Pothole Damage & Your Car Insurance

UK Road Woes: The Definitive Guide to Protecting Your Car from Pothole Damage and Successfully Claiming on Your Motor Insurance

Pothole damage is a costly and frustrating reality for UK drivers. As an FCA-authorised expert broker that has arranged over 800,000 policies, WeCovr helps drivers navigate the complexities of their motor insurance to ensure they are properly protected. This guide covers everything you need to know.

The sickening thud of a wheel dropping into a pothole is a sound every British motorist dreads. It’s more than just an unpleasant jolt; it’s often the beginning of a saga involving eye-watering repair bills, confusing claims processes, and difficult choices about your car insurance. With Britain's roads scarred by a maintenance backlog the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) estimates will take over a decade to fix, knowing how to handle pothole damage is now a crucial skill for drivers.

This definitive guide will serve as your complete roadmap, covering:

• How to identify the tell-tale signs of pothole damage.
• Proactive measures to safeguard your vehicle from road defects.
• The essential steps to take in the moments after an impact.
• A clear breakdown of your two main options for compensation: claiming from the council or through your insurer.
• The real-world impact of a claim on your motor policy, no-claims bonus, and future premiums.
• Specialist advice for owners of vans, EVs, motorcycles, and commercial fleets.

What Exactly is Pothole Damage and Why is it Such a Problem in the UK?

A pothole isn't just a hole in the road; it's a structural failure of the road surface. The process begins with small cracks, often caused by the daily stress of traffic. Water gets into these cracks, and in winter, this water freezes. As water turns to ice, it expands by about 9%, forcing the crack wider. When the ice thaws, it leaves behind a larger void. The weight of passing vehicles then causes the weakened tarmac to crumble and break away, creating the sharp-edged crater we all know and hate.

The scale of the problem in the UK is staggering. The roads are ageing, and investment in maintenance has consistently fallen short of what is required.

Key UK Pothole Statistics (2025 Outlook): Based on the latest data from sources like the AIA's ALARM survey and the RAC, the situation remains critical:

• National Repair Bill: The estimated cost to fix the backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales has soared to a record £16.3 billion.
• Time to Fix: At current funding levels, it would take an estimated 11 years to clear the maintenance backlog in England and 16 years in Wales.
• Potholes Filled: Local authorities filled around 2 million potholes last year, but this is a reactive measure that struggles to keep pace with new defects forming.
• Breakdown Callouts: The RAC reports that pothole-related breakdowns remain a significant issue, with tens of thousands of drivers needing assistance each year for issues like damaged tyres, buckled wheels, and broken suspension springs.
• Compensation Payouts: While councils pay out millions in compensation annually, this represents only a fraction of the true cost borne by motorists, many of whom either pay for repairs themselves or claim on their insurance.

This data confirms what drivers experience daily: the UK's roads are a liability, and vehicle owners are footing the bill directly or indirectly through their vehicle cover.

Spotting Pothole Damage: A Driver's Checklist

The damage from a severe pothole impact can range from immediately obvious to subtle and slow-burning. Be vigilant and check for these signs after a heavy knock:

• Tyres and Wheels: As the first line of defence, they take the most punishment.
  • Bulges or "eggs" on the tyre sidewall: This is a critical sign of internal structural damage. A tyre with a bulge is unsafe and must be replaced immediately.
  • Dents, cracks, or buckles in the wheel rim: Even a small dent can cause a slow air leak and affect wheel balance. Cracks are a major safety failure.
  • Sudden or slow loss of tyre pressure: A pothole can easily cause a puncture or break the seal between the tyre and the wheel rim.
• Steering and Alignment: If the car's handling feels "off," the impact has likely knocked your steering out of alignment.
  • Vibrations felt through the steering wheel: These may only appear at certain speeds but indicate a problem with wheel balance or a bent component.
  • The steering wheel is off-centre: When you are driving straight, is the steering wheel now sitting at an angle? This is a classic sign of tracking issues.
  • The car pulls to one side: If you have to constantly apply a little steering pressure to keep the car straight, your wheel alignment needs urgent attention. Poor alignment also causes premature and uneven tyre wear.
• Suspension System: Your car's suspension is designed to absorb bumps, but a pothole can deliver a shock it can't handle.
  • New noises: Listen for clunking, rattling, or knocking sounds when driving, especially over uneven ground.
  • A poor ride quality: Does the car feel unusually bouncy, floaty, or does one corner seem to sit lower than the others? This could point to a damaged shock absorber or a broken coil spring.
• Exhaust and Undercarriage: Cars with lower ground clearance are particularly at risk. A deep pothole can cause the underside of the car to strike the road surface, potentially denting or cracking the exhaust pipe, silencer, or catalytic converter.

Protecting Your Vehicle: Proactive Steps to Avoid Pothole Damage

You can't resurface the roads, but you can significantly reduce your risk by adopting defensive driving techniques.

