60-second summary
Only got a minute? Here’s what you need to know about claiming for pothole damage:
Potholes can sometimes cause serious damage to your car, including to the tyres, suspension, alignment and even exhaust system.
In the UK, it’s the job of the relevant local authority that manages public roads to fix potholes.
You can make a claim to your local authority to cover the cost of repairs if you can prove that the pothole caused the damage, and it should have been fixed.
You’ll need to gather as much evidence as you can to support your claim.
You may also be able to claim through your car insurance provider if you have comprehensive cover.
Why is car damage from potholes such a problem in the UK?
The cold, wet weather we have in the UK is the main reason we have so many potholes. Mix in heavy traffic and limited funding for maintenance, and you have a recipe for the UK’s widespread pothole problem.
Potholes are more than just an annoyance and an eyesore. Hitting a pothole could damage your car and impact on vehicle safety if the damage – which may not always be immediately obvious – isn’t repaired properly.
What causes potholes?
It all starts when roads form tiny cracks from wear and tear. When water enters these cracks, it freezes and expands during cold weather, causing the cracks to widen. Potholes and craters are then created as cars drive over these cracks and the road surface breaks apart. No surprise that potholes are particularly bad during or immediately after winter.
How big is the pothole problem?
According to the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) 2024 survey:
A pothole is fixed every 16 seconds in England and Wales
The total repair cost for 2023/24 was £143.5 million for just under 2 million potholes
This works out at an overall average of £72.26 to fill one pothole.
The problem is ongoing, however – potholes being fixed don’t stop new ones forming. And there’s now a huge backlog in repairs that local authorities estimate would take 10 years and £16.3 billon to clear.
Did you know?
One in every ten miles (11%) of the local road network in England and Wales is in poor overall condition, according to the Asphalt Industry Alliance. These are roads likely to require maintenance in the next 12 months; together they cover a distance of around 22,300 miles – almost the entire way around the world.
Source: Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey 2023/24
Can I claim for pothole damage to my car?
Yes, as long as you can prove that the damage to your car was caused by a pothole.
If you have comprehensive car insurance, you can claim on your policy. Or you can claim for pothole damage from the council or authority responsible for maintaining the road where the pothole was.
Making pothole claims on your car insurance
If you claim on your car insurance, just be aware that it might affect your no-claims bonus and could lead to a more expensive premium the following year. You’ll also have to cover the excess – the amount of money you have to pay towards a claim.
You might decide that going down the insurance route isn’t cost-effective. In that case, claiming for pothole damage from the authority responsible for the road may be a better option.
How can I make a claim for pothole damage from the council or road authority?
To report a pothole incident or make a claim, you’ll first have to work out who’s responsible for repairing the road. This can vary according to where the damage happened and what kind of road it is.
If you’re in England:
National Highways manages the strategic road network, and most motorways and major A roads. To report a pothole, you can call Highways England’s 24-hour line on 0300 123 5000 or email [email protected].
Local roads are managed by the relevant local authority.
You can report a pothole in England on the GOV.UK website.
In London, you can make a report using Transport for London’s Streetcar tool. TfL is responsible for claims on Red Routes.
If you’re in Scotland:
Claims relating to A roads and motorways in the North West and South East are handled by BEAR Scotland.
Claims relating to A roads and motorways in the North East and South West are managed by Amey.
For local roads, you can report a pothole or make a claim via the relevant local council.
If you’re in Wales:
For A roads and motorways, check if they’re managed by Traffic Wales.
For other roads, contact the relevant local council.
You can also report a pothole issue in Wales on the GOV.UK website.
If you’re in Northern Ireland:
Tips for making a successful claim for pothole damage
To give yourself the best possible chance of making a successful pothole claim, follow these steps:
Gather evidence to support your pothole claim
Jot down the name of the road and the location of the pothole. Look out for nearby signs and local landmarks than can help you pinpoint the exact location. If you can do so safely, take photos of the pothole and measure its width and depth.
Make a note of the date and time of day when you hit the pothole and take photos of any visible damage to your car. Get the contact details of anyone who saw what happened.
Report the pothole to the relevant council/authority
Potholes can be dangerous if hit at high speeds so it’s important that they’re fixed as soon as possible. Even if you don’t decide to claim, you should still report an issue. You can report a pothole in England or Wales on the GOV.UK website.
Get repair quotes
Potholes can cause damage to your tyres, steering and suspension that could make your car unsafe to drive, so you should get it looked at as soon as possible. Keep all quotes as well as any receipts for repairs.
For a successful claim, you’ll need to prove that the damage you’re claiming for was caused by a pothole. Ask the mechanic for their professional opinion. If they believe the damage was caused by a pothole, ask them to put it in writing.
