The 4 Best Car Battery Charger 2023： Buying Guide and Reviews

Looking for a smart and cheap car battery charger? Or that can regenerate your car or motorcycle batteries?

I have found what you need!

At some point, you will need a battery charger for your vehicle. But most of the time, the cheap models sold on the market are not very efficient. As a result, the life span of your batteries is not very long, and it becomes quite expensive in the long run.

Having recently needed a new battery charger for my car, I browsed through everything that was currently on sale, in order to find what I thought were the best car battery charger models of the moment. On this occasion, I was able to find great models, called intelligent or desulfator, allowing to take care of its batteries as it should, and all that, at a really exceptional price. These are the models that I present here.

As usual, I’ll take the opportunity to put a little buying guide at the end of the article, so that you can make the best choice, especially for you. For my part, I prefer the URAQT battery “repairer” charger (12V/8A), for its multiple functionalities (including the regeneration of old batteries, when it is still possible), and its price, really exceptional considering the quality level. But now, let’s see all these models in more detail, without further delay!

Did you know that most car batteries have a no-load voltage between 12 and 13 volts (ideally 12.6 volts). But if this voltage drops below 10.6 volts, your battery is probably dead. So don’t wait to recharge your car batteries, because the “regeneration” or “reconditioning” functions of smart chargers don’t work miracles, unfortunately!

Comparative table

(see the rest of the table on the right >>>)

1 – The best CHEAP car battery charger

→ AUTOBEST 4A charger: the best automatic 6v 12v car battery charger, and at a low price

Who said that you have to spend a fortune to have an efficient and quality car battery charger? Of course, you shouldn’t buy just anything at a low price, otherwise you might end up with a poor quality device, which could even damage your battery. That being said, there are also great models, which are both cheap and of recognized quality, like this AUTOBEST battery charger! In fact, let’s see what it has in the belly!

First of all, this is a smart charger. What I mean by this is that it is capable of adapting its charging “strength” according to the situation. And in addition to the traditional slow and fast charge functions, there are no less than 9 charge sequences here, allowing you to recharge your batteries efficiently.

In addition to this “electronic intelligence”, this car charger is compatible with both 6V and 12V batteries, ranging from 1.2 to 120 Ah (ampere hours). It also adapts to different types of batteries, such as WET, GEL, AGM, CALCIUM, … ! Then as much to say that question versatility, one is served! Moreover, this device can deliver up to 4 amperes in output, what to adapt to the majority of the traditional batteries. Of course, there are many other models in this range, according to your needs:

• AUTOBEST 1A intelligent charger (for 6/12V batteries up to 120 Ah) -> slow charge, with hold function
• AUTOBEST 4A intelligent charger (for 6/12V batteries up to 120 Ah) -> faster (it is the one presented here)
• intelligent charger AUTOBEST 7A (for 6/12V batteries up to 150 Ah) -> even more powerful
• AUTOBEST 8A intelligent charger (for 12/24V batteries up to 150 Ah) -> and for 24V batteries

What is also very appreciable is the presence of its ingenious backlit LCD display, indicating the charge voltage, accompanied by the functions “BATTERY TEST” and “ALTERNATOR TEST”. But that’s not all! Because here, the cable lengths are not too short, being no less than 1.5 meters, unlike many cheap car battery charger. What’s more, the whole thing is protected against reverse polarity, so you can be sure that you won’t make any mistakes when connecting it to your vehicle’s battery. In short, a perfect charger when you don’t want to spend too much money!

• Cheap car battery charger, but quality!
• 9 charging sequences!
• For batteries from 1.2 to 120 Ah
• Automatic smart charger (slow charge, and fast charge), with hold function
• Suitable for AGM, WET, MF, CALCIUM, GEL batteries of 6V or 12V
• Equipped with a backlit LCD display, with voltage display
• Maximum load current: 4A (but there are versions from 1 to 8 amps, depending on your needs, as seen above)
• Good length power cable (1.5 meters)
• With battery test and alternator test function
• Equipped with reverse polarity protection
• Ideal for motor homes, light commercial vehicles, and cars
• Simply plugs into a 230V power outlet
• 2 years warranty
• Very well known and recognized brand
• 50 cm charge holding cord included
• Efficient and easy to use car charger
• Highly rated by Internet users
• Excellent value for money!

