What Can I Do About Pothole Damage?

How to spot, report, and claim for road defects that damage your car

Even at the height of summer, the toll that winter takes on our roads is clear to see - no doubt you’ve done some pothole-dodging already this year around the Somerset area! With an estimated 1.7 million potholes plaguing UK roads, it’s no wonder that drivers find them a nuisance; a hole in the tarmac isn’t very kind to your car. 

Here we’ll discover what a pothole is, what damage it can cause, and what you can do about it… 

What is a pothole? 

Potholes start as existing cracks in the road surface where water collects when it rains. This then expands and contracts in cold conditions, causing further cracks that then begin cause the crumbling of the tarmac itself, made worse by the constant tyre traffic of passing cars. 

What damage can a pothole cause to your car? 

As you’d expect, the majority of the damage caused by potholes is the parts touching or are at least very close to the surface of the road. Common elements of your car that could be damaged by potholes include: 

Tyres and wheels

It’s your tyres that bear the brunt of a run-in with a pothole, but this is at least something that you can visually inspect. What you need to look out for are punctures, blowouts, bulges in the sidewalls, flat areas, and tread separation. 

You also need to keep an eye on the wheel itself, as bends, cracks and chips can ruin the airtight seal between the tyre and the wheel. In time, this could lead to tyre failure - something best avoided!

Steering and suspension

Your steering, suspension and wheel alignment can all be impacted by a pothole. When you think about it, it’s quite a jolt to the ball joints and metal bars that connect the wheels to the steering (track rod ends), coil springs (that support your car’s weight), and suspension wishbones. 

If any of these elements become damaged by a pothole, you might start to notice vibrations when you’re driving, or the car pulling to one side. 

Undercarriage and exhaust

Bumpers, side skirts, exhaust pipes and other elements on the underside of your vehicle can all fall victim to potholes. Scrapes and dents are the markers left by an uneven road surface, and, if left, can lead to rust and holes that could cause leaks in the future. 

How can you report potholes? 

To alert the authorities to a troublesome pothole, and hopefully prevent others from suffering the damage it could cause, you can report potholes to the GOV.UK website, using the postcode of the road where the pothole is located. 

Can you claim for pothole damage? 

The damage done by a pothole can prove expensive, so you’ll understandably be seeking to recoup your costs - particularly when it’s the job of the local authorities to keep the roads usable. Whilst there is no guarantee your claim will be successful, you are able to claim for the damage done if you’ve hit a pothole. You can do this in one of two ways: 

Through the local authority 

Your local authority should be your first bet, providing that a mechanic has verified (preferably in writing) that the damage to your car was done by a pothole. In order to have a good chance of getting compensation, the average depth of a pothole must be at least 40mm deep and at least 30cm wide in order for the claim to be considered.        

Make sure you report the pothole itself and collect as much evidence as you can of both it and the damage it’s caused (only whilst safe to do so), including photos and a mechanic’s report. 

Through your car insurance 

You are able to claim for pothole damage through your car insurance, as it may seem more straightforward, but consider the cost of your excess, and the impact it may have on your no-claims bonus. 

How can you prevent damage caused by potholes? 

While potholes can feel like a fact of driving life at the moment, there are some ways you can minimise the likelihood of hitting one, or the damage done if you do… 

Slow down

Potholes hit speed will cause more damage, so stick to the speed limit, and slow down if you spot a pothole. 

Keep your tyres healthy 

Check your tyre pressure is at the correct level, and that your tread depth is at the minimum of 1.6mm or over; healthy tyres deal better with potholes. 

Take care in wet weather

Water can fill potholes and make them look like puddles, so don’t get complacent on a rainy day. 

Keep your steering steady 

Losing control of the steering wheel when you hit a pothole can exacerbate damage, so keep both hands on the wheel to stay on the straight and narrow. 

Can Avalon Motor Company help with pothole damage? 

Yes, we can! You’ll understandably want to get your car checked over if you’ve hit a pothole, which is why we offer free tyre and wheel checks, plus a full vehicle health check for ultimate peace of mind. If you’ve hit a pothole in the Glastonbury, Bath, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Yeovil or Cheddar area of Somerset, you know where to head. 

With a fully equipped vehicle workshop here in Somerset, there’s not much our fully trained technicians can’t turn their tools to, and pothole damage is something we see frequently. If we find anything that needs to be put right thanks to a pesky pothole, we can go through a plan of action to get you back on the road ASAP. Find out more about our fantastic service centre on our website.