Hit a Pothole? Here’s How to Claim Compensation (Without Losing the Will to Live)

Hitting a pothole in the UK is a bit like stepping on Lego in the dark. You don’t see it coming, it hurts more than expected, and afterwards you’re left hopping around asking who on earth allowed this to exist.

If that pothole has just destroyed your tyre, buckled an alloy, or turned your suspension into modern art, you can try to claim compensation. Whether you’ll succeed is another matter entirely — but let’s at least give you the best possible chance.

This is your practical, no-nonsense guide to claiming pothole damage compensation in the UK. No jargon. No fantasy promises. Just the reality.

First Things First: Who’s Actually Responsible?

Despite how it feels in the moment, potholes are not the responsibility of:

• The Prime Minister

• The universe

• Or “someone else”

Responsibility usually sits with the local council or, for major roads and motorways, National Highways.

In short:

• Motorways & major A-roads → National Highways

• Local roads → Your local council

Get this wrong and your claim will go absolutely nowhere.

Step 1: Stop (Safely) and Gather Evidence

If your car is still drivable, congratulations, you’re already winning. Now get organised.

You’ll need evidence. And lots of it.

Take:

• Clear photos of the pothole

• Photos showing its depth and width (use a shoe, ruler, or water bottle for scale)

• Photos of the damage to your vehicle

• The exact location (road name, nearby landmarks, postcode if possible)

Do this as soon as possible. Potholes have an annoying habit of being filled just after they’ve ruined your week.

Step 2: Report the Pothole (Yes, Really)

This feels counterintuitive, but it’s essential.

Report the pothole to the relevant authority immediately. Most councils have online reporting forms. This creates a timestamped record that the defect existed.

If the pothole was already reported by someone else? Even better. That helps undermine the council’s favourite escape route.

Which brings us neatly to…

Step 3: Understand the Council’s Favourite Excuse

Councils often rely on something called a “statutory defence”.

Translated into normal human language, this means:

“We inspected the road on schedule, so it’s not our fault.”

If the council can show the road was checked within a set timeframe (sometimes up to six months earlier), they may legally avoid paying — even if the pothole was big enough to swallow a small dog.

This is why evidence, timing, and previous reports matter so much.

Step 4: Submit Your Compensation Claim

Once your car has been repaired (or at least assessed), submit your claim.

You’ll usually need:

• Proof of repair costs (invoice or quote)

• Photos of damage

• Photos of the pothole

• Date and time of the incident

• Vehicle details

• A clear explanation of what happened

Most councils handle this through their insurance department or an online claims portal. Expect forms. Expect silence. Expect frustration.

This is normal.

Step 5: Brace for Rejection (But Don’t Give Up Immediately)

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most pothole claims are rejected.

If yours is denied, read the reason carefully. Common rejections include:

• The road was inspected recently

• The pothole wasn’t deep enough

• Insufficient evidence

If their explanation doesn’t stack up, you can challenge the decision and request inspection records. This doesn’t guarantee success — but it does show you’re not going away quietly.

Sometimes, that’s enough.

What You Can Realistically Claim For

If successful, compensation may cover:

• Tyre replacement

• Wheel repairs or replacement

• Suspension or alignment damage

What it usually won’t cover:

• Inconvenience

• Courtesy cars

• Emotional trauma

• Your new distrust of British infrastructure

And payouts are often reduced for “wear and tear”, because apparently your tyre should have anticipated the crater.

When It’s Probably Not Worth It

Harsh but honest advice: if the damage is minor and the repair cost is low, claiming may not be worth the effort.

You’ll spend hours chasing emails, uploading photos, and reading rejection letters that feel oddly smug. Sometimes paying for the repair and moving on is better for your blood pressure.

Which is depressing. But true.

How to Improve Your Chances (Marginally)

You’re more likely to succeed if:

• The pothole was deep and dangerous

• It had been previously reported

• The road hadn’t been inspected recently

• You gathered evidence immediately

Think of it like small claims court roulette. Preparation doesn’t guarantee a win — but turning up empty-handed guarantees a loss.

The Bigger Picture

Claiming compensation isn’t just about your car. Every claim highlights a failing bit of infrastructure and adds pressure to fix roads properly rather than endlessly patching them.

UK drivers already pay for roads through tax. Being expected to bankroll the consequences of crumbling surfaces as well feels… optimistic.

Final Thought

Potholes are winning because they’re cheap to ignore and expensive to fix properly. Until that changes, drivers will keep hitting them — and learning, painfully, how the compensation system works.

Take photos. Keep records. Submit the claim.

And next time you see fresh tarmac, slow down and savour it.

It won’t be there for long.