Driving over a deep pothole, even at low speed, can damage your car.
Tyres, alloy wheels, steering alignment, wheel tracking and balancing and suspension can all be affected by potholes.
And as newer cars contain more advanced technology, repairs can be more expensive to fix.
We explain how to make a claim if a pothole catches your car off-guard.
The pothole problem
If you’re a driver, you probably come across potholes pretty regularly when you’re on the road. Unfortunately, they’re very common, even on main roads and motorways.
And while potholes are always being filled in the UK, there are still more forming.
Potholes are caused when water seeps into a small surface crack on the road that can expand and create a hole. When it's especially cold, these cracks can be made worse by the water freezing and then thawing.
In the UK, we experience cold and wet winters, meaning they're common on our roads. At Admiral, we received 48% of our pothole-related claims for the year between January and April 2024.
Our pothole claims were at their lowest between May and November, with another slight rise in December as the coldest months began.
How to claim for pothole damage
Here’s our guide on how to claim compensation for pothole damage:
1. Collect your evidence
Make a note of where the pothole is, the time and date you hit it and get a photo if it’s safe to do so.
Then take your car to a garage for the damage to be looked at and get the mechanic’s report in writing. You’ll need this when making your case.
2. Find out who’s responsible
You need to know who maintains the road as different authorities are responsible.
For example, local roads, B roads and some smaller A roads are generally maintained by the local councils in England, Wales and Scotland.
See Money Saving Expert’s full list of who’s in charge of what.
3. Report it
Now you know who’s in charge you’ll need to make a claim – see if the relevant council or other authority has a document that you can fill in.
Include as much information as possible, including the mechanic’s report and repair costs and any photos you’ve taken.
4. Got an offer?
Check if the council’s offer is acceptable and whether it covers your costs. If not, you can go back to them.
You have a right to reasonable compensation if the council or Highways Agency has failed to keep the road in good condition.
You also stand a better chance of a payout if the pothole has already been reported, and the council hasn’t acted.
5. Offer rejected?
If you think your claim has been unfairly rejected, you can get legal advice or make a case through the courts.
But this could be a time-consuming process and will probably only be worthwhile if it’s a hefty repair bill.
Claiming for pothole damage on your car insurance
If you have comprehensive car insurance, you can claim for pothole damage on your insurance.
But it’s worth considering the cost of the damage, your excess payments and if the claim will affect your no claims bonus.
How to prevent pothole damage
Other than reporting potholes you spot, the only way to prevent pothole damage is to be vigilant and drive carefully. We recommend:
• Maintaining your tyres: properly inflated tyres can help protect you when driving over a pothole, as it lowers the chance of getting a puncture.
• Driving slowly over potholes: high-speed impact increases the chance of seriously damaging your car.
• Keeping a grip on your steering wheel: avoid veering off the side of the road after driving over a pothole by keeping your hands firmly on your wheel.
