► CAR’s guide to jump starters
► Top brands ranging from Noco, Ctek, and Gooloo
► The best examples tested and rated by CAR’s product experts
A jump starter is undeniably the sort of product that you hope you’ll never need but will be glad you have should the situation call for it – a bit like a dashcam. We’ve all heard the stories or experienced a flat 12V battery ourselves. Instead of waiting for someone else with a car to help, a jump starter could be the quick and easy solution that you need.
Jump starters are a powerful form of battery chargers that can help fire up your vehicle, should your 12V battery need a boost. Modern units can be used as power banks on longer journeys to keep your mobile devices charged up, too. Some also have a torch function, which is useful to illuminate the engine bay while you’re locating the battery, should you not have a standalone torch on you.
The best jump starters at a glance:
We put a selection of jump starters to the test to find out how they perform on a set of cheap bangers bought on eBay for less than £1,500 each. Each jump starter differs slightly in order to cater for different requirements, such as engine size, longevity, and features. This means there is likely to be one here for you, your vehicle and your situation.
How we test jump starters
The jump starters were tested cars that had either flat batteries or had their batteries drained after leaving the lights on. The latter was done to recreate a situation in which someone might accidentally do the same after parking up.
Quite simply, we wanted to see how well the jump starters fired up the cars when they were unable to do it themselves. We also tried out their extra features to see how practical they could be in other situations, too.
The cars in question consisted of a 1980s Audi and several cheap second hand buys: a Volvo V70, an MG TF Roadster, and an old Ford Puma. Each have different engines and slightly different batteries, which was great for our test.
What we look for in jump starters
Ideally, consumers will be looking for a jump starter primarily based on how well it can pump some life back into a battery. So, power is key in our test therefore our judgements are based on how effortlessly each charger can can help fire up the cars.
We also like jump starters to be as easy as possible carry around. As petrolheads, we can value this sort of thing as many desirable cars have limited boot storage, and even with cars that have ample storage it’s usually reserved for luggage and other ware. The more portable the jump starter, the better.
Having extra features is a huge bonus. Things like USB ports for charging your mobile devices as well as integrated torches increases their versatility. This is handy on a long trip, when you might not be near mains power for a prolonged charge for example.
Lastly, while these sorts of products are retailed at prices reflective of their quality, power capabilities and features, a jump starter that represents good value for money is a bonus. They can vary, depending on brand and build quality, and these factors were also taken into consideration throughout our tests.
The best jump starters 2025
Noco Boost x GBX45
The best jump starter all round
Pros: Premium-grade build quality, flawless performance, features torch and power bank
Cons: Slight overkill for smaller cars
American brand Noco is a powerhouse in this industry and its new Boost X range rules supreme in the world of jump starters and power packs. The GBX45 promised to be a class act in our jump starter group test, and it proved nothing less than our deserved winner.
For starters, it’s a compact device that packs a great deal of power. So not only is it easy to carry around in the car, but when you need it, it can provide all the power you could possibly need to revive your dead battery. It covers vehicles with petrol engines up to 6.5 litres and diesel engines up to 4.0 litres.
We simply connected the two leads to the terminals, and it fired up the car’s engine like the battery itself was fully charged. There was no hesitation from the starter motor whatsoever, and we were impressed by the prowess and performance of the GBX45. Furthermore, the flashlights are greatly powerful with 100 lumens.
It also has USB ports for charging your phone or tablet, and we can testify that it feeds battery charge into a smartphone remarkably quickly. This is useful, should you need to charge your phone on the go.
Specifications
Weight: 1.2kg
Dimensions: 9.2 x 12.6 x 20.9cm
Max engine capacity: 6.5-litre petrol/4.0-litre diesel
Amps: 1250A
Extras: Torch, USB power bank
Our Ratings
Power | 5/5
Portability | 5/5
Extra features | 4/5
Value for money | 4.5/5
Overall | 5/5
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Ctek CS Free portable battery charger
The best charger
Pros: Dual-purpose unit, adaptive boost, tremendous build quality
Cons: Larger and heavier than others, no flashlight
This unit from Swedish firm Ctek is a little different to the other products recommended here because it is a charger rather than a boost jump starter. Yet, it’s here because the CS Free is very efficient and a little bit more gentle to the battery as far as jump starters go.
