How to Jump Start a Car Safely (Step-by-Step for Beginners)

Connecting jumper cables wrong can damage your car electronics. Here is the safe, correct way to jump start any vehicle.

HelpByExperts step-by-step guide to jump starting a car battery safely

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In this article

1. What You Need 2. Connection Order (This Order Matters)3. Start the Cars 4. Disconnect in Reverse Order

What You Need

A set of jumper cables (keep a pair in your trunk — they cost about 15 dollars) and another vehicle with a working battery, or a portable jump starter pack (30 to 60 dollars, highly recommended as a solo solution). Park the working car nose-to-nose or side-by-side with the dead car so the cables can reach both batteries. Turn off both vehicles and remove the keys from the ignition.

Connection Order (This Order Matters)

Connect in this exact order to prevent sparks near the battery. First, connect one red (positive) clamp to the positive terminal of the dead battery, marked with a plus sign or red cap. Second, connect the other red clamp to the positive terminal of the working battery. Third, connect one black (negative) clamp to the negative terminal of the working battery. Fourth, connect the other black clamp to an unpainted metal surface on the dead car engine block, away from the battery. Do NOT connect the last black clamp to the dead battery.

Start the Cars

Start the working car and let it run for 2 to 3 minutes. This begins charging the dead battery through the cables. Now try starting the dead car. If it does not start on the first try, wait another 3 minutes and try again. If after 3 attempts it still does not start, the battery may be too dead to jump or there is another problem like a bad starter or alternator.

Disconnect in Reverse Order

Once the dead car is running, remove the cables in the reverse order: black clamp from the engine block first, then black from the working battery, then red from the working battery, then red from the previously dead battery. Let the jumped car run for at least 20 minutes or drive it for 20 minutes to recharge the battery. If the battery dies again within 24 hours, it needs replacement.

Pro Tips

✓Never connect the last black clamp to the dead battery — sparks near a battery can cause an explosion

✓A portable jump starter eliminates the need for another car and fits in your glove box

✓If the battery is more than 4 years old and needed a jump, replace it preventatively

✓Corroded battery terminals can prevent a jump start — clean them with a wire brush or baking soda and water

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