The number of pothole-related claims jumped by 40% last year, according to Admiral insurance data.
Admiral recorded 1,324 pothole-related claims in 2023, which is up 40% compared with 946 claims in 2022.
Average cost of pothole-related repairs increased by 29% in 2023 to £3,070 compared with £2,378 in 2022.
Admiral cited an increase in the cost of repairs and vehicles with expensive technology were to blame for the soaring bills.
Insurers see a spike in claims between January and March than at any other time of the year.
Pothole related breakdowns and continuous poor weather
A wet summer and weeks of heavy rain and storms have frustrated local authorities in clearing pothole repairs and backlogs.
Falling temperatures and icy weather will inevitably create new potholes.
The AA reported in October 2023 that pothole-related breakdowns had hit a five-year high.
Driving over a deep pothole can result in punctures, distorted wheels, damaged shock absorbers and broken suspension springs.
Pothole-related claims last year were also around 25% higher than in 2018, when the Beast from the East brought wintry weather conditions, Admiral said.
National Pothole Day
Adam Gavin, head of claims at Admiral, said: “January 15 marks National Pothole Day and anyone who drives will be familiar with that sudden ‘clunk’ from roads that are plagued with potholes. Potholes are more than just an inconvenience, they can also cause costly damage to your vehicle.
January, February and March are the worst time of year for pothole claims, with more than a third of claims we receive made over this period, as road surfaces become unsettled by freezing temperatures and thaws.
“Pothole pockets can quickly open up, especially if the weather has been bad, which means they might not have been there the last time you took that route. Keep a sharp eye and slow down – swerving can be more dangerous.
“If you think you’ve hit a humdinger, get out and check for damage at the safest opportunity. Take photos of the pothole and the damage to your car and consider taking your vehicle to a mechanic to check for damage.
“If you have comprehensive cover, claiming for pothole damage through your insurer should be a straightforward process, but it can affect your no claims bonus and you may need to pay an excess. However, if your car gets damaged on a British road from a pothole, unless you have comprehensive cover, you might not be able to claim on your insurance.”
The Scourge of Potholes
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to tackle “the scourge of potholes” with an extra £8.3 billion of funding from money saved by scrapping HS2 north of Birmingham. He described the investment as “unprecedented”. These funds will be made available to local authorities in England over 11 years.
The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey published in March 2023 cited that local authority highway teams in England and Wales needed more than £14 billion to clear carriageway repair backlogs.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the size of the problem could become significantly bigger due to the wet weather followed by a cold snap.
He said: “Dangerous potholes need to be fixed as quickly as possible, but we badly need to see a step change in road maintenance so the roads in the worst condition are resurfaced, while others in better condition are surface dressed – this extends their lives by preventing water ingress and the subsequent damage caused from freezing.”
How to claim for pothole damage
Knowing how to claim for pothole damage is becoming increasingly difficult due to Councils moving to a risk-based approach on claims.
REPORT IT
If you hit a pothole and you believe it has damaged your vehicle, you need to report it as soon as possible. You can do this via www.fixmystreet.com or www.fillthathole.org.uk or simply contact the local authority direct by phone or via Twitter.
TAKE PHOTOS
Take photos if possible to evidence your claim. If it is safe to do so, put your foot by the pothole or in it for scale. I would suggest measuring it as well but nobody carries a ruler for such events, hence suggesting this.
PROVIDE A SKETCH WITH YOUR CLAIM TO PINPOINT THE POTHOLE
You will be asked to help the local authority find the pothole as there are that many on the roads. A simple sketch will suffice.
GET AN ESTIMATE FOR COST OF REPAIRS / PROVIDE A COPY RECEIPT
You are seeking a full refund for the damage caused due to the negligence of the local authority. Include this in your claim from the outset.
SUBMIT AN EIR / FOI REQUEST
Ask for 12 months’ worth of inspection reports and how many times this pothole has been reported. When was the last repair made? Was it reported before you hit it? You can also find out how many times it has been reported via www.fixmystreet.com and www.fillthathole.org.uk.
This is just the start of the process. You can find out more in my book “How to Complain: The Consumer Guide to Cancelling Parking Tickets and Winning Pothole Claims”.
Pothole related claims – My View
Every local authority has a statutory responsibility to inspect roads to a set timescale and ensure roads are fit for purpose.
Potholes do not form overnight. It is clear to me and most motorists that inspectors are missing a lot of potholes. Many roads are not fit for purpose and represent a danger to life for vulnerable cyclists and motorcyclists.
A move to a risk-based approach on road inspections has resulted in repairs being neglected. Cutbacks are often cited, yet motorists are paying more than ever to use third-world roads.
If potholes were repaired properly, there would be more money available to repair more potholes.
Motorists pay Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), insurance, 12% tax on insurance policies, 20% VAT on tyres and pothole related damage. They are forced to claim on their insurance because local authorities make it nigh on impossible to lodge a claim.
It is a gross injustice and totally unfair.
Have you suffered pothole-related damage to your vehicle? Did you try and claim against the local authority instead of your insurance policy?
