the chain reaction inside the battery, no more being able to respond efficiently.

The reaction in lead-acid batteries needs that there be constant activity in between the electrodes via the water. However, when the battery is left connected to the ATV, simple points like keeping the ATV somewhat ready to be started will eventually drain the battery entirely. Lead-acid batteries need a lot of upkeep to be kept alive.

If your ATV continually requires a new lead-acid battery, it may be time to think about exactly how to conserve your pocket by not underusing your ATV. Riding it around when a week for a few mins or just starting it up could save the battery, or simply inspecting that the water inside the battery remains at the appropriate level will certainly suggest your battery will work when you need it.

AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) Batteries

AGM battery for ATV

AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) batteries are sealed, maintenance‑free lead–acid batteries. They are designed with a fiberglass mat that soaks up and traps the electrolyte. Thus making them spill‑proof and highly rugged.

Off‑road riding puts serious stress on batteries. AGM’s tight, sealed construction can perfectly resist these shocks and vibrations. This makes AGM batteries perform well in reducing the risk of internal damage or short‑circuits.

Besides, modern ATVs often need a big burst of power to start. And this is a problem for many ATV users, especially in cold weather. This environment is exactly where AGM batteries shine. AGM batteries deliver strong, high cold cranking amps(CCA) ratings for reliable starting every time.

If you run winches, lights, GPS or heated grips, AGM batteries can be a top choice. They can provide both starting power and sustained reserve capacity for accessories, without hurting start performance.

Moreover, AGM technology allows for quick recharge between rides. They can hold a charge for up to a year in storage. So, it is ideal for winter lay‑up or extended trips.

ADM batteries also have a strong extreme‑temperature tolerance ability. Whether you’re riding in sub‑freezing snow or blistering desert heat, AGM batteries maintain capacity better than flooded types.

Gel Cell Batteries

Gel Cell battery for ATV

Gel Cell batteries are a type of sealed lead-acid (VRLA) battery. In the battery, the sulfuric acid electrolyte is mixed with fumed silica to form a thick, immobile gel. This design prevents leaks and makes them fully sealed and maintenance-free. So you can mount them in almost any orientation without worrying about spills.

For ATV riders, Gel Cells offer excellent deep-cycle performance and long service life.

They typically deliver between 500 and 1,500 charge/discharge cycles at 80% depth of discharge. Which means, they can translate into years of reliable use even under frequent off-road stress

Their slow reaction to charge/discharge also helps slow down aging. This gives them up to twice the cycle life of comparable AGM batteries at moderate depths of discharge.

However, Gel Cells are not ideal for applications demanding very high burst currents. For example, winches or heavy starting loads. Because their gel structure limits rapid high-amp discharge.

They also cost more upfront and usually have slightly lower amp-hour ratings compared to AGM of the same size.

To get the best from a Gel Cell on your ATV, use a charger with a gel-specific charging profile (lower voltage set points). This can avoid overcharging and voids in the gel. Store them fully charged and avoid extended high-temperature exposure to preserve capacity and lifespan.

Lithium batteries

Unlike lead-acid batteries that need constant upkeep and water levels to be examined, lithium batteries can go a while without being charged up by utilizing the ATV. However, after about 2 months, the battery may be totally depleted, thus damaging the overall power the battery may be able to hold in the future.

As time goes on, you will certainly discover that the lithium battery will certainly be entirely useless at the end of a year, indicating you will certainly have to change it. Unfortunately, this can be an expensive affair as lithium batteries are rather a whole lot extra costly than lead-acid batteries. Combined with not always locating lithium batteries, you will certainly face difficulty if they continuously go flat.

However, unlike lead-acid batteries, it is easier to maintain a lithium battery, as well as with the best preventative measures, they can last a lot longer. They can additionally be utilized for a whole lot more than lead-acid batteries. A lot of modern-day UPS systems, cars, bikes, as well as other battery-operated systems can be made use of to keep your lithium battery charged and prepared.

