Do Auto Vent Shades, Visors, Wind Deflectors, Or Rain Guard Work? (Explained)

Auto vent shades and visors can be added to a vehicle to help prevent rain from entering the windows even if you have them rolled down partially while driving down the road in the rain.

If you are considering them for your vehicle, do you research them to ensure they are the right option for your vehicle?

Let’s Find Out If Auto Vent Shades, Visors, Wind Deflectors Or Rain Guard Really Work.

Yes, Auto Vent Shades, Visors, Wind Deflectors, or Rain Gaurd do work in preventing wind and rainwater from entering your car even at high speeds provided you don’t open them too wide. However, given they are on the exterior of your car they are subject to extreme weather damage or vandalism.

Red car window vent Shades Visors Wind Deflectors Rain Guard
Red car window vent Shades Visors Wind Deflectors Rain Guard

You can get good results from rain guards if you don’t open your windows too wide.

You get fresh air without getting soaked with rain guards because they allow small openings for ventilation.

You should see improvement once these little plastic pieces are placed correctly.

You can benefit from rain guards in more ways than just being able to open your windows when it rains. In addition to deflecting wind, these items will keep it out of your car when your windows are open. Additionally, this reduces your vehicle’s fuel economy by reducing airflow into the cabin.

Having long-lasting window components is another benefit. Your window will also be protected from harmful elements with these rain guards. There is a small strip where your window opens and closes, so dirt and grime cannot get inside.

It makes your window motor work less hard and last longer if the area is kept clean. A rain guard can also help prevent theft since thieves rarely see open windows if rain guards cover their openings.


Related:

What Are The Pros And Cons Of Auto Vent Shades, Visors, Wind Deflectors Or Rain Guards?

Hatchback car window vent Shades Visors Wind Deflectors Rain Guard in cold
Hatchback car window vent Shades Visors Wind Deflectors Rain Guard in cold

Consider the pros and cons of auto vent shades and visors before installing them in your car.

Pros

1. Decreasing the Noise from the Wind

Wind noise is caused by the aerodynamics of vehicles.  During high velocities, even window malfunctions or misaligned or poorly-closed windows can cause noise.

A windy opening on the top of the window may cause windows to rattle or to sound like they are being whistled.

In addition to reducing wind noise, rain guards provide an aerodynamically-engineered way to control wind flow, as wind is channeled alongside the sleek design of the rain guard as you drive by.

2. Cools Car In The Summer

You can reduce direct sunlight on you and your car’s interior by using a window deflector like the JSP Rain guard when it’s very hot outside.

As you drive while it is hot outside, this can provide you with a cooling effect.

3. Keep Windows Down While Driving In The Rain

In rainy weather, rain guards will keep your car dry even when the window is slightly open in the rain.  A rain guard prevents rain from entering your car when it is falling. 

In a rainy environment, we’ve all tried opening a car window without a rain guard only to get soaked.

4. Protects Car Door Electronics (e.g Speakers, Window Controls, etc) From Rain Water

Also in rainy weather, if your window is slightly open there is a chance the water will seep into the door frame with a possibility of damaging the door electronics such as door speakers, window controls, electronic door lock, etc.

The rain guard will prevent the water from entering your car in such situations.

Check out this amazing article on how to protect your car speakers from getting wet!

5. Easy To Install

You can install high-quality window rain guards yourself, which is one of their great features.

A written instruction sheet is also included with each rain guard.  A very durable, long-lasting 3M adhesive tape is used to mount them over your windows. The rain guard can be affixed by simply cleaning the application area well and peeling and sticking it to the surface.  I have included the instructions again.

Adding rain guards to your car can enhance its value and help keep it in good condition.

Cons

1. They Don’t Dry Quickly

There seems to always be leftover water when using an automatic car wash air blower. Water drips out of the windows and spots them over time. If you want to keep your car spotless, you have to dry them more often.

2. Hard To Remove

Your visors can easily become scratched over time or if they come into contact with a sharp object. In contrast to paint, these scratches cannot be buffed out. It’s also worth noting that visors themselves aren’t always perfect. You will notice some imperfections in the ones I just bought. Although they are very minor, no one but you will notice them.

3. They Can Become Loose Overtime

After washing your car many times and wiping off snow from your vehicle they could become loose. It is possible for visors to become loose as they lose their grip. The fact that mine didn’t fall off for over 5 years is what I consider to be a minor issue.

4. Ice Can Form On Them

I came across a video of window visors that were so brittle that they could crumble in your hand while researching window visors. The visors of your vehicle are another place where ice forms, and scraping the ice off could damage them.

5. Easily Vandalized

Vandals may target your car’s visors if they want to vandalize it. It’s kind of a catch-22 because if they only damage the visors, you might consider yourself lucky. Even so, visors do attract attention because they are aftermarket accessories.

Do Auto Vent Shades, Visors, Wind Deflectors Or Rain Guard Reduce Car MPG?

Family car window vent Shades Visors Wind Deflectors Rain Guard with wind drag
Family car window vent Shades Visors Wind Deflectors Rain Guard with wind drag

It is unclear whether window visors negatively impact gas mileage, but no definitive studies have been conducted. The fuel economy of commercial trucks was studied in relation to bug deflectors.

Approximately 1.5 – 3% less gas mileage is obtained from bug deflectors, according to the National Research Council of Canada.

In this study, bug deflectors were tested on vehicles that have them installed directly in front. Side window visors cause much less drag than top window visors.

Passenger cars typically get about 25 miles per gallon in fuel economy. The fuel economy goes down to 24.25 mpg when we reduce it by 3%. Consequently, there is a reduction of .75 miles per gallon, which is not even a full gallon.

By improving airflow around the vehicle, a window visor might even improve gas mileage. The only way to truly test this would be in a wind tunnel.

As a whole, window visors don’t seem to make a significant difference in gas mileage. Since installing window visors, I have never heard of anyone complaining that their gas mileage dropped significantly.

Adding Auto Vent Shades, Visors, Wind Deflector Or Rain Guard Considered As A Car Modification?

The term “car modifications” refers to any changes made to a car after it leaves the factory, which does not include factory-fitted options.

A vent shade, visor, and rain guard are still considered modifications, regardless of how small or insignificant they seem.

Do You Need To Tell Your Insurance Company About Auto Vent Shades, Visors, Wind Deflectors Or Rain Guards?

Any modifications you make to your car should be reported to your insurance company.

There will be a difference in price according to your policy, the company, and the modifications made to the policy.

It’s always possible for one of the vent shades or visors on an automobile to become loose and slam into another vehicle or cause an accident, even though they are just small modifications.

What Are The Best Auto Vent Shades, Visors, Wind Deflectors Or Rain Guards?

You can gain surprising advantages from auto vent shades, and there are many options on the market.

Depending on their size, quality, price, and features, they vary.

To help you decide, here are a few options you may want to consider.

Final Thoughts

In spite of how often you open your windows, rain guards and window visors offer real-world advantages that you can’t ignore. Choosing the right installation type depends a lot on your car and your needs, so consider your options carefully. Your insurance company may require you to notify them if you install window visors on your car.

Sources

Do Rain Guards Really Work? (carid.com)

Car modifications: the ultimate guide | Cuvva

Gas Mileage Tips – Driving More Efficiently (fueleconomy.gov)