UK Pothole Peril

As FCA-authorised motor insurance experts who have helped arrange over 900,000 policies, the team at WeCovr understands the risks UK drivers face. The state of our roads is a growing concern, impacting everything from your vehicle's health to your insurance premiums. This guide explains the true cost of pothole damage.

Shocking New Data Reveals Pothole Damage Claims Cost UK Drivers a Staggering £16.3 Million Annually in Repairs & Higher Premiums – Is Your Motor Insurance Adequately Covering the Unseen Hazards of Our Deteriorating Roads

The thud is unmistakable. A sudden, bone-jarring impact that sends a shudder through your entire vehicle. You’ve just hit another pothole. For millions of UK drivers, this is an all-too-common experience on our crumbling road network.

But the true cost of this national issue is far more than a momentary discomfort. Fresh analysis for 2025 reveals that damage caused by potholes is leading to motor insurance claims totalling a staggering £16.3 million every year. This figure, based on data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), only accounts for claims made on comprehensive policies. It doesn't include the countless drivers who pay for repairs out of their own pocket or the millions spent by local councils on compensation payouts.

The RAC reports attending over 8,100 pothole-related breakdowns in the last quarter of 2024 alone, a stark indicator of a problem spiralling out of control. As roads deteriorate, the risk to your car, your safety, and your wallet intensifies. The critical question is: is your motor insurance policy up to the challenge?

The True Scale of the Pothole Problem in the UK

The numbers paint a bleak picture. Years of underfunding, combined with more extreme weather events like intense winter freezes and summer heatwaves, have created a perfect storm for road degradation.

• A National Repair Backlog: The Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) estimates it would take over 10 years and cost more than £14 billion to bring all local roads in England and Wales up to a good standard.
• Breakdowns on the Rise: According to the AA, pothole-related incidents are consistently one of the top causes of vehicle breakdowns, second only to tyre and battery issues.
• Compensation Payouts: Local authorities across the UK pay out millions annually in compensation to drivers. However, this represents only a fraction of the successful claims, as many are rejected.

This isn't just about inconvenience; it's a major financial drain on the UK economy and on individual drivers' pockets. Each of those 8,100 RAC callouts represents a disrupted journey, a potential day off work, and a significant repair bill.

The Anatomy of a Pothole: What Damage Can They Really Cause?

A pothole is more than just a hole in the road; it’s a sharp-edged crater that can inflict serious mechanical harm on your vehicle. The force of hitting one at speed can be equivalent to a major impact, channelling immense pressure into your car's most critical components.

Here are the most common types of damage we see in claims, and the symptoms to look out for:

• Tyres and Wheels: These are on the frontline. A pothole can easily cause a puncture, a dangerous sidewall bulge (which looks like an egg on the side of the tyre), or a complete blowout. Expensive alloy wheels are particularly vulnerable to cracking, buckling, or being knocked out of shape.
  • Symptom: Obvious deflation, a visible bulge, or a vibration felt through the steering wheel that gets worse with speed.
• Suspension and Steering Alignment: Your car’s suspension (shocks and springs) is designed for bumps, but not for the severe, jarring impacts from deep potholes. This can lead to broken coil springs, damaged shock absorbers, and misaligned steering, often called 'tracking'.
  • Symptom: The car pulls to one side when driving in a straight line, the steering wheel is no longer straight when the car is, or you notice uneven tyre wear.
• Exhaust System: Running along the underside of your car, the exhaust system is directly in the firing line. A deep pothole can scrape, dent, or even tear the pipe or catalytic converter from its mountings.
  • Symptom: A sudden loud roaring or rattling noise from underneath the car, or a hanging pipe visible from the rear.
• Vehicle Bodywork: In extreme cases, particularly for lower-slung sports cars, potholes can cause significant damage to bumpers, side skirts, and the undercarriage, leading to expensive cosmetic repairs.

Typical Pothole Repair Costs in the UK (2025 Estimates)

Your Motor Insurance and Pothole Damage: What's Covered?

Understanding your motor insurance policy is vital. In the UK, it is a legal requirement to have at least Third-Party insurance for any vehicle used on public roads. However, the level of cover you choose directly impacts whether you can claim for pothole damage to your own vehicle.

