It’s fair to say we get plenty of rain in the UK. Whether it’s a light shower or a torrential downpour, it can lead to a blurred, smeary or dirty windscreen that could be very dangerous.
The answer? Well, fresh wipers always help, but you should also consider a rain repellent for your car. After all, a good repellent should mean water simply beads away, potentially negating the need for windscreen wipers and making your motor look better amongst the used cars for sale UK sites have to offer.
The best rain repellent for your car – Soft99 Glaco Roll-On
This innovative product combines the repellent and applicator in one product. Squeeze the orange bottle and the replant reveals itself, depositing itself on your windscreen. It’s a great timesaver for 10 minutes work, and the result should last for over two months.
Pros
• Easy application
• Decent durability
Cons
• Requires curing
The best rain repellent and cleaner – Autobrite Direct Vision +
Although this was initially created for motorbike helmets, Vison + makes for a surface that beads quickly and also cleans glass very well indeed. It’s also good for acrylic and Perspex, as you’d expect for something designed for a motorbike helmet.
It’s also a great cleaner, easily dealing with splattered insects and other stuff that soon gets welded to your windscreen. If you don’t want the hassle of using a separate repellent and can handle the reduced durability, Vision + is our pick.
Pros
• Versatile
• Effective cleaner
Cons
• Can leave streaks
The best rain repellent on a budget – Rain-X 2in1 Glass Cleaner + Rain Repellent
A familiar face and for good reason; Rain-X is readily available and quite possibly the best-selling rain repellent range here in the UK. It’s easy to use, requiring just a spray and wipe off unlike many other bodies of water in the UK.
You’ll only get a few weeks of protection, and it’s not particularly refined, but it is a decent glass cleaner.
Pros
• Easy application
• Decent durability
Cons
• Doesn’t last very long
The best rain repellent for durability – Gtechniq G1 Smart Glass
Although Gtechniq’s G1 provides excellent windscreen protection, you really have to work to get it. The long and tedious application process requires two stages using G1 Smart Glass and G2 Residue Remover. You’ll need three layers of G1 for best results with some time to let it all cure.
Once you’ve wiped over with the G2, Gtechniq recommends keeping the glass dry for 12 hours – potentially tricky if you don’t have a garage or carport. The end results are certainly impressive, with 20,000 miles of hydrophobic protection. This is the best rating of anything we’ve tested.
Pros
• Unbeatable protection
Cons
• Laborious application process
• Requires some planning
The best rain-repellent spray – EZ Car Care Lotus
After the complexity of the Gtechniq stuff, this EZ Car Care Lotus spray is refreshingly simple. It’s a good glass cleaner with a decent repellent mixed in and requires no buffing or curing time. Even so, it breaks down grime and provides a durable hydrophobic layer.
Pros
• Decent protection
• Good application
Cons
• Not the best smelling