Encourage drivers to look at their wipers in light of new MOT rules

Simply Brands is urging workshops and factors to encourage drivers to look at their wiper blades. As one of the busiest MOT seasons approaches, rules around wiper blades have been changed.

As of 29 November 2024, the DVLA updated aspects of the MOT inspection manual with a new guide on windscreen wipers. “Section 3.4: windscreen wipers: Wipers must operate automatically when you switch them on. Wipers that do not continue to operate when switched on will fail for 3.4.(a) wiper not operating or missing.”*

Previous versions of the MOT test only focused on other aspects of the wiper blade, for instance: “You only need to reject a windscreen wiper if it’s clearly damaged or worn.” There were also major fails if a “wiper was not operating or missing” or “missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen”** a minor was if the wiper blade was defective.

This demonstrates that the DVLA is concentrating more on wiper blades and their effectiveness, as it’s a safety critical element. Therefore, Simply Brands is encouraging workshops and factors to look at their wiper blade offering and begin to discuss it with their customers, especially as the busy MOT season ramps up.

There are clear signs that a wiper blade is coming to the end of its life and it’s important that factors and technicians share these tips with their customers.

• The blade is streaking – this is when the blade doesn’t completely clear the windscreen, leaving streaks of water or debris

• The blade is chattering – when the blade doesn’t move smoothly across the windscreen and jumps on and off the windscreen

• The blade is smearing – when the debris or water is smeared across the windscreen, but not removed, making it difficult to have a clear windscreen and therefore vision of the road ahead

By having drivers look for signs of wear on their wiper blades, they’ll also be more conscious of the effectiveness of their blades. As the new MOT test includes “Wipers must operate automatically when you switch them on”, this new distinction will show drivers just how important their wiper blades are and if they are any issues with them, such as wear, or them failing to turn on automatically, it’ll result in increased business for the factor and workshop.

Simply Brands’ Business Development Manager, Sam Robinson, said: “With the new changes to the MOT, we’re hoping that drivers start to take their wiper blades more seriously, after all, they’re a safety critical component and need to be regularly checked and changed if needed. While the new changes to the MOT aren’t about the wiper blades themselves, the condition of the wiper blade has been included in the MOT for decades and drivers sometimes forget that this could result in their vehicle failing.”