Help for people whose cars have been damaged by potholes

In this article Ray Franklin explains the process and some things to consider that will support your claim.

Also a template letter which can be downloaded & used as a covering letter to accompany your official claim form.

Pot Holes - A guide

In order to count as a pothole the hole must be at least 40mm deep - about the height of two 20p coins. If it's less than 40mm, it's worth continuing but you might not get the full cost of the repairs back.
You must prove the pothole caused it, i.e. the repairs were specifically caused from your impact with the pothole.
Your mechanic should be able to put this in writing.
As soon as you've hit a pothole, warn other drivers by calling it in.
- This will help to keep the roads safe (and if you do make a claim further down the line, it's important to show you did your civic duty).
- Call the council or report it via their website. For England and Wales you can find the council by postcode on the Gov.uk website.
- Britain's highway authorities and agencies are legally obliged (England and Wales S42-58 of the Highways Act 1980) to maintain roads to a safe standard including fixing potholes.
If it is safe, measure and note the pothole's depth and width.
Take a note of its position and the time the incident occurred. Take photos of the pothole, stretch of road, nearby road signs and the damage to your car.
Make a sketch of the road.
Keep a detailed account of any costs.
When your car is repaired, identify all damage, itemise all costs and date it!
Now it's time to claim. The fastest way is by using the authority's own claims process and filling in a form.
Not every authority lets you do this but it's always worth trying first.