Potholes are the bane of UK roads, and no matter how hard you try, sometimes hitting them is unavoidable. (Especially if you don\u2019t see them until too late, which is all too often the case!) So, the question is: how seriously can potholes damage your car? The answer obviously varies depending on several factors \u2013 they can range from virtually harmless to pretty dangerous, and some have the ability to damage your car pretty seriously.<\/p>\n
Now, that doesn\u2019t mean that every time you hit a minor pothole you\u2019re going to be stuck with hundreds of pounds worth of damage. In most instances, it\u2019s probably not going to cause you to decide: I need to scrap my car<\/a><\/strong>. But obviously, even minor damage can be (at best) irritating, and at worst outright dangerous \u2013 so if you want a bit more detail about what\u2019s involved in avoiding potholes, here\u2019s our brief guide.<\/p>\n A pothole is a depression or hollow in a road\u2019s surface, typically caused by wear or sinking. And, generally speaking, there are two main factors that affect the severity of the damage they can cause to your vehicle:<\/p>\n \u2022 How fast you hit the pothole Not every pothole is going to cause damage. In fact, in most cases you\u2019ll probably get away with no serious damage at all, beyond an unpleasant jolt (although we recommend avoiding them to the best of your ability). Unfortunately, though, pothole damage is an all too common problem for drivers of all vehicles.<\/p>\n Much of the damage caused by potholes is obvious to the eyes but unfortunately, sometimes, it\u2019s the hidden damage which can really cause problems. So let\u2019s go through some of the different types of damage your car can sustain from hitting potholes.<\/p>\n It can be really frustrating paying for new tyres only to have them ruined by a pothole on a rubbish road – tyres aren\u2019t cheap! And, while modern tyres are definitely sturdier, no tyre is immune to the damage caused by hitting a pothole at speed. While a flat tyre is a good indicator that a pothole did some damage, it\u2019s definitely a good idea to closely inspect your tyres on a regular basis, even if they don\u2019t appear to be deflated.<\/p>\n Start by looking for anything that seems out of the ordinary, like bulges or any abnormal bubbles along the side of the tyre wall. If you spot any of these issues, it\u2019s best to have your mechanic look over it so you can avoid any dangerous blowouts while you\u2019re driving. The same is true for your rims \u2013 any damage or dents to your rims can lead to damage to your tyres, so it\u2019s better to be safe than sorry.<\/p>\n Some potholes are deep enough that your car\u2019s undercarriage will suffer a hefty scrape, which can cause a whole host of issues. If you notice a leak from under your car after you\u2019ve hit a pretty nasty pothole, there\u2019s a good chance that your undercarriage will have suffered some damage. If this is the case, we\u2019d always recommend getting it looked at as soon as possible to avoid the damage worsening over time. With major jobs like this, the costs of repairs can start rocketing pretty rapidly.<\/p>\n As you drive over a pothole, the initial force on your tyres is then transferred to the suspension system. Frequent bumps caused by driving over potholes will wear down your suspension over time, affecting its performance and making it harder for you to drive your car safely.<\/p>\n Some signs there\u2019s a problem with your car\u2019s suspension include: your car pulling to one side, or an unusual sound (like ticking, clicking or vibrating), and the handling feeling looser. If you experience any of these signs, you\u2019re best getting it checked out before it becomes a future issue.<\/p>\n It\u2019d be impossible to drive around without encountering at least a few potholes, especially in major cities. Thankfully though, there are a few ways you can minimise the potential damage they\u2019ll do to your car and they are:<\/p>\n As annoying as potholes are, the chances of them disappearing from our roads any time soon is highly unlikely. Ultimately, there\u2019s no better defence against them than simply keeping a careful eye out, and watch for any traffic up ahead that might be swerving around something you can\u2019t see. And of course, if you do notice any unusual sounds, fluids or problems with your car after hitting a pothole, getting a once over from a professional is the best thing you can do.<\/p>\n However, if you do happen to have an unfortunate encounter with a pothole that leaves your car unroadworthy, we\u2019ve got the solution. Here at Scrap Car Network we\u2019ll give you an instant quote for your car today. It\u2019s free and easy to get an instant online quote, and there\u2019s no obligation to proceed until you\u2019re ready! Simply enter your registration and postcode<\/a><\/strong> into the fields on our site and find out what your car could be worth within seconds.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Potholes are the bane of UK roads, and no matter how hard you try, sometimes hitting them is unavoidable. (Especially if you don\u2019t see them until too late, which is all too often the case!) So, the question is: how seriously can potholes damage your car? The answer obviously varies depending on several factors \u2013 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":7230,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[16],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\nWhat is a pothole?<\/h1>\n
\n\u2022 How deep\/wide the pothole is<\/p>\nTyres and rims<\/h2>\n
Fluid leaks<\/h2>\n
Suspension damage<\/h2>\n
How to avoid pothole damage<\/h2>\n
\n