We tested it out on an early 1980s Audi 80 5S; the instructions implied that we should hook it up and leave it for around 10-15 minutes before turning it over. I did just that while admiring the boxy lines of this elegant, compact saloon.
While waiting for the big moment, I took some time to admire the CS Free’s immense quality and attention to detail. It’s clearly a premium product, and feels it. The materials feel high end and you can tell it’s a cut above most of its competitors in the battery charging segment.
Eventually after waiting, I buzzed the security tag in the Ingolstadt classic, turned the key, and sure enough, a five-cylinder purr followed showing no signs of rough idling. The CS Free had done an amazing job at jumping the car’s battery and provided that you wait a little bit longer than usual, you can use the CS Free as an effective jump starter.
Unlike the others, it even doubles as a battery trickle charger which makes it massively more versatile than the others on this list. The power bank slots are plentiful, but there is no flashlight function, which is a slight drawback. Overall though, this is my personal favourite out of all the jump starters, simply because I can use it for all manner of things.
Specifications
Weight: 1.4kg
Dimensions: 24.8 x 9.8 x 7.8cm
Max engine capacity: N/A
Amps: N/A
Extras: Power bank, trickle charger
Our Ratings
Power | 5/5
Portability | 4/5
Extra features | 5/5
Value for money | 4/5
Overall | 4.5/5
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Noco Boost Plus GB40
Best for build quality
Pros: Premium feel, effortless performance, useful additional features
Cons: Not as useful for larger engines
To help you understand the difference, the GB40 is slightly different to the GBX45 because it falls into a slightly different product range from Noco. This one is from the Boost Plus Range, which is a model range that sits below the Extreme range, where the GBX45 sits and bears the X in its name. To provide a bit of more understandable context, the GB40 is the BMW 330i, whereas the GBX45 is more like an M3.
The GB40 caters for petrol engines up to 4.0 litres and diesel engines up to 3.0 litres. This comfortably covers most cars sold in the UK market. It’s therefore one of the brand’s best sellers.
So, how did it perform on our test? Quite simply, like its more powerful sibling, it didn’t feel like there was a flat battery at all upon start-up. A quick terminal connection followed by a push of a button, and I turned the key like the car’s battery was at its healthiest.
But that’s not all; the integrated flashlight is also 100 lumens bright, so it can really help you out if things are a bit dark. It also performed profoundly well as a mobile phone power bank on a road trip, and managed to fully charge my phone in just over an hour from around 26%.
Specifications
Weight: 1.1kg
Dimensions: 11.7 x 20.8 x 10.7cm
Max engine capacity: 4.0 litre petrol, 3.0 litre diesel
Amps: 1,000A
Extras: Power bank, flashlight
Our Ratings
Power | 4.5/5
Portability | 5/5
Extra features | 4/5
Value for money | 5/5
Overall | 5/5
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Draper 12V 1200A lithium jump starter
Best for durability
Pros: Very powerful for its size, great build quality, worked well in our test
Cons: No grips or magnets to secure it in place
The immediate thing that strikes you with Draper’s 1200A power pack is the absence of grips to keep it in place under the bonnet. The whole outer casing is coated metal, and none of it has any rubber supports or magnetic areas to help it stick anywhere.
For our test, though, this didn’t end up being an issue as we placed it flat on top of the Ford Puma’s battery. However, lots of cars have awkward battery placements – the E36 BMW 3-Series being one example – so you might find things tricky with this device depending on what vehicle you have.
How did the jump starter get on then? In short, exceptionally well. After hooking up the clamps to the terminals, the engine fired up as if it was the first time it rolled off the dealership floor. It was an effortless, flawless start and you couldn’t really ask for anything more from a jump starter pack. That being said, we can only judge these things based off the performance they give to the provided test subject at the time. Things might differ for you and your vehicle.
