If your battery does not have enough charge to start your engine there are two options for getting your car started: Jump starting the car or using a battery charger.

Battery Charger Features:

When charging your battery with a it can take 12 hours to two days to get a full charge on your battery. Some quick chargers will work faster, but will not give a full charge and are harder on the battery.

Considerations:

Jump starting a car is a quick fix, but it requires that you have another car available and jumper cables. Using a battery charger can take several hours, but all you need is a charger and access to electricity.

Jump Start Features:

Jump starting your car will get you back on the road quickly, but once running you need to drive for at least 30 minutes to allow the alternator to charge the battery.

Potential:

If your battery was discharged because the lights were left on or something similar, charging with a charger or jump starting it will likely fix the problem. If the battery continues to die, the problem may be with the alternator or another component of the electrical system.

Fun Fact:

If your car is a manual transmission, you may be able to start the engine by getting a push while in neutral and putting car into gear.