ATV Lithium batteries

Factors that impact the battery life expectancy

In ATV, a battery can last up to 5-12 years. But it can vary. The difference hinges on two points. They are maintenance and also the elements that impact battery life.

Without knowing about them, you can do battery harm without even recognizing that. So, you should find out about the aspects that impact the lifetime of the battery.

1. Temperature:

For any battery, the most preferred temperature is room temperature. The common room temperature level is around 20-22 ⁰ C (68-72 ⁰ F). Anything reasonably higher or lower than that can influence your battery. Regardless of the situation of the temperature, at the end of the day, it will decrease life expectancy.

High Temperature:

A temperature higher than 30 ⁰ C is taken into consideration as a greater temperature for ATV batteries. Heat triggers damage to the battery tender by making the electrochemical reaction of a lead-acid battery much faster than the normal time.

Due to this reason, the battery discharges rapidly lowering the life expectancy of a battery. Heat additionally dries out the battery as well as boosts the cell's inner corrosion, leading to a reduction in the overall life of a battery.

Low Temperature:

To refer to low temperature, we take the temperature listed below 0 ⁰ C. At this temperature, the battery will certainly not be damaged if the battery is completely charged and is not being utilized.

In addition, using ATV batteries in cold weather can cause excessive stress, which can lead to reduced battery life. The electrochemical reaction of lead-acid batteries is likewise slowed down in cold temperatures triggering harm to the ATV battery.

In most cases, people often tend to not utilize their ATV in cool temperatures in the winter season. If anybody does that without completely charging the ATV battery, it can be a factor in the battery's reduced life span.

Freezing electrolytes inside the batteries is an additional reason for low lasting life as a result of reduced temperature. In winter, you also need to learn how to winterize ATVs.

2. Usage:

Individuals commonly believed that ATV batteries last long when their usage is fairly reduced. However, our assumption is that it's a mistaken belief.

ATV batteries last extra when it is utilized frequently. This use likewise varies within the various sorts of batteries yet all the batteries nearly hold the same motto.

Additionally, frequent use of the battery drains the battery as well as provides it with a fresh charge. If you want to use your ATV occasionally, you need to give it proper upkeep and charge for a healthy and balanced battery.

3. Charging System:

This does not include mainly as a component of the battery long lasting life as all ATVs have a charging system built-in. It is just used in case the charging system has some issue. If the charging system does not supply the battery with an excellent result and also proper charge the battery can not last as expected.

4. Battery Level:

The battery level indicates the amount of power remaining before the battery is depleted. The ATV battery must be kept at a minimum charge at all times and must not be completely depleted.

Leaving the ATV on for no reason, without assuming routing and remaining charge, may result in complete depletion. In a fully discharged condition, the battery will be damaged as soon as it is fully depleted.

5. Overcharging:

Like full battery exhaustion, overcharging is additionally damaging to your ATV battery. It triggers the evaporation of acid in the battery as well as decreases the number of electrolytes.

If this level drops as well reduced, the lead plates will certainly be revealed to the air, causing corrosion of the lead plates. Finally, the battery will certainly spoil due to this reason.

Battery Maintenance for ATVs

There are a number of points you will certainly need to do when you require to park your ATV for considerable durations, and also each kind of battery can be conserved in a number of various methods, so it is essential to know what ought to be done per of them.

Fortunately, tips and tricks for keeping your battery alive and running for long periods of time are just a few easy ways.

1. Disconnecting it:

When your ATV is parked at home, as well as you understand that it is either the end of the season or that you might not use it for a very long time, you can disconnect the battery terminals to guarantee that absolutely nothing in the ATV draws power from it.

2. Regular running:

As with any other vehicle, if your ATV sits for long periods of time, taking the time to start the ATV for 20 minutes or more every two weeks. This can protect the battery and let you confirm that the battery is charged and not damaged.

