So there you have it, everything you need to know for a best odds shot at jump start a dead car, and some good preventative maintenance tips as well. We'd love to hear your comments or suggestions on this article. Now, let's jumpstart your new car buying strategy. Get an AC powered car battery charger at home. This is a career saver in the morning if your spouse has already left with the other car, and you just found out your battery has not yet had its jumpstart. This can be a life saver when you have a meeting in 45 minutes, and your battery is dead. A few times I left my trunk open overnight, and there was not enough juice to start the car in the morning. But one minute on the A/C charger, and it jumpstart right up. These chargers cost about $30 at Costco or Sam's and they are worth every penny! Powered by your household electrical wall outlet, they provide a 50 amp engine start mode, enough to start most dead car batteries that were drained overnight from leaving the headlights or dome lights on. You may have to use the 10 amp fast charge mode instead to charge the battery for 15 minutes, then try the 50 amp engine jumpstart mode. This useful device has saved me several times.Many warranties like CARCHEX and Warranty Direct, include roadside assistance as part of the benefits. These benefits may include towing, jump start, travel reimbursement, and car rental reimbursement. This can be a lifesaver when you really need it most. Read our chapter on How To Buy Extended Warranties And Avoid Scams.Other useful tips for your car battery!Everyone should have a good set of jump start cables to keep in the trunk. If you don't know whether you have a battery booster, you better find out right now. You don't want to be caught out in the middle of cow tipping country with a dead battery and no cables and no beer, because you forgot you lent your cables to someone and never got them back. Don't skimp on your cables either. Just as a bad DJ can ruin a good wedding, cheap battery jump start cables can and do work against people all the time. I don't recommend getting any cables under $20 no matter how tempting it might be to save a few battery booster. The cheap ones just don't have what it takes. I just go to Famous Automotive and buy the biggest meanest kick ass set of cables I can find there! You want the thickest cables you can get, as their ability to deliver more current to the dead battery often means the difference between starting and not jump starter your dead car. It can mean the difference between making the football game on time, or making to your concert on time. Several times in the past I've watched people try with no success to jump start a car, then I connect my cables and the car started right up. I've gotten a lot of high fives over the years for jump start cars when people were ready to call a tow truck. If your car does not have a voltmeter built into the in dash gauges, I highly suggest you get a cheap $10 home depot special for your