We’ve all been there – you're happily driving along when suddenly there's a loud clunk as your car crashes over a pothole. It's an unpleasant jolt that will immediately leave you wondering whether something's just been damaged.

In most cases, potholes are a harmless inconvenience. But if you're unlucky, a deep or sharp-edged pothbole can leave you with a punctured tyre, a bent wheel, or even damaged suspension – all things that can mean an expensive repair bill.

And the problem is getting worse. The RAC's Pothole Index shows that in 2024 drivers were 1.7 times more likely to break down as a result of a pothole than they were in 2006, and investigations showed that pothole claims to 18 local authorities more than doubled between 2022 and 2023.

For most of us, hitting a pothole won't cause any problems. However, a pothole can result in costly damage to a car and even personal injury for some unfortunate drivers.

Local authorities across the UK are under pressure to fix these defects, but with road maintenance budgets stretched, it’s not always happening fast enough.

In this guide, we’ll explain what causes potholes, how to report them, what to do if one damages your car, and how to claim compensation if you're out of pocket.

What causes potholes?

Most potholes form when water seeps into cracks in the road surface, freezes, and expands, causing the tarmac to break apart. The wear and tear of traffic then exacerbates the damage, eventually leading to potholes. Cold and wet weather can accelerate the process, which tends to make potholes more prevelant during winter.

Local authorities often define a pothole based on its size. For instance, a defect may be classified as a pothole if it's more than 40mm deep on main roads or over 50mm deep on local roads. However, these thresholds can vary between councils.

How to report a pothole

Reporting potholes helps local authorities quickly address defects in the roads, which reduces the risk of damage to vehicles or injuries to those on the roads – cyclists and pedestrians as well as driverss.

In England and Wales, you can usethe Government's Report A Pothole Service to find the appropriate local council. Motorways and A roads in England are managed by Highways England, which you can contact through their website or call 0300 123 5000.

You can report potholes in Scotland online to My Gov Scotland. If you live in Northern Ireland then you should report it to NI Direct.

What to do if a pothole damages your car

If you've hit a pothole at low speed then you’re less likely to have caused serious damage to your car. 

However, it’s certainly worth safely pulling over to check your car and the tyres for visible damage. Look for cracked or bulging tyres, bend or cracked wheels, and feel for misaligned steering or unusual vibrations when you drive. Watch for leaking fluids or damaged suspension compionents, too. 

If you find damage, document it. If you can, take clear photographs or the pothold, and of the damage to your car. Note the exact location, time and date of the incident and if there were any witnesses, gather their contact details.

Next, get some itemised quotes for repairs and ensure the mechanic notes that the damage was caused by a pothole. And if you haven't already, report the pothole to the relevant authority using the guide above.

Remember, you’re responsible for making sure your car is safe to drive and roadworthy. You can be fined up to £2,500 and be banned from driving for driving a car in a dangerous condition. Don't drive your car if you suspect it has a serious problem. 

How to claim compensation for pothole damage

Local authorities have a duty to maintain roads, so if they fail to do so and your vehicle is damaged as a result, you may be entitled to compensation.

The first step is to submit a claim by contacting the authority responsible for the road where the damage occurred. Make sure to provide them with a detailed description of the incident, photographs of the pothole and damage, repair quotes or invoices and any witness statements. Then wait for a response – the authority will investigate your claim, which may involve them checking their maintenance records and inspection logs.

Once that's done, the authority will either accept your claim and pay you compensation, or they'll reject it – if they can prove that they wern't aware of the pothole or had a reasonable inspection system in place, they may deny liability (which they can do under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980).

It's worth noting that only about 15% of pothole damage claims were successful (as of 2023), with an average payout of £260. That's a lot less than the typical repair cost of £460, according to the RAC.

If your claim is rejected

If your pothole damage claim is rejected, don't lose hope just yet. Councils have a formal system of road inspection and repair, which means you can ask to see the details of the council's road inspection reports to see if the council fulfilled their legal duty.

If you think your claim rejection was unfair, you could consider legal actio and pursue the matter through the small claims court. However, this can be time-consuming and could involve legal fees. It would be sie to consult a legal professional to see how strong your case is before you proceed.

Should you claim on your car insurance?

Claiming through your car insurance is an alternative to compensation, but you'll need to consider a few factors. First, ensure that the repair cost exceeds your policy's excess, and also think about your no-claims bonus, as a claim could affect it.

Keep in mind also that you can't claim from both your insurer and the local authority for the same incident.

How much does it cost to fix a pothole?

The cost of fixing potholes varies considerably across the UK. In 2024, the average cost of reactive pothole repairs was £87.76, while planned repairs averaged £56.76, according to research by Tarmac. However, some councils reported costs as low as £4.13 per repair, while others had to shell out up to £656 per pothole, according to figures from Highways Industry.