• The only downside, I would say, is that it is a rather slow charger. But you just have to be patient, and let it quietly recharge your batteries!

Summary and Notice (automatic charger 6V or 12V from AUTOBEST)

When you’re looking to buy a cheap car battery charger, you can find everything… the best and the worst! But here is a device that stands out from the crowd! Because it is not only cheap, but also of great quality. And that’s all we are looking for in the end: to have a device of recognized quality, and without having to pay too much money. It is therefore not surprising to see it rated so highly by so many Internet users. What’s more, this model is available in several amperages, enough to cover most of our needs. That’s why I really recommend this type of car battery charger, because it’s simply efficient, and at a mini price! So what more could you ask for?

2 – The best car battery charger INTELLIGENT!

→ URAQT 8A charger: the best 8A 12/24v car battery charger that is smart, automatic, and high performance, with backlit LCD display

We have to admit it: finding a cheap car battery charger, which is reliable and of durable quality, is not necessarily easy. Many of the cheap chargers are either too basic or of dubious quality. However, there are some excellent models at a low price, like this URAQT smart charger, and what’s more, with a really nice design! But it is above all its performance and its mini price that have pleased many Internet users, who have frankly praised its remarkable quality. So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at all its features and functionalities!

First of all, on the voltage side, this battery charger can adapt to two different voltages: 12 volts and 24 volts. The intensity of charge will be variable, being able to reach the 8 amperes under 12V. You will be able to recharge your car or motorcycle batteries, with a capacity of up to 150 Ah! It is therefore the ideal automatic battery charger for any vehicle equipped with a classic lead-acid battery, or AMG / GEL type. Of course, you should never connect a lithium battery to this type of charger, because it is not made for that at all!

As far as protections are concerned, we can only be delighted! Because this device offers many protections, especially against short-circuits, overvoltages, and even polarity reversals. But its main strength lies in its own “intelligence”, allowing it, for example, to send constant current pulses, in order to avoid any overload or discharge. This means that you will have a reliable charger with particularly stable performance and a long service life. The best, right?

Regarding the device itself, externally, we note a shell made of ABS, waterproof IP 65, and incorporating a beautiful backlit LCD screen. On this display, more particularly, you will be able to access a good number of data during operation, such as the charging voltage, the charging current, the battery level, as well as the outside temperature. By the way, this measured temperature is not meant to be pretty, because the charger will automatically adjust its operation according to this measured temperature. It is a kind of summer or winter mode, which allows to adapt the charging voltage, in order to be even more efficient!

In short, we have here a real concentrate of technology, allowing to take care of our batteries on demand, and thus avoiding to have to buy some too often. Moreover, the “REPAIR” function integrated in this intelligent battery charger will also allow you to revive your “old” batteries that have remained inactive for too long, if they are not dead yet, of course 😉

• Car battery charger 12V / 24 V
• For batteries from 6 to 150 Ah
• Clear display of information (charge voltage, charge current, …) and battery charge level
• Includes a REPAIR mode to “wake up” batteries that have been inactive for too long, or that are somewhat sulphated
• Ideal for recharging motorcycle, car, boat, camping car, …
• Multiple protections, including reverse polarity, short circuit, overvoltage, and more
• Adapts the charging voltage to the outdoor temperature (summer/winter mode)
• Automatic shutdown once the battery is fully charged
• High current, up to 8A, for faster charging speed
• Neat design, pretty cool
• Waterproof shell (IP 65), with good grip
• Simple and quick to use
• Very appreciated by Internet users, with very positive ratings
• Excellent value for money!

• The cables would have deserved to be a little longer, too bad …
• Manual in French, certainly, but not always very clear!

