Rain Repellents

They claim to keep your screen free of rain. But which does the job best?

Auto Express Car Reviews

November 2006

You either love or loathe rain repellents. Essentially, they coat your car’s glass in a super-smooth surface which is designed to allow water to simply bead and roll off. However, the problems start when you use your windscreen wipers, as the coating creates a mist behind the blade as it passes. Although this is irritating rather than dangerous, it puts some drivers off.

Even if you can’t live with a rain repellent on the screen, it has a place on other glass, especially during Britain’s wet winters, as it can dramatically improve visibility on wing mirrors or side and rear windows. And when the temperature drops, treated glass is far less likely to freeze as the super-slippery barrier forces water to roll off. If ice does form, it’s easier to remove, too.

This time of year is the perfect time to apply a rain repellent, but which one gives you a clear advantage? We put seven slippery customers through their paces in a real test of endurance.

Verdict

Both Rain-X and Halfords’ Rain Repellents worked brilliantly. They were easy to apply and gave excellent results in our tests. Halfords takes the top spot for supplying a larger bottle for a lower price, but Rain-X was a close second. Mer’s Rain Away follows in third. It performed reasonably and offers excellent value.