Battery Scrap Price in India — Live Rates & Authorised Recyclers
Today's scrap rates for every battery type we cover: car, inverter, UPS, two-wheeler, lead-acid (umbrella) and lithium-ion. Per-kg and per-unit pricing, top brands, and what Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 means for selling your old batteries safely.
Browse by battery type
Car Battery
Used 12V starter batteries from cars and SUVs
Inverter Battery
Tubular / flat-plate batteries from home inverters and UPS backup
UPS Battery
Small SMF and large VRLA backup batteries from offices and datacentres
Two-Wheeler Battery
Motorcycle, scooter and moped batteries
Lead-Acid Battery
Umbrella category — any lead-acid chemistry
Lithium-Ion Battery
Authorised onlyEV packs, laptop batteries, power-tool cells, e-bike packs
How much is my old battery worth?
Pick your battery type to see the per-unit value range. For a firm price on your actual lot, the dedicated type page shows top-paying cities and lets you request a quote from a verified dealer.
| Type | Weight | Per-unit value |
|---|---|---|
| 🚗 Car Battery | 10–18 kg | ₹500–₹1,500 |
| 🔋 Inverter Battery | 30–60 kg | ₹1,500–₹4,500 |
| 💻 UPS Battery | 2–30 kg | ₹100–₹2,500 |
| 🛵 Two-Wheeler Battery | 2–5 kg | ₹100–₹350 |
| 🔋 Lead-Acid Battery | 2–100 kg | ₹100–₹10,000 |
| ⚡ Lithium-Ion Battery | 0.1–500 kg | ₹50–₹2,00,000 |
Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 — what sellers need to know
1. Only authorised recyclers can legally process used batteries
Under Battery Waste Management Rules 2022 (BWMR 2022), used lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries must go to recyclers holding EPR registration from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Informal/unregistered processors are illegal — and the unsafe dismantling they do releases lead fumes and acid into soil and water.
2. EPR certificates flow from recycler to manufacturer
Battery brands (Exide, Amaron, etc.) have an Extended Producer Responsibility obligation: they must recycle a percentage equal to what they sold. They meet this by buying EPR certificates from CPCB-authorised recyclers — which is why authorised recyclers can usually pay a few rupees per kg more than informal collectors.
3. Lithium-ion is a separate, stricter category
Li-ion batteries cannot be processed by general scrap dealers. They require specialised facilities — currently a small set in India: Lohum, Attero, BatX, Recyclekaro and a few others. Damaged or swollen Li-ion cells are a real fire hazard — never store, transport or hand them to anyone unequipped to handle them.
4. Sellers don't need a licence — recyclers do
As an individual or business selling used batteries, you don't need any registration. The legal burden is on the buyer (the recycler) to be CPCB-authorised. Verify their authorisation reference if you're moving meaningful volume — they should share it on request.
How to get the best price for your battery scrap in India
Battery scrap pricing in India is driven by the lead content (for lead-acid types) or cell-chemistry quality (for lithium-ion). Lead-acid prices track the LME (London Metal Exchange) lead price, adjusted for local recovery costs. A typical car battery yields 6–8 kg of recoverable lead inside a 10–18 kg unit — which is where most of the scrap value lives.
Sell whole — never break open
Old lead-acid batteries should never be opened: the sulfuric acid electrolyte is corrosive and the lead dust is toxic. Sell whole. Authorised recyclers melt the lead in controlled smelters; informal recycling poisons workers and the environment.
Per-unit vs per-kg pricing
Most kabadiwalas quote per unit (₹X for "one battery"), but the underlying scrap rate is per kg of recoverable lead. A 15 kg car battery at ₹65/kg should fetch around ₹975 — if a dealer offers significantly less, ask why. Common deductions: damaged casing, missing cells, very old battery with degraded plates.
Bigger batteries pay more per unit
Inverter batteries (50–60 kg) and telecom VRLA banks (50–100 kg) are higher per-unit value than car batteries, simply by mass. If you have multiple large batteries, dealers offer pickup — usually starting at 3–5 units. Per-unit pickup deals can beat walk-in rates because the dealer saves on transport.
For lithium-ion: never sell to a kabadiwala
Li-ion battery scrap is high-value and high-risk. Lithium recyclers (Lohum, Attero, BatX, Recyclekaro) typically buy direct from EV manufacturers, e-bike OEMs and large institutional sellers. For individual sellers (a single EV pack, laptop batteries, e-bike pack), our team can connect you to an authorised buyer — use Get Quote on any city page.