Summary and Notice (URAQT 12 volt / 24 volt charger, 8 amps)

Yes… you can find excellent car/motorcycle battery chargers these days, and at a very low price, as you can see here. The quality is even noticeable in the finish, with a particularly well finished and neat device, including a beautiful LCD backlit display, clearly showing all kinds of information during the charge. It is therefore not surprising to see how much Internet users are snatching this product, and that they have rated it so positively! In any case, I strongly recommend it to recharge your 12V or 24V batteries, and keep them in top shape!

3 – The best car battery charger AUTO MOTO

→ NOCO Genius 10 charger: the best automatic and intelligent car battery charger Genius 10 from NOCO, with 12V battery desulfation function

Do you want a quality charger, but without breaking the bank? Then it’s time to get to know NOCO’s Genius range! Because you’ll see just how smart and powerful this equipment can be at an affordable price. With this type of charger, your car, motorcycle, boat, camper, or other batteries can stay in top shape. And even your old batteries will have a chance to be renewed, thanks to the REPAIR function of this sublime automatic battery charger! So let’s stop talking about it, and let’s see it in more detail, without further ado!

To begin with, we can only be impressed by all the types of batteries it can handle: 6V, 12V, lead-acid, gel, AGM, maintenance-free, and even lithium-ion batteries! And that’s what really sets it apart from the others, because few chargers currently support this type of battery. But what’s even more interesting here is the fact that it’s an intelligent battery charger. This means that it can adapt its charging power according to your needs, but also to the ambient temperature, thanks to an integrated thermal sensor! This means that you can avoid any risk of overcharging when it’s hot, or “undercharging” when it’s cold. Great, isn’t it?

Another great feature of this battery charger is that it allows you to try to regenerate totally discharged batteries, either automatically or in forced mode (in order to take control of the charger and start charging almost empty batteries manually). You will be able to restore old batteries, thanks to this intelligent battery charger, which allows to detect the sulfation and acid stratification of them, in order to restore them. In the end, after desulfation / regeneration, the lost power of these batteries could be recovered, at a lower cost, for more powerful starts, and a longer life! In short, you can finally get the most out of your car or motorcycle batteries, to bring them to the end, without having to buy new ones every morning!

As far as use is concerned, nothing could be simpler here, because you just have to connect the device to the battery, then to the mains, and select the desired charging mode to start charging your car, lawnmower, tractor, truck, boat, … or whatever! And once the charge start, everything is automatic. Hard to do more simple 😉

In terms of the models available in the NOCO Genius range, here is what you can find:

• the NOCO Genius 1 (GENIUS1EU): 1 amp 6V/12V for batteries up to 30 Ah
• the NOCO Genius 2 (GENIUS2EU): 2 amp 6V/12V for batteries up to 40 Ah
• the NOCO Genius 5 (GENIUS5EU): 5 amp 6V/12V for batteries up to 120 Ah
• the NOCO Genius 10 (GENIUS10EU) : 10 amps 6V/12V for batteries up to 230 Ah (this is the model presented here !)

• Smart car battery charger, and finally at an affordable price!
• Allows to desulfate the batteries too much sulfated, in order to revive them
• Adjusts the load power according to the outside temperature (to avoid overloading in summer and underloading in winter)
• Compatible with 6V and 12V lead, AGM, gel, and even LITHIUM batteries!
• Fully automatic (you can leave the charger connected 24 hours a day, without risk of overcharging)
• Recharges dead batteries (especially via the “force” mode)
• Able to regenerate batteries that are tired, or simply need a good desulphation, or suffer from acid stratification
• Very complete (includes eyelet terminals, mounting bracket, …)
• Simple and neat design, really nice
• Particularly simple and easy to use (very intuitive control)
• Super compact, considering the power it can deliver!
• Highly appreciated by Internet users!

• The regeneration function is great, but it doesn’t work miracles, unfortunately. So, despite what the manufacturer says, if your battery is almost dead, this charger probably won’t bring it back to life ….
• The price is a bit high, for my taste, but the quality is there!