The Three Levels of Cover Explained

1. Third-Party Only (TPO): This is the absolute legal minimum. It covers any damage you cause to other people, their vehicles, or their property. It's designed to protect others from your actions. Crucially, it provides zero cover for any damage to your own vehicle, whether from an accident that's your fault, or from a pothole.
2. Third-Party, Fire and Theft (TPFT): This includes everything from TPO cover, but adds protection if your car is stolen or damaged by fire. It offers more peace of mind, but still will not cover damage to your vehicle caused by a pothole.
3. Comprehensive: This is the highest level of cover available. It includes everything from TPFT, but most importantly, it also covers damage to your own vehicle, even if the incident was your fault. This is the only type of standard motor policy that will cover you for pothole damage. Surprisingly, comprehensive cover is often cheaper than lower levels, as insurers find that drivers who choose it are statistically lower risk.

Comparing UK Motor Insurance Levels

The Big Dilemma: To Claim or Not to Claim?

So, you have comprehensive cover and a nasty garage bill after hitting a pothole. Should you claim on your insurance? This is a critical decision that requires careful thought. You have two main options, each with significant financial consequences.

Route 1: Claiming on Your Comprehensive Insurance Policy

This is often the fastest and least stressful route to getting your vehicle repaired and back on the road.

How it works:

1. Contact your insurer: Call their 24/7 claims line as soon as it's safe to do so.
2. Provide details: Explain when and where the incident happened.
3. Assessment and Repair: Your insurer will likely ask you to take the car to one of their approved garages for an estimate and repair.
4. Pay the Excess: You pay the agreed policy excess directly to the garage.
5. Insurer Pays the Rest: Your insurance company settles the remainder of the bill with the garage.

Pros:

• Speed and Convenience: You can have your vehicle repaired within days.
• Simplicity: The insurer and their approved garage handle most of the administration.
• Guaranteed Payout: As long as the damage is covered by your policy, the payment is guaranteed.

Cons:

• You MUST Pay the Excess: The excess is the amount you agree to pay towards any claim. It is made up of a compulsory excess set by the insurer and a voluntary excess you choose to lower your premium. If the repair cost is £600 and your total excess is £500, you will have to pay £500, and the insurer only £100. If the repair is less than your excess, there is no point in claiming.
• Loss of No-Claims Bonus (NCB): Because there is no third party to blame (like another driver), a pothole claim is considered 'at-fault'. This will reduce or completely wipe out your NCB, which can be a discount of up to 70% or more. This means your premiums will be significantly higher for the next 3-5 years.
• Higher Future Premiums: Even if you have a Protected No-Claims Bonus, your base premium will almost certainly rise at renewal. A claim on your record signals to insurers that you are a higher risk, and your price will be adjusted accordingly.

Route 2: Claiming Compensation from the Local Authority

If you have the patience and the evidence, you can pursue the authority responsible for maintaining the road—this is usually your local council, or National Highways for motorways and major A-roads in England.

How it works:

1. Gather Watertight Evidence (Immediately): This is the most important step.
   • Photos: Take several clear photos of the pothole. Include a familiar object like a shoe or drink can in the photo to show its size and depth. Also take photos of the damage to your car.
   • Measurements: If it's safe, measure the pothole's width and depth.
   • Location: Be precise. Use Google Maps to get coordinates, or note the road name, town, and any nearby house numbers, junctions, or landmarks.
   • Witnesses: If anyone else saw it happen, ask for their name and contact number.
   • Repair Quotes: Get at least two detailed, written quotes for the repair work from reputable garages.
2. Identify and Report: Use the gov.uk "Report a Pothole" online tool. This will identify the correct authority and create an official record of the defect.
3. Submit a Formal Claim: Visit the council's website and follow their procedure for submitting a compensation claim. Attach all your evidence.
4. Be Prepared to Wait: Councils can take months to investigate and respond.

Pros:

• No Impact on Your Insurance: A successful claim means your NCB and motor policy premium are completely unaffected.
• No Excess to Pay: You can claim for the full, itemised cost of the repair.

Cons:

• Extremely High Burden of Proof: You have to prove the authority was legally negligent.
• The Section 58 Defence: Under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980, a council can successfully defend a claim if they can prove they had a reasonable system of road inspection and repair in place and were not aware of that specific pothole before your incident. This defence is used successfully in over half of all claims.
• Incredibly Slow and Bureaucratic: The process is often long, frustrating, and requires persistent follow-up.

Which Route is Best? A Side-by-Side Comparison

Are You Really Covered? Checking the Small Print of Your Motor Policy

Having a comprehensive policy is the first step, but the devil is in the detail. Not all policies are created equal. An expert, FCA-authorised broker like WeCovr can help you navigate the jargon and compare policies to ensure you have robust protection. WeCovr customers often express high satisfaction with the clarity and support provided.

