A motoring expert has advised Brits to do one thing after hitting a pothole to prevent being left with a hefty repair bill.
According to Admiral Car Insurance, cases of pothole claims have increased by a staggering 175 % since 2016, with instances of cars getting damaged by road imperfections continuing to rise.
Adam Gavin, Head of Claims at Admiral, highlighted that driving too quickly over a pothole can lead to more than just an uncomfortable ride, including suspension and steering damage.
He said: “Potholes are more than just an inconvenience; they can also cause costly damage to your vehicle.
“Driving over a deep pothole, even at a low speed, can cause damage to your tyres, alloy wheels, steering alignment, wheel tracking and balancing and suspension. If the steering is severely damaged it can also make it difficult to control the vehicle, which could increase the risk of accidents.”
According to the road damage tracking service Stan the App, there are somewhere in the region of 11.5 million potholes across the UK, with the AA stating that drivers were forced to pay a combined total of £579 million in repairs during 2024 alone.
Whilst the UK’s road network suffers from potholes in all seasons, they are particularly problematic in cold winter weather, with rain filling up cracks in the road and expanding as it freezes.
This causes parts of the road to be pushed apart, creating particularly bad potholes that, if hit at a high speed, can result in eye-watering repair bills.
To make sure that they are not forced to pay the repair bills themselves, Adam recommended that drivers who have hit a pothole take photos of the damage as soon as possible.
He advised: “If you think you’ve hit a bad pothole, 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.”
Adam noted that drivers with comprehensive car insurance can often claim for repair bills easily, but that comes with a side affect.
He continued: “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 and you don’t have comprehensive cover, you might not be able to claim on your insurance.”