Summary and Reviews (NOCO Genius 10 automatic 6V 12V battery desulfator charger)

If you’re looking for a high-performance, affordable car battery charger, you’ll love the NOCO Genius models. They have everything you could possibly want: extreme versatility in terms of connectable batteries (lead, AGM, lithium, etc.), remarkable intelligence (adjustment of charging voltage according to outside temperature), and even a function for repairing old batteries, whenever possible, of course! In short, a concentrate of great technology, and automatic, facilitating its use to the extreme. So I can only highly recommend it, especially since its price is still very reasonable, considering the exceptional qualities of this superb automatic battery charger!

4 – The best car battery charger REGENERATOR

→ CTEK MXS 5.0 charger: the best car battery charger for charging, maintaining, and reconditioning your 12V AUTO and MOTORCYCLE batteries, with color LED display of the different charging phases

Do you need a car battery charger that is efficient, effective, and known for its reliability? And all at the most competitive price possible? Then look no further than CTEK battery chargers, renowned for their unparalleled reliability and efficiency, and all at a very affordable price. What’s more, you’ll see how simple and easy this type of car charger is to use, especially since it constantly indicates the charging phase (desulfation, slow charge, fast charge, maintenance, etc.). So, let’s start … and let’s go!

First of all, we notice that there is everything on the front panel that we just need to have in front of us, to control the progress of the charge of our batteries. Indeed, all this is made possible thanks to the many LEDs, displaying by color everything that happens (green, orange, and red lights). You will be able to know if the charger is really working, if there is any error on the battery side, and especially, in which phase the charge is, as precisely as possible. Thus, it is very easy to use this type of automatic car battery charger!

Among its many other benefits are:

• its electrical protections, especially against polarity reversal
• its remarkable resistance to external conditions (temperature, climate, etc.)
• its extreme versatility, compared to common 12V lead batteries

But what has made its reputation for so many years is its ability to “recondition” batteries, i.e. to restore them when they are discharged. Of course, there will be no miracle here, if your battery is totally dead. But if it is possible to save it, it is in any case with this type of battery charger that you will be able to try to make them live again!

Note that this device is available in several models, depending on the battery power you need:

• CTEK MXS 3.8 battery charger: for gentle charging of batteries from 1.2 to 130 Ah
• CTEK MXS 5.0 battery charger: this is the model presented here, to recharge batteries from 1.2 to 160 Ah
• CTEK MXS 7.0 battery charger: ideal if you have a car or a motor home, for batteries from 14 to 225 Ah
• CTEK MXS 10 battery charger: to recharge large batteries, from 20 to 300 Ah

• Car battery charger REGENERATOR
• Well-known and world-renowned brand in this field
• Fully automatic (desulfation, loading, holding, …)
• Reconditions 12 volt car and motorcycle batteries
• Very easy to plug in and to use
• With reverse polarity protection
• RECOND function, ideal to revive your discharged batteries
• 5 year warranty
• Very versatile, being compatible with almost all lead acid batteries (AGM, GEL, MF, …)
• Extremely well rated by Internet users
• Great value for money!

• Here again, the RECOND function does not work miracles. You can only hope to bring your batteries back to life if they have not been totally discharged for too long, otherwise you have a strong chance that they are dead!
• Be careful according to the CTEK model you take, because some models are only compatible with certain types of battery

Summary and Notice (Intelligent 12 volt car battery regenerator charger)

If you are looking for a quality car battery charger, from a well-known brand, which is reliable and not too expensive, then you have come to the right place! Because here, it is a question of charging the batteries well as it should be, by respecting each phase of charging (desulphation, fast charge, slow charge, maintenance, …), so that they remain in the top of their form. Moreover, we can only fall under the spell of the RECOND function, allowing to “recondition” the batteries, that is to say to regenerate them, to give them life again, when they are worn out. As for the display, nothing could be clearer and more visual: each LED indicates the stage of the charging process you are at! It is really THE charger to have with you, when you want to have the best, at the best price, of course 😉

Finding a good car battery charger is not always easy. Because there are many models, at all prices, and all claiming to be the best in the world! So, to avoid being trapped by the purchase of a device that would not suit you, here are some important points that I think are really important to scrutinize before any decision. If not, you may very well end up paying the price!

Read also : all our articles about cars and motorcycles !