1. Maintain Correct Tyre Pressure: Tyres are your car's primary shock absorbers. When correctly inflated, they provide a much-needed cushion. Under-inflated tyres are far more likely to be pinched and damaged by a pothole's sharp edge. Check pressures at least once a month.
2. Leave a Generous Gap: Don't tailgate. Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle in front gives you a much better view of the road surface ahead, allowing you more time to spot and avoid hazards.
3. Scan, Scan, Scan: Keep your eyes moving and look well ahead of your bonnet. Focus on where your wheels will be in the next few seconds, not just where they are now.
4. Be Wary of Puddles: That innocent-looking puddle could be hiding a wheel-destroying crater. Where it is safe to do so, steer around them.
5. Slow Down Safely: If a pothole is unavoidable, slow down as much as possible before you reach it. Release the brakes just before impact. Braking hard while hitting the pothole compresses the suspension, transferring more of the impact's energy into the tyre, wheel, and suspension components.
6. Hold the Wheel Firmly: A sudden jolt from a pothole can wrench the steering wheel. Maintain a firm two-handed grip to ensure you remain in full control of the vehicle.

The Moment of Impact: What to Do Immediately After Hitting a Pothole

If you suffer a heavy impact, your immediate actions are crucial for both your safety and any potential claim.

1. Pull Over Safely: Don't panic. Find the next safe and legal place to stop. Use your hazard warning lights to alert other drivers.
2. Conduct a Visual Inspection: Carefully check the tyre and wheel that took the hit. Look for any of the signs of damage listed above. If you have a flat tyre, you'll need to either change it for the spare or call for breakdown assistance. Do not drive on a flat tyre.
3. Perform a Cautious Test Drive: If there's no visible damage, proceed with caution. At a low speed, listen for new noises and feel for any vibrations or pulling on the steering. If anything feels wrong, stop and call for recovery.
4. Gather Evidence (Only if Safe): If you plan to claim from the council, evidence is king. If you are well away from traffic and it is completely safe to do so:
   • Take photos of the pothole. Use a common object like a boot, a newspaper, or a drink can in the hole to provide a sense of scale.
   • Take wider shots to show the pothole's position in the road and include any nearby landmarks or road signs to prove its location.
   • Take clear photos of the damage to your vehicle.
5. Report the Pothole: Whatever you decide to do, report the pothole to the responsible authority. You can do this easily via the main gov.uk website, which will direct you to the correct local council or highways agency portal. This creates a record and helps prevent others from suffering the same fate.

Claiming for Pothole Damage: Your Two Main Options

You have two potential routes to get compensation for your repair bill. The right choice depends on the cost of the damage, your policy details, and how much hassle you are willing to endure.

1. Claim directly from the responsible authority (the local council or a national body like National Highways).
2. Claim on your own comprehensive motor insurance policy.

This table summarises the key differences:

Option 1: The DIY Route - Claiming from the Council

Choosing this path means you avoid any impact on your motor insurance UK policy, but it requires patience and persistence.

How to Make a Claim Against the Council:

1. Identify Who is Responsible: This is your first task. Local roads (B-roads, C-roads, and most A-roads) are managed by the local council. Motorways and major A-roads are managed by national bodies: National Highways in England, Transport Scotland, Traffic Wales, or the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
2. Put Them on Notice: Formally report the pothole and the incident via their official website or by letter. Note down the reference number you are given.
3. Build Your Case File: This is where claims live or die. Your evidence pack should include:
   • The precise location, date, and time of the incident.
   • Your photos and measurements of the pothole.
   • A copy of your original report.
   • A minimum of two detailed quotes for the repair work from VAT-registered garages.
   • The final, paid invoice for the repair once the work is complete.
4. Submit Your Formal Claim for Compensation: Write a clear, concise letter outlining the facts and enclosing copies of all your evidence. State the exact amount you are claiming.
5. Prepare for the "Section 58" Defence: Do not be surprised if your claim is rejected. Councils frequently use their statutory defence under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980. This states that they are not liable if they can prove they had an adequate system of road inspection and maintenance in place and were not aware of that specific defect before your incident occurred. If they can show they inspect the road regularly (e.g., monthly or quarterly), your claim may fail.

Option 2: The Insurer Route - Claiming on Your Motor Policy

For more severe damage, claiming on your insurance is the fastest and most reliable way to get your car fixed. This is only an option if you have comprehensive cover.

How to Make an Insurance Claim:

1. Contact Your Insurer: Call their claims helpline as soon as is practical.
2. Explain What Happened: Tell them the date, time, and location of the incident. You are making an "accidental damage" claim. You don't need to prove anyone was at fault.
3. Arrange the Repair: Your insurer will advise you on the next steps. They usually have a network of "approved repairers." Using one of these garages often makes the process smoother, as they can bill the insurer directly.
4. Pay Your Policy Excess: The insurer will authorise the repair, and you will need to pay your total excess (the sum of the compulsory and voluntary parts) directly to the garage. For example, if the repair costs £1,500 and your excess is £500, you pay £500 and the insurer covers the remaining £1,000.
5. Understand the Consequences: This will be recorded as a "fault" claim. It is deemed a fault claim because your insurer cannot recover its costs from a third party (the council). This will reduce your no-claims bonus and almost certainly lead to a higher premium when you renew your policy.

