Why are rain repellents worth considering? Given Britain’s famously moist weather, driving around in the wet is something we’re all used to. But driving in damp and rainy conditions with blurred, smeared, and dirty windscreens can be very dangerous. These conditions get especially bad during the months where you may be carrying a few winter driving products. So, being able to see out clearly is a top priority.
Obviously, some effective windscreen wipers go a long way in avoiding this problem. But on top of that, you should consider an effective rain repellent for your car, in order to keep its windows even clearer.
A rain repellent (or glass sealant) is a solution you apply to a car’s glass and/or bodywork. It creates a clear, non-stick and hydrophobic layer that makes it harder for substances to adhere to a vehicle’s exterior. This can make things easier when you have to go in on the attack with an ice scraper. They don’t last indefinitely, the longevity varies enormously depending on the product. Sometimes they last weeks, sometimes months, sometimes even years.
The best rain repellents at a glance:
Editor’s pick: Soft99 Glaco Roll-On – Buy now from Amazon
Best rain repellent and cleaner: Autobrite Direct Vision + – Buy now from Amazon
Best rain repellent for durability: Gtechniq G1 Smart Glass – Buy now from Amazon
There are some who claim that rain repellents can be hydrophobic but smear glass, somewhat obscuring visibility in dry, sunny or low-light conditions. Some products are guilty of this, but some avoid it, which is why choosing the correct product is essential. This is where your expert guides at Parkers step in. And for the task of wiping away morning dew on your windscreen, check out our guide on glass squeegees.
The best rain repellents for your car
A simple squeeze of the orange bottle will deliver the repellent onto the foam pad, which you then pull across the windscreen, leaving a small visible streak as you do. After this, it's simply a case of leaving it for up to 10 minutes before wiping it with a microfibre towel. The results last for two months and don't leave any nasty smearing or cause juddering wipers.
Tested Ryan Gilmore: This big disc of rain repellent impressed us when we first tested it back in February. The design limits wasted product and ensure even coverage across the windscreen, ensuring the best value for money. The felt applicator pad means there’s no risk of overspray either, it’ll only apply to what you want to cover.
The big downside here really depends on how long your arm is – there’s no way to reach the middle of a windscreen without reaching across and actually touching the glass, a problem for anyone with a big car and shorter arms. Still, with Glaco applied to the car’s windscreen, there’s a short curing time of up to 10 minutes before it’s wiped away. There’s a tiny amount of streaking that quickly disappears, leaving an excellent rain repellent that can last for a few months before needing reapplication.
Pros
- Easy application
- Decent durability
Cons
- Requires curing
| Volume | 120ml |
| Durability | Two months |
| Suitable surfaces | Glass, Perspex, Plastic |
| Extras | Built-in applicator |
Best rain repellent and cleaner
Rrp: £6.26
Rrp: £6.26
It's an effective cleaner too, making light work of splattered insects and other debris that can become ingrained onto windscreens. If you don't want the hassle of using a separate repellent and can handle the reduced durability, Vision + is our pick.
Tested Ryan Gilmore: Originally developed for use on motorcycle helmets, an area where there’s no wiper action to help shift water, Vision + needed to be a capable option for removing water. Now available in a larger size for cars, Vision + proved to be an outstanding option, offering excellent water beading and glass cleaning action, all from a spray that required no curing time and took a couple of seconds to apply.
There was minimal streaking from the repellent when freshly applied, even when the wiper blades were going full speed. In fact, it brought the test car’s windscreen up looking almost better than new. It’s an excellent glass cleaner and also offers some seriously impressive hydrophobic protection.
Pros
- Versatile product
- Effective cleaner too
Cons
- Can leave streaks
| Volume | 500ml |
| Durability | N/A |
| Suitable surfaces | Glass, Perspex, Acrylic |
| Extras | Cleans the glass |
After this, Gtechniq recommends not letting the glass get wet for 12 hours, but the end results will be 20,000 miles of hydrophobic protection, by far the best out of any rain repellents we've seen.
Tested Ryan Gilmore: An absolute pain to apply, Gtechniq G1 requires a good half days’ worth of sunshine to properly cure on the car’s windscreen. With the British weather the way it is, the application was delayed on no less than two occasions owing to approaching rain. It’s best to have a garage or at least a gazebo if you’re planning to apply this.
