If a pothole damages your tyre or wheel, you can make a claim against whoever is responsible for that road. For most roads that's the local council; for motorways and major A-roads it's National Highways. Success isn't guaranteed, but good evidence gives you the best chance, and reporting the pothole also helps get it fixed for everyone else.
What pothole damage looks like
A pothole strike can damage more than just the tyre. Look for:
- A bulge in the sidewall from the impact.
- A split tyre or a sudden puncture.
- A buckled or cracked alloy wheel.
- Knocked wheel alignment causing pulling or uneven wear.
How to claim, step by step
The strength of your claim rests almost entirely on the evidence you gather at the scene:
- Stop safely and check the car; don't keep driving on a bulging or flat tyre.
- Photograph everything, the pothole (with something for scale), the damage, and the location.
- Note the details: road name, date, time and direction of travel.
- Report the pothole using the GOV.UK report a pothole service, which directs you to the right authority.
- Keep all receipts for repairs or replacement tyres and wheels.
- Submit your claim to that authority with your evidence.
Will the claim succeed?
Authorities can defend claims if they show they had a reasonable inspection and repair regime in place, so it's not automatic. In practice, a claim is stronger if the pothole was large, clearly hazardous, and ideally already reported by others, which suggests the authority had a chance to fix it. Even where a claim is refused, it's usually worth making, and you can challenge a refusal or take it further if you believe the road was negligently maintained. Good photos with something for scale are what turn a weak claim into a credible one.
Who to claim against
The claim goes to the highway authority responsible for that specific road, not your own insurer (unless you'd rather claim on your policy and risk the excess and no-claims). For ordinary roads that's the local council; for motorways and major trunk A-roads in England it's National Highways. The GOV.UK reporting tool helps identify the right body. Claiming against the authority rather than your insurer means a successful claim doesn't affect your premium, which is usually the better route for tyre and wheel damage.
Get the tyre sorted first
Safety comes before paperwork. We'll replace a pothole-damaged tyre at your location across the UK and give you an itemised invoice for your claim. See our broken tyre service or book now.