When reviewing your vehicle cover, look for these valuable optional extras:

• Protected No-Claims Bonus (PNCB): For an additional fee, this allows you to make one or two 'at-fault' claims (like for a pothole) within a set period without your NCB percentage being reduced. However, remember it does not freeze your premium; your insurer will still likely increase the base price after a claim.
• Legal Expenses Cover (Motor Legal Protection): This is a low-cost add-on that can be incredibly valuable. It provides up to £100,000 to cover legal fees for a range of motoring disputes, including pursuing a complex or disputed claim against a local council for pothole damage.
• Breakdown Cover: If a pothole leaves you stranded with a shredded tyre or suspension failure, having breakdown assistance included in your policy saves you from a costly callout fee and a lot of stress.
• Enhanced Courtesy Car Cover: Standard courtesy cars are often small, basic models and are only provided if your car is being repaired at an insurer-approved garage. Enhanced cover can guarantee you a vehicle of a similar size to your own, which is crucial if you have a family or need a larger vehicle for work.

A Growing Nightmare for Businesses and Fleet Managers

Pothole damage isn't just a problem for private car owners. For businesses running fleets of vans, lorries, or company cars, it's a major operational and financial headache that requires a specialist fleet insurance strategy.

• Vehicle Downtime: This is the biggest cost. Every hour a commercial vehicle is off the road for repairs, it is losing money and failing to serve customers.
• Increased Maintenance Costs: Fleet managers are reporting a sharp rise in their budgets for tyres, wheel alignments, and suspension components.
• Duty of Care: Under Health and Safety law, employers have a legal duty of care to ensure their vehicles are safe. A vehicle with pothole-induced alignment issues or damaged tyres is a safety risk, potentially leading to corporate liability in the event of an accident.

A standard car policy is not sufficient or legal for business use. Robust business car insurance or a full fleet insurance policy is essential. These policies are designed to minimise business disruption, often with features like guaranteed same-day replacement vans and dedicated claims handlers.

The Electric Vehicle (EV) Factor: A Heavier Burden

The growing number of EVs on UK roads adds a new dimension to the pothole risk. EVs are significantly heavier than their petrol or diesel counterparts due to their large battery packs.

This extra weight places greater strain on suspension and tyres, potentially making them more susceptible to damage from sharp impacts. A tyre on a heavy EV may be more likely to fail when hitting a pothole edge than the same tyre on a lighter car.

Furthermore, the vehicle's battery pack is typically located in the floorpan. While heavily protected, a severe impact from a very deep pothole or raised ironwork could, in a worst-case scenario, lead to catastrophic and eye-wateringly expensive battery damage not always covered by standard warranties.

How to Minimise Your Risk: A Driver's Pothole Survival Guide

While you can't fix the roads yourself, you can adopt defensive driving habits to protect your vehicle.

1. Stay Alert & Scan Ahead: The most important tip. Look well ahead of your vehicle, not just at the car in front. This gives you more time to spot and avoid hazards.
2. Keep Your Distance: Don't tailgate. Leaving a two-second gap allows you to see the road surface ahead and gives you more room to manoeuvre safely around a pothole without braking harshly.
3. Check Tyre Pressures: Properly inflated tyres act as the first line of defence for your suspension. Under-inflated tyres are much more likely to be pinched against the wheel rim, causing a puncture. Check your pressures weekly.
4. Slow Down on Poor Surfaces: If a road looks like a patchwork quilt, reduce your speed. The slower you are travelling, the less force the impact will have, and the less damage will be caused.
5. Don't Swerve Suddenly: A sudden swerve can be more dangerous than hitting the pothole, potentially causing a collision with another vehicle or a loss of control.
6. Brake Before the Pothole, Not in It: If an impact is unavoidable, brake firmly before the pothole and then release the brake just as you go over it. This allows the suspension to be fully extended and absorb the jolt more effectively than if it were compressed under braking.
7. Hold the Wheel Firmly: Grip the steering wheel with both hands to maintain control as the car goes over the pothole.
8. Report It! Be a good road user. Use the gov.uk portal or your local council's website to report potholes. Every report helps authorities prioritise repairs and builds a record that can support your or another driver's future claim.

At WeCovr, we provide clarity in a complex market. As an FCA-authorised broker, we can help you compare policies from a wide range of leading UK insurers to find the right level of private car, van, or fleet insurance for your needs and budget. Customers who purchase motor or life insurance with us may also be eligible for discounts on other insurance products.

Ready to check your cover? Get a no-obligation motor insurance quote from WeCovr today and drive with confidence.