A customer says they discovered a way to get money back for old batteries instead of just dropping them off for recycling.
River City Wheels (@ingridfallin), which rents mobility scooters and wheelchairs throughout San Antonio, Texas, shared the tip on TikTok after taking several used batteries to O’Reilly Auto Parts.
“Did you know that O’Reilly will give you $10 for every single battery” that you recycle through them, the woman asked in their clip.
In the video, the woman with River City Wheels shows what looks like two $50 gift cards they received after bringing in old batteries.
She shared the PSA for other mobility scooter companies “that are constantly buying batteries and thinking you’re doing the environment a favor by taking them to Home Depot or someplace like that,” encouraging them to consider O’Reilly instead.
The creator said O’Reilly limits the program to five batteries per day, meaning customers can get up to $50 at a time.
“I’m going to go tomorrow and get another $50 gift card,” she says.
As of this writing, the post has more than 100,500 views.
Does O’Reilly Really Pay For Old Batteries?
O’Reilly Auto Parts does offer customers a gift card for recycling certain used batteries, though not every battery will necessarily qualify.
According to O’Reilly, customers can bring in eligible batteries and receive a $10 gift card. The company says customers can recycle up to five batteries per day, with different limits in Florida and California. Florida customers are limited to two batteries per day, while California customers can recycle up to six.
The program is separate from a battery core charge, which drivers may be familiar with. In those cases, customers typically pay an additional fee upfront and get that money back when they return their old battery.
But for people like River City Wheels, who said they regularly go through batteries for mobility scooters, the recycling program can be another way to avoid simply throwing old batteries away.
There are some limits, though. O’Reilly says batteries must meet its requirements, and damaged batteries may not be accepted. Certain rules can also vary depending on location and state regulations.
Even if a battery does not qualify for a gift card, recycling is still important. Vehicle batteries contain materials that should not be tossed in the trash, and many auto parts stores accept them so they can be handled properly.
So River City Wheels’s tip checks out, but not every battery will qualify for the deal. Before bringing several into your local O’Reilly or AutoZone at once, customers should make sure their specific batteries are eligible and accepted wherever they choose to go.
Drivers Surprised By O’Reilly Battery Program
Commenters who watched River City Wheels’ video were surprised to learn about the battery recycling program, with many asking for more details about how it works.
“What kind of battery?” one person asked.
Another viewer jokingly responded, “The ones that look like a box.”
Others joked that they had been saving the wrong kind of batteries.
“I knew I’ve been saving these AAA AND AA for a reason,” one commenter wrote.
Some viewers were more focused on how River City Wheels had so many batteries to recycle in the first place.
“Where you getting all those batteries?” one person asked.
River City Wheels explained, “I rent out mobility scooters in San Antonio.”
Others suggested that O’Reilly was not the only place where people could bring old batteries.
“Scrap yard gives you [c]ash,” one commenter said.
To this, River City Wheels asked, “How much for a scooter battery or a boat battery?”
“AutoZone does the same, if you’re closer to an AutoZone,” another viewer added.
“AutoZone also gives 10 dollars per battery with a 5-battery-per-day limit,” a fourth user echoed.
Motor1 has reached out to River City Wheels via a direct message on TikTok and O’Reilly Auto Parts through email. We’ll update this story if we hear back.
