Wiper Blades in Winter: When to Replace Them and How to Keep Your Screen Clear

Quick answer: Wiper blades in winter take a battering from ice, grit and salty road spray and worn blades smear just when you need a clear view.  Replace them if they streak, chatter or miss patches, which for many drivers means every 6 to 12 months.  A blade that doesn’t clear the screen properly is also a major MOT fail.

Key Takeaways

• The Highway Code says you must be able to see, so all snow and ice must be cleared from every window before you set off.
• A wiper blade that is missing or obviously not clearing the screen is a major defect in the MOT.
• Washers that don’t work, or don’t supply enough fluid to clear the screen, are also a major MOT defect.
• Since 1 December 2024, wipers that don’t keep operating once switched on will fail the MOT.
• Wiper blades are commonly replaced every 6 to 12 months, depending on use and conditions.

Quick Navigation

• Why winter is so hard on wiper blades
• Signs your wiper blades need replacing
• Don’t use your wipers as an ice scraper
• Screenwash matters as much as the blades
• The law and the MOT
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Useful Links
• What to Do Next

Why winter is so hard on wiper blades

Wiper blades are one of those parts nobody thinks about until the first properly grim drive home of the year.  It’s dark, the spray from the lorry in front is thick with road salt and the blades leave a greasy arc right across your line of sight.

Winter piles on the work.  Blades run for longer in rain and sleet, grit and salt wear down the rubber edge and freezing temperatures make the rubber stiffer and more likely to crack.  Summer doesn’t help either, as heat and sunlight age the rubber, so blades that looked fine in August can be past their best by November.

Signs your wiper blades need replacing

Run the washers and watch the screen.  Your blades are due for replacement if they:

• Leave streaks or a smeared film across the glass
• Miss patches or leave an unwiped band, often at the top of the sweep
• Chatter, judder or squeak as they move
• Have a split, torn or rounded rubber edge when you lift the arm and look
• Leave the screen hazy at night, when oncoming headlights make any smearing far worse

Blades are often replaced every 6 to 12 months, though it really depends on how much you drive and where the car lives overnight.  Many modern cars use flat blades in specific lengths and fittings, so it pays to make sure the right ones go on.  Some models, many BMWs among them, also have a wiper service position that lifts the arms clear of the bonnet for changing the blades.  Your handbook explains how it works on your car.

Don’t use your wipers as an ice scraper

On a frozen morning it’s tempting to switch the wipers on and let them do the work.  It’s best not to.  The rubber edge can stick to the glass or tear on the ice, and the motor and linkage are put under strain trying to drag frozen blades across the screen.

A better routine is to start the engine, direct the heater to the screen, use a proper scraper and de-icer and make sure the blades are free before you switch them on.  If your car has automatic wipers, turning that setting off when a hard frost is forecast stops them trying to run against an iced screen as soon as you start up.

Screenwash matters as much as the blades

New blades won’t achieve much against salty road film if the washer bottle is empty or full of plain water.  Water alone can freeze in the bottle and the lines and it does very little against the greasy grime winter roads throw up.

Use a screenwash rated for low temperatures and mix it to the winter strength shown on the bottle.  Avoid topping up with washing-up liquid, which can leave a film on the glass.  Our guide to windscreen washer fluid covers this in more detail.

If your windows mist up on the inside as well, that’s a separate problem worth sorting and why your car windows fog up explains the usual causes.

The law and the MOT

Rule 229 of the Highway Code is blunt: you must be able to see, so clear all snow and ice from all your windows before you set off.  It also asks drivers to keep mirrors clear and remove any snow that could fall into the path of other road users.

Wipers and washers are part of the MOT too.  Under the MOT inspection manual, a wiper blade that’s missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen is a major defect, as are washers that don’t work or don’t provide enough fluid to clear the screen.  A major defect means a fail.  Since 1 December 2024, wipers must also keep operating automatically once they’re switched on.

Worn blades are a quick and inexpensive fix, so it makes sense to sort them before your MOT rather than have them show up as a failure.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I change my wiper blades?

Many drivers replace them every 6 to 12 months, but condition matters more than the calendar.  If they streak, chatter, miss patches or have a damaged rubber edge, it’s time for new ones.  Autumn is a sensible time to check, before the worst of the winter weather arrives.

Can worn wiper blades fail an MOT?

Yes.  A wiper blade that’s missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen is a major defect, which means an MOT fail.  Washers that don’t work or don’t provide enough fluid to clear the screen are also a major defect.

Is it illegal to drive with an iced-up windscreen?

The Highway Code says you must be able to see, so you must clear all snow and ice from all your windows before driving.  Peering through a small cleared patch doesn’t meet that standard.

Should I use my wipers to clear ice off the windscreen?

It’s best not to.  Frozen blades can tear on the ice and dragging them across a frozen screen puts strain on the wiper motor.  Use the heater, a scraper and de-icer and make sure the blades are free before switching them on.

Why do my new wiper blades still smear?

The usual culprits are a dirty windscreen, a film left by road grime or old screenwash, or blades that don’t properly suit the car.  Clean the glass thoroughly and use a good winter screenwash.  If the smearing carries on, the wiper arm tension or the blade fit may need checking.

Useful Links

• The Highway Code: Driving in adverse weather conditions (rules 226 to 237)
• UK: MOT inspection manual, section 3 Visibility
• UK: MOT special notice 04-24 (wiper rule change from 1 December 2024)
• Met Office: UK weather warnings
• Bartlett Automotive: Guide to windscreen washer fluid
• Bartlett Automotive: Checks you should do before winter driving

What to Do Next

If your blades are smearing, chattering or it’s been a year or so since they were last changed, mention it when you book your next service or MOT and our team will take a look.  It’s a small job that makes a big difference on a dark, wet commute.

Call our Huntingdon workshop (BMW, MINI and Porsche) on 01480 459 771 or our Peterborough workshop (BMW, MINI and Mercedes-Benz) on 01733 852 955.