Battery voltage (6V, 12V, 24V, …)

Yes… it may sound silly, but not all battery chargers can handle all the voltages you want. So, one of the first things to do is to check that the battery charger you plan to buy is compatible with the nominal voltage of the battery to be charged. Generally speaking, automotive batteries have a voltage of around 12 volts (12V), but always make sure that this is the case for you as well, especially before making a purchase.

Also, I don’t recommend taking a 12V charger to charge two 6V batteries connected in series. Of course, it could work, but the chargers could just as well malfunction like that, or even damage your batteries, if they are not in the same state of discharge, or health. Indeed, one of them could very well be “sick”, and thus distort the measurements of the battery charger in operation, and thus, make it do anything. The same is true if you have two 12V batteries and a 24V charger. In any case, do not play the sorcerer’s apprentice with batteries, whatever they are, because the risks are real, and to be taken very seriously!

Type of battery to be recharged (lead, AGM, lithium, …)

Most of our current vehicles are equipped with lead-acid batteries. But it is far from being systematic, especially with the new types of vehicles. In any case, make sure you always identify the type of battery you have to charge (lead acid, gel, AGM, lithium, …), and never connect a charger that is not specifically designed for this purpose. The consequences could be serious, especially with lithium batteries.

Also, if you have any doubts about your battery, ask a professional first. Likewise, if you have any doubts about what the battery charger you want to buy can do, ask the manufacturer or seller for a clear answer. Otherwise, walk away! Once again, be extremely careful here, because a charger connected to a non-compatible battery could lead to its destruction, with a potential risk for you and the immediate environment (fire, …). So act very carefully.

Connectable battery power in Ah (ampere-hour), and maximum charging current in A (ampere)

Now that you have identified the type of battery you have to charge, and its nominal voltage, check its capacity noted in “Ah”. In fact, this is the maximum current that your battery can deliver per hour, measured in ampere-hours (symbol Ah). Of course, I will skip the technical details, because in fact, you just need to make sure that the car battery charger you are considering buying can charge a battery with this capacity. It’s as simple as that 🙂

To illustrate: if you have for example a lead battery 12V / 100 Ah, you will need a battery charger that can reach this flow, ie accepting 100 Ah and more. Thus, you will be able to fully charge your battery, without any risk of malfunction, neither for the one nor for the other.

That being said, you must absolutely not confuse this value in ampere hours (noted Ah), with the maximum current that your battery can deliver (noted A). Only one small letter differentiates these two values, and it is thus necessary to take care not to mix the brushes! For example, a 100 Ah battery can deliver a current of up to 400 A, but it’s the 100 Ah that you should compare with the Ah capacity of your charger. Basically, and to simplify: you have to compare comparable things, i.e. the Ah, with the Ah!

Finally, make sure that the current your charger can deliver is well below what your battery can accept. For example, taking a 10A charger to charge a battery that can deliver 400A is a good thing (especially since it will charge slowly). But putting a 10A charger on a battery that can only deliver 4A, God knows what could happen! Because the charger will most probably be disturbed, not being able to pass its charge, and could even try to “force the charge”, which would be more or less disastrous. So make sure you always choose an adequate charger that meets your needs, so as not to damage anything, or even worse …

Intelligent automotive chargers: desulfation and battery regeneration

A few years ago, battery chargers were simple voltage transformers, delivering a voltage a little higher than the nominal voltage of the batteries, so that they could fill up with energy. And of course, this was more or less effective, because there was no dynamic adjustment of the charging voltages and currents, in order to really adapt to these batteries.

This is why so-called “intelligent” battery chargers have appeared in recent years, which are even capable of taking charge of the desulphation of batteries, in order to clean them properly. Thus, the charge can be fully done, and the batteries are thus rejuvenated, in a way!

But there’s even more: the “REPAIR” or “RECOND” function, which has appeared on many medium and high-end car battery chargers. With this feature, it is now possible to revive or bring back to life used, heavily discharged, or end-of-life batteries. Thus, you can save a lot of money by increasing the life of your batteries, simply by using this mode. However, don’t expect any miracles. Because a dead battery will not come back to life! That being said, it can be a great asset to save money, in the long run 😉

→ What is the normal voltage of a car battery?

