Is Your Replacement Windscreen Leaking? Here’s What You Need to Know

It usually starts with a damp patch on the carpet, maybe a musty smell you can’t quite place. Then, after a downpour, you realise that your car’s interior is wetter than it should be.

And it’s only natural to think back to when your windscreen was last replaced. If it was within the last year or so, that’s likely to raise alarm bells—and in many cases, rightly so.

At New Again, we’ve been repairing car water leaks for over 30 years. We’ve seen thousands of cars with soggy carpets, electrical faults, and mouldy interiors. And we’ve seen just how often it turns out to be a poorly fitted replacement windscreen that’s at fault. Windscreen fitting is a technically difficult job and there's plenty that can go wrong. Whether it’s bonding that hasn’t taken, sealant that’s been missed, or the wrong procedures used during installation, the result is the same—rainwater getting in where it shouldn’t.

Why Windscreen Replacements Go Wrong

Modern windscreens aren’t simply slotted into a frame—they’re bonded directly to the car’s bodywork, making them an integral part of its structure. That bond needs to be perfect. If it isn’t, even the smallest gap will let in water, and once it’s in, it doesn’t take much for carpets to get soaked and mould to take hold.

Most replacement screens are fitted through your insurance, which is supposed to make the process easy. But when they start leaking, it can become anything but. If the screen company is at fault, your insurer will expect them to put it right. But if you take the car to a dealership and the problem is misdiagnosed or not properly resolved, you could find yourself with a big bill—and still a leaky car.

Independent Diagnosis: Start with the Right Approach

The truth is, if you’re not sure where the water ingress is coming from, guessing can be expensive. And dealerships, while well-equipped for many repairs, aren’t specialists in water leaks. They tend to replace rather than repair—we’ve seen bills for thousands where looms were replaced, when in reality a handful of connectors could have been replaced.

That’s where we come in.

At New Again, we carry out an independent 28-point leak diagnosis. We test methodically, identify the actual source of the leak, and provide you with a clear video report. If it is the windscreen—as it often is—we can give you the evidence you need to go back to the screen company or your insurer and have them put it right. In our experience, windscreen companies are proud of their reputations and are happy to pay to rectify the problem as long as the costs are reasonable.

And if it isn’t the windscreen, we can still help. We specialise in fixing all types of leaks, decontaminating interiors, and drying out the vehicle properly.

Don’t Let the Problem Spiral

One of the worst things you can do is ignore it, or throw money at the wrong solution. Dealerships are not equipped for water leak diagnosis, nor are they equipped for decontamination or properly drying your car. Their approach is to swap out parts—trim, electronics, control units—rather than target the root cause. That can leave you with an eye-watering bill, and still a wet car.

So, if you suspect your replacement windscreen might be leaking, get it checked properly. We’ll find the root cause, help you get it fixed, and ensure your car is dry, safe, and back to normal.

Isn’t it worth knowing for sure before the problem gets worse?