What is a Wiper Blade Replacement?
Poor visibility is dangerous and can lead to MOT issues.
Simplified animation — not to scale.
In plain English
Wiper blades are rubber strips that sweep water, snow and road grime off your windscreen. The rubber degrades in sunlight and cold, cracking or splitting over time. Worn blades smear the screen, skip across the glass and can score it if the metal underneath is exposed. Replacing them is one of the easiest and most effective safety upgrades you can do yourself.
"Like replacing a worn-out squeegee on a window — the frame is fine, but the rubber edge is what does the work."
How it works
Lift the wiper arm away from the screen until it clicks into a raised position. Most blades attach with a small hook clip or a push-button fitting. For a hook fitting, slide the blade down the arm until the hook clicks into the blade connector; to remove, push a small tab and slide the blade back up. For a button fitting, press the button and pull the blade straight off. Match the blade length to your old one — it is printed on the blade or in the handbook. Some cars use two different lengths for driver and passenger sides. Lower the arm gently back onto the screen. Never let it snap back — the spring tension can crack the glass. Test the new blades with the washers.
Signs of trouble
- ⚠Blades smear water instead of clearing it
- ⚠Squeaking or chattering noise when wiping
- ⚠Visible cracks, splits or tears in the rubber
- ⚠Streaks left on the glass after every wipe
- ⚠MOT failure for inadequate wiper condition
Always get a written quote. Prices vary by car, region, and parts brand.