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How do automatic windshield wipers work?
I’m upgrading my car and the new model I’m looking at has a ton of crazy tech features, one of which is automatic wipers! I’ve always wondered this—how do automatic windshield wipers work?
Claire Beaney · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Automatic windshield wipers are a super cool feature, congrats!
They basically work like this:
- A module installed within the windshield, behind the rearview mirror, detects rain, snow, and debris. It has 8 LEDs and light collectors.
- When unobstructed, LED light reflects off the dry windshield into collectors.
- When a raindrop (for example) hits the module, some of the light refracts away from the collectors, causing the wiper blades to swipe.
Neat, huh?
Keep in mind that, just like manual windshield wipers, there is still a chance for your wipers to stop working or become less effective. If this happens to you, try reaching out and seeing if the cost to replace or repair your wipers are
covered by your insurance
—there’s a chance it might be!Even if your insurance doesn’t cover you in this case, you can save money on your
auto insurance
in a number of ways. Comparison shopping with Jerry
is the easiest way to get a policy tailored to you and your needs.A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy! Basically, you get all of the savings and coverage, with none of the hassles.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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