A woman says a dead car battery sent her to the dealership—until she saw what it would cost to replace it.
Aubri Dawn (@aubri_dawn), a bodybuilder who typically posts fitness and lifestyle content, veered from her usual videos to share how AutoZone helped when her battery died.
Dawn framed the story as one that, in her words, shows she “comes from poverty.”
She says she initially took her 2023 Ford Bronco Sport to the dealership because the vehicle itself was still under warranty. But according to Dawn, the battery was covered under a separate warranty—and whatever was wrong with hers wasn’t covered.
Gallery: 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Black Diamond Off-Road Package
Then she got the price: A replacement battery would cost about $400. “That is wild to me,” Dawn says.
Rather than pay that, Dawn says she encouraged her husband to look elsewhere. The two ended up at AutoZone, where Dawn says they already knew some car services could be cheaper.
There, she says she bought a replacement battery for about $150.
“AutoZone for the win,” she captioned the clip. As of Friday, her video had more than 17,100 views.
Why Can A Dealership Battery Cost So Much More?
A $400 battery replacement can sound steep next to a $150 battery from AutoZone, but those two prices may not be for exactly the same thing.
AAA says battery prices typically range from $45 to $250, but where you fall in that range depends on the type of battery you need. A standard flooded battery generally costs less, while an AGM battery—commonly used in vehicles with start-stop systems and heavier electrical demands—typically costs more. AAA puts standard batteries around $45 to $150 and AGM batteries around $150 to $250 before labor.
A dealership or repair shop may also charge for installation, diagnostic work, and other overhead not built into the battery price. Premier Auto Service Center notes that some newer vehicles require additional work after a battery swap, including resetting the battery-management system.
Of course, not every vehicle needs that extra step, and Dawn doesn’t identify her make and model in the clip, so there isn’t enough information to tell whether the dealership’s quote was reasonable for her specific car.
AutoZone, meanwhile, advertises free battery testing, charging, and installation at its U.S. stores and says it can help customers find a replacement if testing shows the old battery has failed. Some locations also offer battery installation, although the company notes that in-store services can depend on the vehicle, location, and available staff.
Just because AutoZone can be cheaper doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a warranty for your car. The retailer says its batteries carry free-replacement periods that vary by product, ranging from two years on a standard Duralast battery to five years on a Duralast Platinum Elite.
So Dawn’s $250 savings is plausible. The bigger unknown is whether the dealership and AutoZone quoted equivalent batteries and service.
Viewers Offer Battery Advice
Many commenters agreed that Dawn probably didn’t need to pay dealership prices for a replacement battery.
“Costco. Get a battery for 95 bucks with a three-year warranty,” one person wrote.
Another suggested a different big-box option.
“Walmart will do the same thing. 3-year warranty $140,” they said.
“Walmart has the cheapest batteries,” a third added.
One commenter, though, questioned how Dawn had managed to find a battery for $150 at all.
“What kind of do drive? Must be an older model car. Cuz today car [batteries] are over 200. plus.”
Dawn jumped into the replies to clarify. “2023 Bronco Sport. Lol, not an older car.”
Other viewers focused less on price and more on what happens after a battery is replaced.
“If it’s a new car, you need to reset the computer, or it’ll kill the new battery fast,” one commenter wrote.
Dawn replied, “Thanks, how do I do that?”
Another viewer had a simpler suggestion for the people who helped install it.
“Please tip the AutoZone guys,” they said.
Dawn responded, “Okay!”
Motor1 contacted Aubri Dawn via TikTok direct message and AutoZone through email. We’ll be sure to update this if they respond.