Understanding Your Motor Insurance Policy: The Essentials

To make an informed decision about claiming, you must first understand your policy. In the UK, it is a legal requirement under the Road Traffic Act to have at least Third-Party Only insurance to use or keep a vehicle on a public road.

Here are the three main levels of car insurance cover:

Business and Fleet Insurance Considerations

For businesses, the stakes are higher. Any vehicle used for work purposes, beyond simple commuting to a single place of work, requires Business Use insurance. For companies with multiple vehicles, Fleet Insurance provides a single, manageable policy. Pothole damage is a major headache for fleet managers, leading to costly repairs, vehicle downtime, missed deliveries, and administrative burdens. A comprehensive fleet insurance policy is therefore not just a legal requirement but a vital business continuity tool.

Key Policy Terms Explained in Plain English:

• Excess: This is the fixed amount you agree to pay towards any claim. It has two parts: a compulsory excess set by the insurer and a voluntary excess you choose. A higher voluntary excess usually means a lower premium, but make sure you can afford to pay it if you need to claim.
• No-Claims Bonus (NCB) or No-Claims Discount (NCD): This is your most valuable discount. For every year you drive without making a fault claim, you earn another year of discount, often up to a maximum of 5 or more years, which can slash your premium by over 60%.
• Important Optional Extras:
  • Breakdown Cover: Essential for a pothole incident that leaves you stranded.
  • Motor Legal Protection: This can be invaluable. It provides funds to hire a solicitor to pursue uninsured losses from the council, such as your policy excess, loss of earnings, or other out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Guaranteed Courtesy Car: Standard courtesy cars are often subject to availability and only provided if your car is being repaired at an approved garage. A guaranteed policy provides a car even if yours is written off or stolen.

Pothole Damage Claims and Your No-Claims Bonus (NCB)

The biggest hesitation for any driver considering an insurance claim is the impact on their NCB and future premiums.

• It's a "Fault" Claim: As explained, since your insurer has no one to recover their costs from, a pothole claim goes down in their books as a fault claim, even though you did nothing wrong.
• The NCB Ladder: A single fault claim typically causes your NCB to "step back" by two years. If you have a full 5 years of NCB, it will be reduced to 3 years at your next renewal. This loss of discount is a primary driver of premium increases.
• Protected No-Claims Bonus (PNCB): Many drivers pay extra to protect their NCB. This allows you to make one or sometimes two fault claims in a three-to-five-year period without the percentage discount being reduced. However, this does not mean your premium won't go up. Your premium is calculated based on your overall risk profile. Having a recent fault claim, even with a protected bonus, marks you as a higher risk, so your underlying premium will still rise. PNCB protects the discount, not the price.

Real-World Example: To Claim or Not to Claim?

• The Damage: A buckled alloy wheel and a new tyre. Total repair cost = £750.
• Your Policy: Comprehensive cover with a £400 total excess.
• Your NCB: 5 years, giving you a 60% discount on a base premium of £1,000 (so you pay £400).

Your Options:

1. Claim on Your Insurance: You pay the £400 excess, and the insurer pays the remaining £350. At renewal, your NCB drops from 5 years to 3 years (e.g., a 40% discount). Your insurer also sees the new claim. Your next base premium might rise to £1,200 due to the claim, and with the lower discount, your new policy costs £720 (£1,200 - 40%). That's a £320 increase in your annual cost.
2. Pay for it Yourself: You pay the full £750 from your own pocket. Your insurance is unaffected. You keep your full 5-year NCB, and assuming no other changes, your renewal premium remains around £400.

In this scenario, claiming on insurance saves you £350 upfront (£750 repair - £400 excess). But it could cost you an extra £320+ per year for several years until your NCB is restored. The long-term cost of claiming is often far higher than the short-term saving.

How WeCovr Can Help You Find the Best Car Insurance Provider

The UK motor insurance market is complex, but you don't have to navigate it alone. As a highly-rated, FCA-authorised broker, WeCovr is dedicated to helping private and business customers find the right cover at the right price. We compare policies from a wide panel of leading UK insurers, ensuring you get transparent quotes for car, van, motorcycle, and fleet insurance. We help you understand the details that matter, like excess levels and optional extras, so you can build a policy that truly protects you. And as a bonus, customers who purchase their motor or life insurance through us can access exclusive discounts on other types of cover, adding even more value.

Get Your Tailored Motor Insurance Quote Today

Don't let the state of the roads jeopardise your finances. The best defence is a robust motor insurance policy that you fully understand.

Contact WeCovr today to receive free, no-obligation quotes from a wide range of UK insurers. Let our experts help you find the best vehicle cover that gives you complete peace of mind, wherever your journey takes you.