When it was eventually sunny enough to apply, the process was straightforward but took the most time here. You’re provided with four applicator pads and really need to apply three layers to get the absolute best protection possible. You then need to apply the G2 Residue Remover (also included) to prevent streaking before leaving the whole thing to set for at least three hours.
While the windscreen this car was applied to hasn’t had the ability to cover the claimed 20,000 miles yet, the thoroughness of the application does point to excellent durability. It’s a real investment piece, the application was the most arduous but nothing could touch the protection offered by G1. Streaking was an absolutely minimal concern, especially with the wiper blades treated with G1, visibility was excellent and water beaded away without any fuss. If it was just a little bit easier to apply, G1 would be the undisputed winner here.
Pros
- Unbeatable protection
- Long mileage claim
Cons
- Requires some pre-planning
| Volume | 15ml |
| Durability | 20,000 miles |
| Suitable surfaces | Glass |
| Extras | Includes applicators |
Best rain repellent on a budget
Rrp: £6.99
Rrp: £6.99
It requires no buffing or curing time, instead wiping straight off after spraying it on. It's not the most refined of products, and the protection offered can be measured in weeks, not months, but it's good value for money and will also double as a decent glass cleaner too.
Tested Ryan Gilmore: A popular choice for an obvious reason, Rain-X combines cleaning and repellent at a temptingly low price. Another part of its appeal has to be the simple application process, there’s no need to buff or let the product cure, it simply needs wiping off once sprayed onto the glass. The 500ml bottle features an ergonomic trigger and delivered a neat and even misting of the product, which is wiped away without leaving any residue behind.
The problem with Rain-X was that the smearing caused by using the wipers was really quite noticeable. It was never unsafe or totally obscuring, but there was a noticeable trail left after each place of the blade. This did eventually stop after about two weeks, although this coincided with the hydrophobicity failing too, an indication that smearing would be a concern so long as it was applied to the car. A middling performance overall, but very affordable.
Pros
- Easy application
- Decent durability
Cons
- Doesn't last very long
| Volume | 500ml |
| Durability | N/A |
| Suitable surfaces | Glass |
| Extras | Works as a glass cleaner |
Best versatile rain repellent
The repellent coating itself also makes things easier when scraping ice off each morning, which is a useful trick in the colder months of the year.
Pros
- Decent protection
- Works on a number of surfaces
Cons
- 300ml quantity isn't too generous
| Volume | 500ml |
| Durability | N/A |
| Suitable surfaces | Glass |
| Extras | Works as a glass cleaner |
What we look for in rain repellents
Visibility will be your number one priority if applying a rain repellent to a car. In the same way that visibility is no.1 when applying some de-icer. After all, the sole job of a rain repellent is road safety, keeping water from congregating on your windscreen. A good rain repellent will see rain beading straight off the windscreen, leaving the road ahead clear. A poor rain repellent may, however, leave a smear on the glass, particularly in sunny or low-light conditions. This hampers visibility when it’s not raining and is a fairly irritating thing to deal with.
Application is also worth paying attention to. There are three options; spray-on, roll-on and applicator-applied examples. Each has its pros and cons, with spray-on options the easiest to apply but least durable and applicator examples vice versa. Rain repellents are similar to car waxes in many ways, sometimes featuring minimum temperatures and directions to apply out of direct sunlight. Longer-lasting options may also feature a curing time. Once you’ve finished, you can embrace a moist-free car interior if you decide to opt for an in-car dehumidifier.
What about durability?
Durability varies massively between rain repellents, some last a couple of weeks, and others are designed to last for thousands of miles. Akin to a set of snow chains, durability often increases with price. With rain repellents it comes at the expense of a more laborious application process. One that doubles as a glass cleaner can be a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it’ll be a time saver, but these often don’t last as long as a dedicated glass cleaner.
Aaron Hussain is a commercial content writer at Bauer Media writing for Parkers and CAR. He is obsessed with classic cars and anything with a fascinating story to tell.
Sign up to the Parkers Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews, news, and recommendations from the Parkers team.
Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections – read why you should trust us.