The Draper pack also comes with a little flashlight, as well as two USB outlets to charge up your mobile devices. The whole thing even comes in a handy little pack to make portability a breeze.
Specifications
Weight: 0.82kg
Dimensions: 17.6 x 8.3 x 3.2cm
Max engine capacity: 6.0-litre petrol, 4.0-litre diesel
Amps: 1,200A
Extras: Power bank, flashlight
Our Ratings
Power | 5/5
Portability | 4.5/5
Extra features | 4/5
Value for money | 4/5
Overall | 4.5/5
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Ring automotive Ultraboost 500A jump starter
Best for smaller engines
Pros: Durable over multiple start-ups, useful power-bank and flashlight, good build quality
Cons: Limited capability with only 500A
If you have a car with a petrol engine of up to 3.0-litres, this option from Ring Automotive should do all you really need it to. The UltraBoost comes in three spec levels signifying the amount of amps it has: 500A like we have here, 1,000A and 1,500A. Think of it therefore, as your base-spec Porsche Boxster with the S and GTS models also being available.
For a hot hatch or lightweight sports car, I don’t see any reason why the UltraBoost isn’t perfect for boosting their batteries. I hooked it up to our MG TF, and what followed was about five episodes of it coughing its Longbridge lungs out every time I turned it over. It misfired badly and simply wouldn’t run smooth out until long after the fifth attempt at cranking it over.
I half expected the UltraBoost to run out of guts by the end, but when I went to disconnect it, it still indicated 75% of charge left from full. It coped with multiple fire-ups and probably still had enough energy to do a few more. I found that very impressive from a less powerful unit, and I would recommend it to anyone with a small petrol-engined car like a Fiesta, Polo, or Mini.
Specifications
Weight: 0.84kg
Dimensions: 25.4 x 9.4 x 4.2cm
Max engine capacity: 3.0-litre petrol, 1.5-litre diesel
Amps: 500A
Extras: Flashlight, power bank
Our Ratings
Power | 4/5
Portability | 5/5
Extra features | 5/5
Value for money | 4/5
Overall | 4.5/5
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Gooloo GE1200 jump starter
Best for additional features
Pros: Very versatile for the money, capable for use on larger engines, satisfactory build quality
Cons: Inferior battery life compared to others
The GE1200 is a powerful little unit for its relatively compact size, capable of jumping petrol engines up to 8.5-litres and 6.0-litre diesels. You can get a wide array of Gooloo jump packs, but we tried this one out because we felt it was all you could ever need from a jump starter, plus it has a range of additional built-in accessories. It includes a power bank and flashlight features, which makes it fabulous for travelling and/or camping.
Tested on a separate day from the others, the GE1200 was used to jump some life – once again – into our company MG TF. I hooked it up to the battery terminals, engaged the boost setting on the unit, and turned the key of the K-Series. Sure enough, it fired right up – pretty smoothly as well, which was a nice bonus. This GE1200 was tested around two weeks after the Ring Ultraboost unit on the same vehicle, so it was pleasing to see that the misfiring issue had gone away.
You also get a carry case where you can keep the jump starter. This is especially useful if you’re carrying it around in the boot of your vehicle. If I were to criticise the Gooloo, I’d say the overall feel and quality of it simply isn’t as good as the others. You can sense a slight cheapness, and this comes as a slight disappointment as the GE1200 is priced pretty comparably to the others at around £80 RRP.
Specifications
Weight: 0.53kg
Dimensions: 27 x 20 x 7cm
Max engine capacity: 8.5 litre petrol, 6.0 litre diesel
Amps: 1,200A
Extras: Power bank, flashlight
Our Ratings
Power | 5/5
Portability | 5/5
Extra features | 4.5/5
Value for money | 3.5/5
Overall | 4/5
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Draper 70553 12V power pack
Best heavy duty jump starter
Pros: All-in-one heavy duty power pack, useful air compressor, effortless jump-starting capability
Cons: Heavy, large size
This unit is hefty compared to the others above. Very hefty. But the trade-off is that the Draper is also immensely powerful and even doubles as a tyre inflator, thanks to its built-in compressor.
