Buying Windshield Washer Fluid in the Right Place Is Both Cheaper and Better

With winter’s snow and slush, more windshield washer fluid is used now than at any other time of the year, and retailers tempt customers with various offers. However, tests show that there are significant differences between brands of washer fluid.

Many Swedes choose the easiest and fastest option—stopping at the nearest gas station to buy washer fluid, which is also convenient while refueling, but the price is significantly higher, notes Carup.

It’s not uncommon for the price at gas stations to be around 40 SEK per liter, which is 300 percent more expensive than the cheapest competitor. Retailers like Biltema and Rusta offer better alternatives. Biltema’s 3.5-liter jug costs 11.40 SEK per liter, while Rusta’s three-liter jug costs 9.97 SEK per liter. That can mean saving several hundred kronor each year.

The Cheapest Is the Best

At the same time, tests have shown that you don’t have to dig deep into your wallet to get a quality product. When Testfakta and SP Sveriges Tekniska Forskningsinstitut examined which washer fluid was most effective, the more expensive brands from OKQ8 and Circle K received the lowest scores, while the cheaper options performed better.

The winner in the test was the cheapest washer fluid from Rusta, followed by Biltema’s.