Sharp rise in pothole damage to cars

Sharp rise in pothole damage to cars

The RAC attended 30,000 pothole-related breakdowns last year. Can you claim back costs if your car is damaged by a pothole?

Pothole-related breakdowns were up 33% last year, according to figures from the RAC.

During the last three months of 2023, the motoring organisation went out to nearly 30,000 pothole-related breakdowns – equating to 80 callouts a day.

Drivers are now more than one-and-a-half times as likely to experience pothole damage than they were 15 years ago.

Callouts during January, February, and March this year are up 53% on the last quarter of 2023, with 7,904 breakdowns being attended.

But this figure is down 22% on the same period the year before, with drivers getting off lightly because milder weather meant roads deteriorated less.

Potholes form when large amounts of rail fall get into cracks in the road, freeze, and then expand, cracking the surface.

The milder weather this year meant there were only seven days of frost, compared to the usual nine.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: ‘While our data shows pothole damage to vehicles in the first three months of this year is lower than it was in the same period in 2023, it’s important not to lose sight of the bigger picture and the ongoing miserable state of our roads. This analysis clearly shows drivers are now twice as likely to suffer a breakdown due to sub-standard road surfaces as they were in 2006.”

What is a pothole?

Potholes are areas of road surface that have cracked or worn away, which eventually form into a hole. They start out as tiny cracks and if they’re not fixed, they can quickly grow. Potholes can be anywhere from a few inches wide and deep to a few feet and several inches deep.

Why do potholes cause problems?

Potholes can be dangerous for both you and your car. Depending on the speed you hit one, you could damage your wheels, tyres, steering, or suspension. Chips flying up from potholes can also cause serious damage to your windscreen and bodywork.

Can you claim compensation for damage caused by potholes?

It might not be worth claiming on your insurance for pothole damage, as it could increase your future premiums.

But you might be able to get compensation from whoever is responsible for maintaining the road. You can claim this even if you have breakdown cover.

How do I claim for pothole damage?

Firstly, you need to identify who is responsible for the road. If you were traveling on a motorway, it’ll be National Highways, while local councils are responsible for most roads.

To main a claim get in touch with whoever is responsible and inform them of the following:

• What damage was caused
• Why you think they’re responsible
• The location of where the damage took place. You’ll need to include the road name, nearest marker post number, or feature that identifies the part of the road you were on
• The date and time the damage was caused

You should also provide pictures of the pothole showing its size and depth and the damage done to your car. And include evidence of the cost of repairs and any medical treatment you required.

The chances of being paid compensation are higher if the pothole has already been reported and no one has acted.