Pothole Damage Claims UK: How to Claim From the Council in 2026

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Pothole Damage Claims UK: How to Claim From the Council

Potholes are causing increasing frustration and expense for motorists across the UK.

At Classic Car Lab, we regularly see the consequences:

damaged tyres
bent or cracked alloy wheels
steering misalignment
broken suspension components
damaged wheel bearings
underbody impact damage

The damage is not always immediately visible. A vehicle may continue driving after the impact while a wheel, tyre, suspension joint or steering component has already been weakened.

This guide explains what to do after hitting a pothole, what evidence you may need and how to make a claim against the relevant highway authority.

Can you claim compensation for pothole damage?

You can submit a claim, but compensation is not automatic.

Highway authorities have a legal duty to maintain roads for which they are responsible. However, Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980 gives them a possible defence if they can demonstrate that they operated a reasonable inspection and maintenance system.

This means that the success of a claim may depend on questions such as:

How long had the defect existed?
Had it already been reported?
When was that road last inspected?
Was the defect recorded during an earlier inspection?
Did the authority respond within its stated repair timescale?
Was the pothole sufficiently serious to require intervention?

North Yorkshire Council explains that there is no automatic right to compensation and that a claim form does not itself count as reporting the road defect. The pothole should therefore be reported separately.

What to do immediately after hitting a pothole

First, move to a safe place before inspecting the vehicle or taking photographs.

Do not stand in a live carriageway or put yourself at risk to obtain evidence.

When it is safe, record as much information as possible.

Photograph the pothole

Take:

a clear photograph of the defect
a wider photograph showing the road and surroundings
pictures from more than one angle
an image that helps demonstrate its approximate size
photographs showing nearby road signs, junctions or landmarks

Avoid placing an object inside the pothole if doing so would put you in danger.

Record the precise location

Write down:

road name
direction of travel
nearest junction
nearest building or landmark
postcode, where known
map location or phone pin
date and approximate time

The more accurately the authority can identify the location, the easier it will be for the claim to be investigated.

Photograph the vehicle damage

Take clear images of:

the affected tyre
the wheel or alloy
visible suspension damage
damaged bodywork or undertrays
dashboard warning lights
any fluid leaks

Keep the original photographs rather than relying only on compressed copies sent through messaging apps.

Report the pothole separately

Reporting the defect and submitting a compensation claim are usually two separate actions.

The government pothole-reporting service can direct motorists to the correct authority responsible for the road.

Government reporting page:

https://www.gov.uk/report-pothole

For local motorists, useful reporting pages include:

North Yorkshire Council

Report a pothole or damaged road surface:

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/roads-and-pavements/potholes-and-road-condition-issues

Make a highway damage claim:

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/roads-parking-and-travel/roads-and-pavements/highway-claims

North Yorkshire introduced a new reporting system in July 2026, so motorists using an older saved link may find that the process has changed.

Leeds City Council

Report a road or pavement defect:

https://www.leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/report-an-issue-with-a-road-or-pavement

Make a public liability claim:

https://www.leeds.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/making-a-public-liability-claim

Leeds advises motorists to report the dangerous defect separately where an accident resulted from a road, pavement or verge problem.

Bradford Council

Report a road or pavement problem:

https://www.bradford.gov.uk/transport-and-travel/report-a-problem-with-a-road-or-pavement/

City of York Council

Report a highway problem:

https://www.york.gov.uk/report-problem-highway

Arrange a professional vehicle inspection

A pothole can cause more than a puncture or visibly damaged wheel.

A proper inspection may reveal damage to:

track rod ends
steering arms
control arms
suspension bushes
shock absorbers
springs
wheel bearings
subframes
tyres
alloy wheels
alignment settings
undertrays and lower bodywork

Even where the steering still feels normal, geometry may have moved enough to cause uneven tyre wear or unstable handling.

Classic cars, modern classics and performance vehicles can be particularly vulnerable because of low-profile tyres, specialist wheels, ageing suspension components or limited replacement-part availability.