3. Using the battery:

If you have other cars that might be utilized when the ATV is not being used, you can easily use the same battery for numerous of them. Some people utilize their ATV batteries in their jet skis, bikes, or various other tiny vehicles. This maintains the battery charged and ready for when you wish to use your ATV.

4. Constant charging:

If you would like to get an additional kit, you can easily connect an external charger connected to your home power supply to the battery. These chargers are made specifically to keep the battery charged, constantly monitoring current strength and voltage levels and never allowing the battery to be damaged.

Each of these ways allows your battery to last substantially much longer, not simply keeping them charged as well as ready for when you intend to use your ATV but enhancing their general battery life. This indicates that a battery that would typically die after just a year will certainly remain to help for years to come.

Using your battery in the right conditions and not abusing it or letting it drain completely will mean that your battery will not be damaged. By not damaging the battery, you can easily keep it working for years. This means that fewer and fewer batteries will run out, from expensive parts that need to be replaced every year to parts that barely need to be replaced.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you overcharge an ATV battery?

Even if the vehicle is unused, it must be charged within a month, or it can be charged with a wise charger that will certainly not allow the battery to be overcharged. Like the motorbike batteries, ATV batteries should likewise not be left without charging.

How do I know if my ATV battery is bad?

If your battery reads 0 volts, chances are the battery experienced a short circuit. If the battery can not reach greater than 10.5 volts when being charged, after that the battery has a dead cell. If the battery is completely charged (according to the battery charger) however the voltage is 12.5 or much less, the battery is sulfated.

Do ATV batteries charge when running?

An ATV utilizes what is called a stator system or magneto system to charge its battery. This is a relatively easy and robust system located on the inside of the ATV's engine. Whenever the engine is running, the stator is continually producing an electrical charge.

How often should you charge your ATV battery?

Just how Usually Should I Charge My Motorcycle, ATV or Watercraft Battery? Any type of lead acid battery need to always be left in a fully charged condition. Having actually done that, you ought to either charge your battery every 1 month, or consider getting a smart battery charger to keep your battery all the time.

How Do I Charge My ATV Battery?

ATVs have their very own built-in charging systems, nevertheless the present they provide isn't really high. Because of this, you may have to depend on an added battery charger. When choosing a battery charger for your ATV, ensure that the design you pick is compatible with both the voltage and also chemistry of your battery. The various other crucial thing to keep in mind is that you intend to avoid under and also overcharging your battery, both of which will reduce its overall life expectancy. Charging times will certainly range batteries as well as will certainly depend on the sort of battery charger you have.

How to store my batteries when not in use?

It is not that every day the ATV will certainly be made use of. Typically, ATVs are mostly utilized throughout the springtime as well as summer season. Therefore, if the ATV is not to be used for an extended period of time, it is best to disconnect the battery from the ATV and store it in a safe place. Also, make sure that the temperature where the battery is stored is at the nominal level.

Conclusion

Your ATV battery is a special part of your vehicle that calls for upkeep, similar to every other part of the ATV. Learning what sort of battery your ATV has will certainly be the initial component in guaranteeing that it lasts for a long time. As soon as you have made sure that all the appropriate preventative measures have actually been taken, you can relax simple recognizing that your ATV won't be left on the side of the road without a fee.

Ultimately, the lifetime of your battery is much more based on exactly how you use as well as abuse it than the actual battery itself. If you take proper care of it, you will certainly have the ability to enjoy for many years ahead.

So head out, take excellent treatment of your battery as well as make certain that it is ready to deal with the uphill, downhill, or mud that you and also your ATV will be encountering in the coming seasons!

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Rodney L Herron

Rodney L is a technical writer and product consultant with over a decade of experience in the motor industry. Rodney is a fan of performance machines that run fast and loud and an expert in all things custom. His numerous articles and write-ups are available at our knowledge base. Whether it’s something wrong with your motorcycle or you are building a custom bike, you can trust Rodney’s experience.