Can Worn Wiper Blades Fail the NCT?

Worn, damaged or ineffective wiper blades can cause your car to fail the NCT.

In 2025, around 42,000 vehicles failed the NCT because of their windscreen wipers.

That's a lot of drivers making a second trip to the test centre for something that takes a few minutes to fix.

What does the NCT check?

Your wipers need to clear enough of the windscreen to give you a proper view of the road. The washers also need to work properly and have enough fluid.

If your wipers are streaking, smearing, skipping or leaving areas of the windscreen uncleared, it's worth sorting them before your test.

Give them a quick check yourself

Run the washers and wipers and take a look.

Keep an eye out for:

• Heavy streaks or smearing
  
• Areas of the windscreen being missed
  
• Juddering or skipping
  
• Split or damaged rubber
  
• Washer jets that aren't reaching the windscreen
  

If the screen isn't being cleared properly, clean the glass and the rubber edges first. Dirt, grease and wax can make good wipers perform badly too.

Still getting streaks or missed areas? Your blades may be past it.

And don't forget the washer fluid. Turning up to the NCT with an empty bottle is an easy one to avoid.

Don't make a second trip

Wipers are a small job. They shouldn't be the reason you have to go back to the test centre.

Enter your registration and we'll match your car with the correct wipers, then send you a simple fitting video for your vehicle.

Find the right wipers for your car →

Official guidance: NCT pre-test checklist and NCT retest information. Wiper failure figure: NCT 2025 test statistics.