It feels like potholes are everywhere. Sometimes, a road is so riddled with the perilous pockmarks that it’s impossible to avoid them.
Not only are they irritating, but they’re a hazard to road safety and can seriously damage your car if you hit one, even at low speed.
So, if your car has fallen foul and needs expensive repairs, here’s how you can make a claim for pothole damage.
What is a pothole?
A pothole is a hole that has formed in the surface of a road. A large, deep or hidden pothole can damage a car’s suspension, warp the wheels, and cause tears and punctures in tyres.
Why are there so many potholes in the UK?
Potholes are a particular problem on British roads because of, you guessed it, our weather.
They’re caused when water seeps into small cracks in the road’s surface. This loosens the ground underneath and can cause the tarmac to collapse. When it’s very cold, the holes can be made even worse due to the water freezing and expanding, and then thawing. Add some heavy vehicles passing over the top of it, and things crumble even more quickly.
To give you an idea of just how many potholes there are on our roads, the 2025 survey report from the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) stated that 1.9 million potholes were filled in 2024.
Less than half (48%) of the local road network is reported to be in good structural condition. However, there's a huge backlog for carriageway repairs in England and Wales, with an eye-watering £17 billion needed to fix our roads.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the report also claims that UK roads are only resurfaced, on average, once every 93 years.
How to reduce pothole damage
You can’t always avoid potholes, but you may be able to limit the damage they do to your car by following a few simple steps:
1. Slow down – if you’re unsure of the road ahead, slowing down will help you react to a sudden dip in the road, and lessen the impact on your car.
2. Maintain a safe distance – make sure there’s enough space between you and the car in front. If you notice another vehicle dip or swerve, you should have more time to prepare.
3. Be wary of puddles – water will collect in potholes and can hide them from view. Try to avoid driving through puddles if you can, or slow down until you’re safely out the other side.
4. Consider oncoming traffic – a sudden pothole can make you want to swerve at the last moment, which can be extremely dangerous – especially on busy roads. You could also cause more damage to your car if you hit the pothole at an angle.
5. Use your headlights – on unfamiliar roads or those prone to potholes, dip your headlights to improve road surface visibility.
6. Stick to main roads – main roads tend to be maintained more regularly than country lanes, so wherever possible, stick to the tried and trusted routes.
If you hit a pothole, pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so, then check your tyres, wheels and suspension for any damage.
Can I claim for pothole damage to my car?
Yes, you can claim for pothole damage through your car insurance.
However, be aware that if you claim it could affect your no-claim discount (NCD) and lead to a more expensive premium when you renew. It’s also important to consider your excess; the amount of money you need to pay towards any claim.
If you do decide to make an insurance claim, have the following details to hand:
- Your policy number and documents
- Your vehicle registration number
- Details about what happened and when
There’s also the option of pursuing a compensation claim against the local authority responsible for maintaining the road.
How to report a pothole and submit a council claim
If you’d rather not claim for pothole damage on your car insurance, or if it doesn’t seem cost-effective, you could try contacting the local authority responsible for the road.
To give yourself the best chance of success with a council claim, make sure you gather as much evidence as possible. The steps are:
- Take good-quality photos of the pothole in question
- Take photos of any damage it caused to your car
- Note the pothole’s location
- Keep all receipts for repair work
- Report the pothole to the local authority or the National Highways agency
Most councils allow you to report potholes via their websites. You can find out which authority is responsible using the Government’s ‘Report a Pothole’ webpage.
Before submitting your claim, make sure you’re familiar with the claims procedure and that you’ve gathered all the necessary details and evidence.
You will be asked questions like:
- What damage was caused?
- Why do you think the local authority is responsible?
- The date and time the damage was caused
- The specific location of where the damage took place – be ready with road names and landmarks that can identify which part of the road you were on
Bear in mind that you can’t claim compensation if debris from another vehicle caused the damage. In that instance, you should contact your insurer instead.
The council or authority will inform you of the outcome of your claim for pothole damage. They may accept the claim and cover all or part of the repair costs, or they may reject the claim altogether. If your claim is rejected, it may be possible to appeal the decision, but if all else fails, you could take your case to the small claims court. If that’s the road you want to go down, seek legal advice first!
Pothole damage from private property
If the road owner has public liability insurance, you may be able to claim on that. Otherwise, you may want to claim on your own insurance.
How to prevent pothole damage
General advice for preventing damage includes:
- Drive at the speed limit
- Keep a good grip on the steering wheel
- Drive cautiously when you see puddles as it’s often where water has collected in potholes
- Keep a safe distance between your car and the car in front (so you can see the road ahead)
- Make sure your tyres are in good condition
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