For my particular car, Walmart seems to sell batteries with 1 year, 2 year, and 3 year warranties. ~$70 for the 1 year, ~$110 for the 2 year, and ~$150 for the 3 year. Are these batteries actually different? If the battery with the 3 year warranty actually lasts 3x longer than the battery with a 1 year warranty, I guess it’d be the better deal, but I’m suspicious if they’re actually much different.
It looks like batteries at most other stores are even more expensive with the same warranties.
As for the Walmart batteries, if the cold cranking amps are the same on the all 3 versions, no, there isn’t, you’re just “extending” the warranty. They all last around 3 years now, and are prorated. The exchange cost on a gold battery at 3 years is only going to be a few dollars different from strait up buying the replacement battery. Usually they have a chart with what it is per age. The one year will be like 100% in month one, next to nothing by month 12. Gold will be like 100% for year one then drop to next to nothing by month 36. Amazing how their pricing of tiers corresponds to how many they’re likely to need to replace or exchange.
I don’t think walmart’s warranties are pro-rated. They advertise “3 year free replacement.” A couple years ago, I brought in a ~2 year old battery, and they just gave me a free replacement. All 3 batteries I was looking at have different CCA ratings, but I’m guessing ratings can be fudged too.