What to do if your car hits a pothole

Tyre Insurance Tips: What To Do If a Pothole Damages Your Car? 

One of the major irritations for motorists on South African roads is the dreaded pothole. Roads across the country are covered in them, and for many, there is no way to avoid coming up against some daily. Pothole damage to your vehicle can be expensive and time-consuming to fix. Fortunately, Budget Insurance offers rim and tyre insurance. Here are a few things to consider about pothole cover and what happens if you hit a pothole and damage your car.

Be mindful and cautious when driving

It’s always advisable to avoid a pothole if you can do so safely. Avoid distractions and pay attention to the road when youre driving. Always keep a look out for new road potholes, especially if you drive the same route daily or if there’s been extreme weather changes, like heavy rains. Avoid driving too fast, so you can avoid them by carefully swerving around the pothole. Keep a safe gap between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. If they swerve or brake suddenly due to a pothole, you don’t want to risk hitting them. Remember to maintain your tyres as per the tyre manufacturer’s recommendations. Underinflated or worn-out tyres are more susceptible to damage from potholes or other road debris so keep your wheel balancing and alignment check-ups up to date at all times.

How to tell if a pothole damaged the car or tyre?

If you hit a pothole and you believe that it has damaged your tyre or a part of your vehicle, don’t delay. You can conduct a quick inspection to determine if you have any damage and then you can start the claim process. Here are some top tips to check: 

• Check the tyres and rims. Look out for any bulges or cuts in the sidewall. Pothole damage can even cause a tyre to burst. Go to your local garage and check the tyre pressure as this is also an indication of tyre damage. 

• Inspect the wheels. Look out for any bends or cracks in the rims. 

• Check the undercarriage for any damage, like signs of leaking.

• Check for any unusual noises that your car wasn’t making before. This could be an indication of damage to the suspension or steering components.

• Check the alignment. If your car pulls to one side, your alignment could be out. You may feel your steering wheel ‘pull’, indicating that your wheels are no longer correctly aligned. You may also have damaged the suspension if your car feels like it's swaying or out of control, especially on the turn.

What to do if a pothole damages your car? 

You can claim for pothole damage if you have tyre insurance or pothole cover from Budget Insurance. Otherwise, you will need to pay for the repairs or replacements out of pocket. If you do wish to claim against your tyre insurance policy, you need to take the following steps:

1. Document the damage. If you can, take photos of both the pothole and the damage to your vehicle. This will serve as evidence when you claim on your tyre insurance coverage. 

2. Check your car insurance or tyre insurance policy. Be aware of any deductibles, limits or exclusions that may apply.

3. Contact your insurers. Call Budget Insurance to report the incident and start the claim process. Be ready to provide the right information when you call, like your policy number, vehicle registration number, date and time of the incident etc. 

4. Provide all the required documentation. To process your claim, they will need to provide certain information, like proof of ownership of the vehicle, a police report (if necessary) etc.

5. Get an estimate for repairs or replacement. Your insurer will require you to get a quote from an approved service provider. Don’t undertake any work until you get approval to do so. 

6. File the claim. Once you have all the documentation and estimates, your insurers can process your claim. When this is approved, you will receive instructions on how to have your car repaired. 

You can also claim from SANRAL[1] or your local municipality and report a pothole to [email protected] so they can get the pothole repaired.

Get tyre cover from Budget Insurance 

While potholes may be a constant threat on South African roads, you can ensure you are sufficiently covered for any damage with rim and tyre insurance, which allows you to claim for accidental damage to your vehicle’s tyres and rims. Pothole cover falls into this category and addresses claims made for pothole damage to your vehicle. Tyre cover will provide a pothole cover if you had to damage our vehicle. Make sure you’ve covered this by starting the process. To get a tyre insurance quote, click here.