Can you claim for damage caused by potholes?

Potholes are a major problem across UK roads. In fact, according to RAC estimates, there are more than a million potholes on the roads. 

Of these, the AA reported over 68,000 incidents caused by potholes in January 2026 alone. 

As you can see, these potholes pose a significant road safety hazard. Common pothole-related incidents include burst tyres, steering flaws, underbody damage, suspension damage, and more. 

In some instances, you can claim compensation for any damage caused by hitting a pothole. 

Below, our expert team have shared a quick guide to understanding when and how to claim compensation. 

 

What causes potholes to form? 

Potholes are created when cracks are formed on the surface of the road. Then, when water gets into the cracks, in colder weather, the water freezes and expands, causing the road material to weaken and break apart. This deterioration is accelerated when vehicles drive over the surface. Over time, this process creates a pothole. 

Certain circumstances can make potholes more likely to develop, including heavy traffic (especially with heavier vehicles, like lorries or buses), a period of significant temperature fluctuations, or poor drainage or general road maintenance.

 

How can potholes damage a vehicle?

If you mistakenly drive over a pothole – especially if you’re driving at higher speeds – then there is a risk of the pothole causing significant vehicle damage. 

Common vehicle issues caused by potholes include:

• Tyre damage – E.g. punctures, bulges 
• Tyre blowouts
• Damage to the underbody
• Damage to alloy wheels – E.g. Bending or cracking
• Suspension damage – E.g. shocks or alignment issues
• Steering issues

In extreme cases, hitting a pothole can lead to the driver losing control of the vehicle. If this occurs, it presents a very serious safety risk.

As a result, wherever possible, it is always best to slow down if you see a pothole in the road ahead. Or – if there is enough space on the road – steer to avoid it altogether. 

However, often it’s not possible to avoid a pothole, or slowing down too much would pose a greater hazard to any vehicles driving behind you. Or, it might be that you simply didn’t see the pothole in time. In these instances, you’ve got no choice but to drive over the pothole. 

If you do hit a pothole, it’s critical that you first check that your car is safe to drive. Don’t attempt to drive the vehicle if the tyre is flat (or clearly damaged), or if you notice a significant change to the vehicle’s performance (e.g. you hear strange new noises, or the steering isn’t stable). 

After the incident, you should also try to gather evidence, if it is safe to do so. More details on this below. 

 

Who is responsible for pothole damage?

In most cases, the local authority that maintains the road has responsibility for the pothole – and so, any damage caused by the pothole. 

In smaller local roads, it is usually the responsibility of the local council. 

For major A-roads and motorways, these roads are typically maintained by national organisations (e.g. National Highways). 

As they are in charge of managing these roads, these bodies are legally responsible for keeping them in a safe condition for driving. 

However, if potholes do cause damage, then these bodies aren’t automatically liable for the damage. 

It will depend on whether the authorities can prove that the road was suitably inspected and maintained. If not, then they may be liable for any damage that has been caused as a result.

 

Can I claim for pothole damage?

If your vehicle has been damaged by a pothole, then yes, you can make a claim. 

You can submit a claim in one of two ways: 

• By making a claim through your vehicle insurance (under comprehensive insurance). However, this may affect your no-claims bonus, and could lead to increased premiums. 
• By submitting a claim to the local authority. To do so, you’ll need to prove that the pothole caused the damage and that the local authority did not properly maintain the road. You may need to provide photos of the pothole, the vehicle damage, the location, date and time of the incident, plus any other details that you have available. 

If the responsible authority can provide that they did maintain the road properly and inspect it regularly, then your claim may not be accepted. 

Although submitting a claim to the local authority takes longer, it won’t affect your no-claims bonus or insurance premiums. So, it’s important to weigh up these options, based on the evidence that you have. 

 

Tips to avoid pothole damage

It’s not always possible to avoid a pothole. 

But, you can minimise the risk of damage caused by potholes by: 

• Maintaining a safe distance from the vehicle in front (giving you more time to spot hazards)
• Avoiding driving through large puddles (as these can hide deep potholes)
• Driving more slowly on badly maintained roads
• Keeping your tyres properly inflated

 

At Auto Exhausts & Tyres, we are a leading, trusted tyre supplier, chosen by customers across Lincoln and the surrounding areas. So, if you need to replace your vehicle’s tyres, speak to our team today.