Obtain written evidence of the repair cost

Before repairs begin, where it is safe and practical to wait, obtain:

a written estimate
an inspection report
photographs of the damaged components
details of the recommended repairs

If the vehicle must be repaired immediately for safety reasons, retain:

the invoice
photographs
damaged parts where practical
recovery receipts
tyre or wheel reports
alignment results

The authority may ask for evidence connecting the damage to the reported incident.

What information will the council normally request?

Requirements vary, but a claim may ask for:

your full contact details
vehicle registration
vehicle ownership details
date and time of the incident
exact pothole location
photographs of the road defect
photographs of the vehicle
repair estimate or invoice
details of witnesses
insurance information
bank details if the claim is accepted

Never send original documents unless specifically requested. Keep copies of everything submitted.

Example pothole damage claim email

Subject: Vehicle damage claim – pothole at [road name and location]

Dear Highways Claims Team,

I wish to submit a claim for damage to my vehicle caused by a road defect at [precise location].

The incident occurred on [date] at approximately [time] while I was travelling in the direction of [direction of travel].

The impact caused the following apparent damage:

[Brief description of the tyre, wheel, steering, suspension or other damage.]

The defect has been reported separately under reference:

[Reference number, where available.]

I have attached:

photographs of the pothole and surrounding location
photographs of the vehicle damage
a repair estimate or invoice
proof of vehicle ownership
any additional supporting evidence

Please confirm receipt of this claim and advise me of the next stage of your investigation.

Kind regards,

[Full name]
[Address]
[Telephone number]
[Email address]

What happens after a claim is submitted?

The highway authority or its insurer will normally investigate:

road inspection records
earlier reports
maintenance history
repair records
the nature and location of the defect
whether its inspection procedures were followed

The claim may take time, and submitting one does not guarantee payment.

Some councils openly warn that many claims are unsuccessful because liability must be established rather than assumed.

What should you do if the claim is rejected?

A rejection is not necessarily proof that the authority has considered every relevant fact.

Ask for a clear explanation and request information including:

the date of the last road inspection
inspection frequency for that road
the inspection record
earlier reports of the pothole
the date the authority first became aware of it
repair instructions and completion dates
the specific reason for rejecting the claim

A Freedom of Information request may sometimes be used to seek relevant inspection or maintenance records, although the council may already provide them through its claims process.

You may also consider:

making a formal complaint about the handling of the claim
seeking independent legal advice
using your motor insurer’s legal-expenses service
pursuing the matter through the courts where proportionate

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman will not normally determine whether compensation is legally owed for pothole vehicle damage, because liability is generally a matter for the courts. It may consider some complaint-handling issues, but it is not a substitute for a compensation claim or legal action.

Warning signs after a pothole impact

Arrange an inspection if you notice:

the car pulling to one side
vibration through the steering wheel
steering no longer sitting centrally
knocking or clunking noises
tyre-pressure warnings
ABS or traction-control lights
uneven tyre wear
a cracked or buckled wheel
a bulge in the tyre sidewall
fluid leaking beneath the vehicle
altered ride height
instability while braking

A tyre-sidewall bulge, cracked wheel or serious steering change should be treated as a safety issue.

Classic Car Lab pothole damage inspections

Classic Car Lab can inspect classic cars, modern classics, prestige vehicles, everyday cars, vans and four-wheel-drive vehicles following a pothole impact.

Our checks can include:

tyre inspection
alloy-wheel inspection
suspension inspection
steering inspection
visible underbody assessment
wheel-bearing checks
alignment assessment
photographic evidence
written repair estimates
supporting documentation for a claim

We understand that hidden damage can be especially important on valuable, unusual or older vehicles where replacement components may be expensive or difficult to source.

Free suspension and wheel safety check

Classic Car Lab is offering a free initial suspension and wheel safety check following a pothole impact, subject to workshop availability.

This is available to motorists from:

Otley
Ilkley
Guiseley
Yeadon
Harrogate
Leeds
North Yorkshire
surrounding Yorkshire areas

The initial check is intended to identify visible or obvious concerns. Further dismantling, diagnostic work, wheel alignment or written technical reporting may involve a charge, which will be explained before work begins.