Published 2 March 2026
Pothole Perils: Are you covered if your journey takes a bumpy turn?
- How are potholes formed?
- How can you avoid potholes?
- What can happen to my car if I hit a pothole?
Lately, these pesky potholes are becoming more and more of a hazard on our roads. They can cause serious damage to your car, but in many cases they’re completely unavoidable. So, let’s check out what happens when you hit a pothole, and what your car insurance can do about it…!
Pothole or not hole?
Our latest research* shows that…
- 9% of drivers in England know what constitutes a pothole in their area.
- 92% of drivers in England say they’re impacted by the UK’s pothole problem daily.
- 79% of drivers in England have had pothole-related car damage in the last five years.
The pothole problem is taking a deeper, financial toll on some though, as Allianz data** reveals:
- A 61% rise in pothole-related repair costs over the past five years.
- A 33% increase in pothole-related claims between November and December across the last five years, with an additional spike of 79% between December and January.
- We've seen an increase of 55% in the overall cost of claims since 2020, with inflation and advances in vehicle technology also contributing to more expensive repairs.
*Research conducted by 3Gem November 2025, survey of 1,737 UK Drivers (England data used).
**Allianz UK claims data between January 2020 – November 2025
So, with the undeniable impact of potholes on UK drivers, and confusion over what qualifies as a pothole county to county, Matt Cox, Chief Claims Officer at Allianz UK says:
“We welcome the Government’s recent initiative to publish clear pothole and maintenance data, to help follow best practice, as well as the biggest ever investment in local roads and the ongoing work local authorities are doing to help fix potholes.
“However, it’s confusing that pothole definitions differ across England, rather than there being a national standardisation of what constitutes a pothole, which could help to make it clearer and easier for road users when reporting them to be fixed.
"Of course, a claim for accidental damage to a vehicle isn't dependent on definitions of what is or isn't a pothole."
So, despite the Government’s biggest ever investment in local roads, many feel that potholes remain a problem, so it’s important for drivers to know how to drive around them safely. In summary, Matt suggests you:
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Stay on top of your tyres
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Watch out for water
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Take it slow
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Drive with caution at night
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See it, report it
If your tyres are inflated correctly, they’ll absorb impact better. Check your pressure regularly and act quickly if your tyre pressure is wrong.
Avoid driving through puddles when possible, or drive through them extra slowly, as they could be hiding a hefty pothole.
The faster you hit a pothole, the more damage you’ll cause, so reduce your speed on pothole heavy roads to stay safe.
Potholes are much more difficult to spot in the dark, so drive slowly and light up the road ahead as much as possible.
If you get caught out by a pothole, report it to your council. Head to your council’s website to report damaged roads and find out what constitutes a pothole in your area. If you're unsure what qualifies as a pothole in your area, you can check your local council's website for information on criteria and how to report.
What can happen to my car if I hit a pothole?
1 in 5 pothole related incidents result in the vehicle being written off! Hopefully you’ll get lucky and drive on with no issues, however there can be some serious damage caused to components from hitting a pothole such as:
- Punctures in wheels.
- Suspension.
- Steering.
- Wheel bearings.
- Body work (alignment).
What should I do if I hit a pothole?
If you think that your car has suffered damage from hitting a pothole, you should pull over as soon as possible in a safe location. Make sure you record the position and take a photograph of the pothole to report to the local authorities. You should check the following on your car:
- Check pressures and for any visible damages to tyres.
- Make sure your car still steers in a straight line.
- Listen for any extra knocks, rattles or bangs whilst driving.
If you find any of these issues or discover any further damage, then you should call your insurer.
Potholes can be a complete menace. It’s always best to slow down to avoid them, as they can cause serious damage.
How are potholes formed?
Potholes are the nasty result of freeze-thaw action in the road. Water gets into small cracks in the road and freezes overnight.
This expands the crack over and over again, as the water freezes and thaws to eventually create a pothole. Along with gradual wear from vehicle wheels, these potholes can become quite a safety hazard.
How can you avoid potholes?
Potholes mostly appear on the side of the roads due to the natural drainage design, however they can form anywhere on the road. They can also be in large clusters which can make them harder to miss.
If you see a pothole, or you’re driving in a pothole-prone area, make sure to slow down and avoid swerving into oncoming traffic or other road users.
When the roads are wet and flooded, potholes can be much harder to spot as they can look like ordinary puddles. For more on driving in wet and cold weather, check out our winter safety article for top tips!
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