It jump-starts vehicles (check your battery CCA to see if the Draper’s 900A can jump-start it), charges devices via its USB ports and bears a flashlight. It’s very heavy though, which is my ultimate con for the thing. It weighs seven kilos, which is monstrous compared to the others on the test, so you ideally need a heavy-duty task to justify the thing.
Its flashlight and charging capabilities are impressive, as there’s a lot of power reserved for those features. When it comes to jump-starting a vehicle, it does so effortlessly. It has a peak amperage of 800V and easily fired up our test vehicle without any hesitation. It’s just a shame that the dimensions and sheer weight of the thing let it down, slightly.
Long story short, it’s fine if you want to jump start a car and for that purpose only. But given that the competition provides so much more than a jump pack and come in lighter, more compact forms, you can’t really take this unit on a trip to Le Mans for the famous weekend.
Specifications
Weight: 7kg
Dimensions: 34 x 19 x 35cm
Max engine capacity: Not listed
Amps: 800A
Extras: Flashlight, power bank, air compressor
Our Ratings
Power | 5/5
Portability | 2/5
Extra features | 5/5
Value for money | 4.5/5
Overall | 3/5
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FAQs and what to consider with jump starters
Your biggest priority when looking for a portable battery charger is power. Particularly whether it’s powerful enough to deal with your engine, a bigger engine will require more power to run. Thankfully our choices cover more-or-less every new petrol or diesel car on sale today.
Things only really get tricky with HGVs and other heavy-duty vehicles, but that falls out of our remit here and you can get battery jump packs that cater for those sorts of vehicles. If you’re wanting to keep your vehicle’s battery charged up without using the mains electricity or have little access to it, then a solar battery charger might be your answer.
You should also note that some battery boosters don’t pair well with stop-start systems, so it’s our advice to check before buying and perhaps consider one of the best batteries specifically designed for those systems. Another thing you should consider is the size of your car. While these are portable units, some are bigger than others and may eat valuable storage space. This can be valuable storage saving if you run something like a Lotus Evora with a small boot.
Do jump starters have other functions?
One of the best features that most of these chargers offer is that they’ll also act as power banks for other electronics. These will usually have USB slots that’ll allow you to charge up your mobile phone if you’re broken down.
Some offer built-in air compressors, but these tend to be more expensive and take up more room than other options. And more often than not, you’ll find small lights integrated within jump starters. This is to aid you when connecting the terminals, but we can imagine a number of different uses, including on camping trips and more.
How to use a jump starter
Before you hook up a jump starter, you should ensure the power pack is charged enough to jump start a vehicle. And remember, the bigger the engine, the more power needed to start it.
Next, you need to establish where the battery itself is in your vehicle. We searched for a sizable long time with our Volvo V70, because as it turned out, the battery is located underneath the boot floor.
Nine times out of 10, every normal vehicle has its 12V living under the bonnet, sharing space with the engine itself. But some cars don’t; our favourite wacky example being the Ferrari Mondial – where it lives in the front-right wheel arch. Or if that’s not wild enough, what about the Bristol 411, which has its 12V underneath a flap on the front-right wing?
Next, connect the jump starter to the battery terminals, making sure both the vehicle and the jump starter are off beforehand. You connect the red positive terminal first followed by the black negative terminal. Then you switch the jump starter on and, subsequently, start the vehicle, following the specific instructions of the jump starter. Turn off the jump starter, disconnect the black negative clamp first followed by the red positive clamp, and you’re good to go.
It’s always a good idea to leave your car running for several minutes – or even take it for a long drive. This simply gives time for the alternator to generate enough charge back into the battery again, so you won’t have to repeat the process. If however, your battery keeps on getting flat, it may be time to upgrade to a brand new one.
Who tested the jump starters?
The jump starters that were tested were put through their paces by Aaron Hussain. As a product writer, he is responsible for no less than dozen different product group tests for CAR and its sister site, Parkers. With a keen eye for product performance and whether it’s worthwhile, he is the ideal candidate to determine the rankings of these portable power packs.
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