As you might expect, the answer is obvious! Because you just have to read what is written on the battery! For example, a 12V car battery will have an open circuit voltage of around 12 volts. But to be more precise, here are some markers that can help you in this case, which can give you indications as to the condition of your car battery. Indeed, if the open circuit voltage is :

• close to 12.6 volts: your battery is properly charged
• located in 12 and 12.3 volts: your battery has started to discharge, and you need to recharge it
• less than 10,6 volts : there your battery has a problem, and is potentially ruined, unfortunately… (it will be necessary to see here if it is possible to regenerate it, with a charger equipped with a REPAIR function, without what, it will be good for the “dustbin”)

To carry out these measurements, you will need a digital multimeter and voltmeter, and select the appropriate gauge, if the calibration is not automatic (the 20V DC gauge is the most suitable here).

However, keep in mind that a battery can be very good in appearance, i.e. with a voltage higher than 12 volts, but “weak” when you want to use it. This weakness is often explained by a too important internal clogging. This is where some of the models presented above could help you, allowing in particular to desulfate the batteries. Thus, they could be cleaned from the inside! Personally, I think it’s great!

Everyone knows more or less how to use a battery charger. But do you know more precisely if you can plug in your charger while the battery is still connected to your car? Do you also know if it would be enough to disconnect one or two wires to be better? Do you know if you have to connect the + or the – terminal of the charger first, to avoid any bad surprises? Don’t worry if you have any doubts here, because it’s perfectly normal!

That being said, each charger has its own characteristics. And the first thing to do, is to take the manual of this one (yes I know, it’s boring…), and to read it well. The content is often condensed, sometimes a bit technical, but never very long to read. So always start there, and always respect to the letter the manufacturer’s recommendations, both in terms of use, and in terms of safety (disconnecting the battery, charging in a ventilated area, …).

To illustrate this, here is a video presenting a car battery charger. You will see, the explanations are clear and allow you to familiarize yourself with this type of device for the first time! But, once again, remember that all chargers are different, and that this is only an example of a particular case! You’ll have to read the manual of yours, and apply the manufacturer’s recommendations to the letter!

What is the best car battery charger?

The best models of car or motorcycle battery chargers are in my opinion :

(see the rest of the table on the right >>>)

• CHEAP model -> AUTOBEST 6V/12V 4A battery charger
• INTELLIGENT model -> URAQT 12V/24V 8A battery charger (my favorite, quality-wise, and especially, price-wise!)
• Charger / Regenerator Model ->NOCO Genius 10A Battery Charger
• TOP OF THE RANGE model ->CTEK MXS 5.0 battery charger

Hazards

Always be careful to use only a charger that is adapted to your type of battery (lead, AGM, lithium, …), and that corresponds to its nominal voltage (6 volts, 12 volts, 24 volts, …) and its maximum current. Otherwise, the risks for you and your environment could be very severe. Therefore, be very careful and discerning at this level, in order to avoid any problem that could harm your health or your environment.

Also, be sure to always follow the conditions of use of each charger, written down in the manufacturer’s user manual. Never assume that all chargers work the same way, because this is far from the truth. Also, do not use a device if you have not read the instructions or do not know its practical use.

Finally, do not take lightly recommendations such as airing the room where the car battery would be located when charging, or any other advice given by the manufacturer. Because the risks are very real, despite what we might think, and to be taken fully seriously. In any case, act carefully!

Conclusion

That’s it! You now know enough to begin to find your way around, and thus, hope to make the best possible purchase of car battery charger. Don’t hesitate to come back to the points that seem obscure to you, and to complete this information with all the other articles and videos that can be found in abundance on the net. And always keep in mind that the best purchase for you is often the one that simply meets your needs, without excess or unnecessary gadgets!

Personally, I fell for the URAQT motorcycle battery charger (12 volts / 8 amps), because of its exceptional price, and especially for its “REPAIR” function, allowing to save batteries at the end of their life, or too sulphated. In short, it is a great way to save money in the long run !