Let your insurance provider know
Even if you don’t plan on making a claim with your insurance provider, it’s a good idea to let them know what happened. That way, if your claim with the relevant authority isn’t successful, you have a back-up plan in place.
Submit your claim
You can usually get a claim form from the relevant authority. Fill in all the details, including evidence of the pothole, a description of the incident and receipts for the repair work. Include as much detail as you can.
How will I know if my pothole claim is successful?
The council or authority will let you know the result of your claim for pothole damage. Do bear in mind that it could take a while to hear back from them.
They may accept the claim and cover the full cost or a portion of the repairs, or they might reject the claim entirely.
Did you know?
According to the Asphalt Industry Alliance, local authorities in England and Wales paid out £15.2 million in successful road user compensation claims in 2023/24. In this period, each local authority received an average of 421 claims, with 89% of the total relating specifically to potholes.
What can I do if the council rejects my claim?
If your car has been badly damaged and you feel your claim has been rejected unfairly, it might be worth taking your case further.
First, make a Freedom of Information request to check the inspection record of the road that damaged your vehicle. If it wasn’t checked as regularly as it should have been or wasn’t repaired quickly, you may have evidence of negligence and can make a full claim.
If you’re still not happy with the outcome, and you’re not covered by your car insurance, you could approach a small claims court. Only do this as a last resort, though, as you’ll have to pay legal expenses if you lose the case.
Will I be covered if the pothole is on private land?
If the road is owned by a business, such as a supermarket, but is open to the public, then the road is the business’s responsibility to maintain. If the road owner has public liability insurance, you could claim on this.
If they don’t, or the road is owned by a private individual, you may have to consider claiming on your own car insurance.
You’ll still need to prove where the damage happened and that the pothole caused it, so gather as much evidence as you can and contact your insurance provider.
How can I prevent pothole damage?
The easiest way to prevent pothole damage to your car is to drive carefully:
Leave a bigger gap between you and the vehicle in front – this gives you a better chance of spotting a pothole.
Watch what other drivers are doing – drivers familiar with the road might be slowing down or driving round potholes.
Drive to the road condition within the speed limit – the faster you’re driving when you hit a pothole, the more extensive the damage will be.
Don’t slam on the brakes – hitting the brakes when driving over a pothole can place extra stress on the suspension, so stick to a slow, steady speed.
Be very wary of puddles – huge potholes often masquerade as modest puddles of water.
Keep a steady grip on your steering wheel – the jolt caused by hitting a pothole could cause you to lose control of the car.
Keep your tyres in tip-top condition – quality tyres that have been properly inflated will provide better protection.
FAQs
What damage can potholes do to my car?
Wheel and tyre damage from potholes is common – particularly tyre sidewalls and wheel rims. Steering alignment, suspension and bodywork issues can happen too. Potholes could also damage your exhaust pipe or catalytic converter, which can be very expensive to repair.
It’s important to have breakdown cover in case a pothole stops you in your tracks. In the most severe cases, a pothole could cause you to lose control of your vehicle and crash.
How can I tell if my car has been damaged by a pothole?
If you’ve recently hit a pothole, look out for signs of damage:
A loss of pressure, puncture or a bulge in your tyre. Thinner tyres are more prone to pothole damage.
A wheel that’s become bent, cracked or otherwise warped.
Your suspension suddenly becoming noisier or vibrating more.
If your car is pulling to one side, this could be a sign of an alignment issue.
If you start to notice strange noises coming from the undercarriage of your car or a drop in fuel efficiency, this could indicate that the exhaust system has been damaged.
Will I still receive pothole compensation if the pothole wasn’t reported?
A local council or road authority may reject your claim on the grounds that the pothole hadn’t been reported or picked up by an earlier inspection, leaving them unaware of the problem.
You can choose to appeal their decision if you can prove, through road inspection reports, that your local authority should have known about or fixed the road damage.
Otherwise, you can still claim on your car insurance as a fault of your own car, but only if you have comprehensive cover. However, this will probably only be worthwhile if your claim is larger than your excess and you’re prepared to lose your no-claims bonus.
How long do I have to claim for pothole damage on my car insurance?
You should tell your insurance provider about any pothole damage as soon as possible. They can advise you how long you’ll have to make a claim with them, if you decide to go down that route.
Reporting the damage to your insurance provider means that if your claim with the local authority takes a long time or is refused, your provider will already have a record of the damage. This will then make it easier to claim through them instead.
Julie is passionate about delivering a great customer experience and rewarding people for saving on their insurance through our loyalty and rewards programme. She’s spoken to the media, including outlets like Sky News, about car and home insurance, as well as our Meerkat rewards scheme.
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