Green Insurer Research Looks at True Costs of Pothole Damage

Potholes and badly maintained roads are costing drivers with 28% of motorists reporting they have suffered damage to their vehicle as a result, research by The Green Insurer shows. It’s difficult to claim against Councils and claiming on your car insurance can means losing your NCD and higher premiums for five years. The new Labour government shows zero interest in fixing the potholes. Here are the details;

The study from The Green Insurer, which is focused on helping drivers reduce carbon emissions and drive in a more environmentally friendly way, found burst or damaged tyres are the biggest risk for motorists but damage to the vehicle’s suspension is also a major threat.

One in five (20%) of drivers reporting damage to their vehicle from potholes or badly maintained roads say the cost of the repairs exceeded £500 but for most the cost was lower than the excess on their motor insurance.

That helps explain why 71% suffering damage paid for the cost of repairs themselves with around one in eight (12%) claiming on insurance and 8% successfully applying for compensation from their local council for the damage. However around 4% admit the damage has never been repaired.

Tyres are most at risk from the poor state of roads – 60% who have suffered damage report burst or damaged tyres – while 40% say their car’s suspension needed to be repaired and 14% say their car’s paintwork or body needed repairs. Around 4% say the driver or passengers were injured.

Paul Baxter, CEO, The Green Insurer, said: “Concern about the state of the UK’s roads is growing and there is clearly a need for major repairs and improvements with more than a quarter of drivers reporting damage to their vehicles as a result.

“Our research indicates that the problem is getting worse – more than half saying they have suffered damage to their car report the incident happened in the last year.

“The cost of repairs may be relatively low with most drivers saying their bill was less than £500 but it all adds up to the cost of motoring and at a time when people’s budgets are under pressure needing to find money for a repair will be an issue for millions.”

People can report potholes in England and Wales through Report a pothole – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or at Report a pothole – mygov.scot in Scotland and Report a pothole or other surface defect | nidirect in Northern Ireland. They can also report issues through local council websites.