It’s all gone to POT – potholes still causing havoc on UK roads

As we approach National Pothole Day in the UK on 15th January, an estimated 1 million potholes* are still causing havoc on Britain’s roads – so the experts at Go.Compare car insurance have revealed what to do if your vehicle is damaged by a pothole, and how best to make a claim.

Research from Go.Compare shows that our patience with them is wearing thin – with potholes crowned the number one biggest motoring irritation in 2024, with 6 in 10 drivers (61%) worried about them.**

National Pothole Day (Jan 15th) was initially set up in the UK to draw attention to the increasing issue of potholes on British roads, encouraging people to report any potholes that they see on the Fill That Hole website. With the road environment – which includes the state of the road surface and potholes – named as a factor in 12% of road accidents*** the ultimate goal of the campaign is to enhance road safety and reduce vehicle damage nationwide.

Pothole-related damage can vary depending on the depth of the pothole and how fast the car was travelling at the time. In some cases, the damage might be a result of drivers swerving at the last minute to avoid the pothole or losing control of their car once they’ve hit it. But in general, the types of car damage hitting a pothole might typically cause include:

• Suspension or steering alignment issues
• Blown tyres or punctures
• Bulge in the tyre sidewall
• Damaged wheel rims
• Exhaust damage
• Fluid leaks

Tom Banks, motoring expert at Go.Compare commented, "Potholes are a major concern for British motorists – and rightly so.

“Potholes are formed when water gets into a highway’s foundation. That water then freezes and expands in cold weather. When the temperature increases again, a void under the road surface is created that eventually collapses under the weight of continuous traffic. Sometimes you can drive over a pothole and not suffer any damage, but in other cases, you could find yourself blowing out a tyre, damaging your wheel rim, or even having other issues like exhaust damage and fluid leaks.

“There are generally two ways to make a claim – either through the local authority where the incident took place, or your insurance company. With pothole claims, your insurance shouldn’t necessarily be your first port of call, as making a claim could potentially cause your car insurance premium to increase the following year.

“To submit a claim through the local authority, gather all the information you can – including photos of the pothole and its position on the road, a precise location, and photos of the damage to your vehicle. Then, send all of this information with a claim letter to the local council for them to review.

“If you do decide to claim via your insurance company, it’s important to note that doing so could mean your insurance premium increases the following year. There is also usually only a limited time window after an incident when you can make a claim, so make sure to read your policy details carefully.”

GoCompare has written a guide on what to do if your car is damaged by a pothole, with easy-to-follow steps to ensure that drivers aren’t left out of pocket if the worst happens. Read the guide here: https://www.gocompare.com/car-insurance/guide/potholes/