Potholes can cause damage to vehicles and bicycles, and in some cases, you may be eligible for compensation
Potholes are a major concern for both motorists and cyclists, with the road surface craters caused by water, surface cracks and heavy traffic. And once a pothole appears, it can worsen considerably over time.
If you’ve driven or cycled over a pothole and suffered injury or damage to your vehicle or bike, you may well be entitled to claim compensation. The organisation you need to contact will depend on the location and type of road where the pothole was found.
According to guidance on Gov.uk, you should get in touch with the relevant organisation to inform them of the damage caused and why you hold them responsible. You should also provide the precise location where the incident occurred (the road name and the nearest marker post number or identifying feature) along with the date and time the damage happened.
Here’s who you should contact if your vehicle is damaged by a pothole, depending where in the UK you are:
England
Most A-roads and motorways are managed by National Highways. You should verify whether this applies and, if so, reach out to National Highways to pursue a compensation claim.
If you’re in London, check whether the road in question is a red route. If it is, you should contact Transport for London regarding compensation – you can do so by calling 0343 222 1234, with lines open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday including public holidays.
For all other English roads, get in touch with the local council responsible for managing the road to enquire about compensation. You can find out which council oversees the road by using the postcode where your vehicle was damaged.
You can also flag the road issue to warn other drivers.
Wales
In Wales, the majority of A-roads and motorways (‘trunk roads’) are overseen by Traffic Wales. Check whether Traffic Wales is responsible for the road on which your car was damaged and, if so, reach out for compensation – call 0300 123 1213.
For all other Welsh roads, you should contact the relevant local council to report the problem. You can then pursue the matter of compensation with the council directly.
Scotland
Most A-roads and motorways (‘trunk roads’) in Scotland are managed and maintained by BEAR Scotland and Amey. If your claim concerns routes in the north west and south east, contact BEAR Scotland.
If your claim relates to routes in the south west and north east, get in touch with Amey. For all other Scottish roads, you should contact the local council responsible for the road to report the issue.
You can then raise the question of compensation with the council.
Northern Ireland
Apply online to the Department for Infrastructure to claim compensation for all types of roads.
According to Money Saving Expert (MSE), a pothole typically needs to be at least 40mm deep – roughly the height of two 20p coins. “If the one you hit wasn’t that deep you can still make a claim, but it could be tougher.”
You’ll need to demonstrate that the pothole caused the damage – for instance by obtaining written confirmation from the mechanic. MSE adds: “The first thing to do is start collecting proof, pronto. No matter which authority you’re claiming from, the overall goal’s the same, to gather enough evidence to prove its negligence.”
If it’s safe to do so, you should photograph the pothole and measure its depth – but never attempt this on a motorway. Where possible, capture close-up shots of the pothole, and take pictures showing its position on the road, plus nearby road signs to help identify its exact location.
You’ll also need to submit photographs of the damage sustained by your vehicle.
