Tips on identifying pothole damage

Identifying and minimising pothole damage

The front end of your vehicle dips when you brake.
You can feel your vehicle roll or sway while turning.
Upon acceleration the rear of the vehicle squats.
On rougher, winding roads you can feel an abnormal bounce or slide.
In general your vehicle feels like it’s sitting a little lower at the front or the rear.
If you stop suddenly you experience a loss of directional control.
Visible damage such as rusting or dents.

To keep pothole damage to a minimum AA Motor Insurance offers the following advice:

Maintain full air pressure in all tyres, as per the manufacturer's guidelines. This will help to provide a cushion between pothole and the rim of your tyre.
Keep your eyes peeled for potholes by leaving plenty of space between yourself and the vehicle in front. Never ever swerve to avoid a pothole without checking surrounding traffic.
If you’re not in a position to avoid the pothole, slow down. Hitting it at speed will increase the chance of damage to tyres, wheels, shocks, struts or springs.
Hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.
Don't break when directly over a pothole. This causes the car's weight to shift to the front of the wheel and can increase damage from the impact.
Be wary of potholes filled with water, they may be deeper than they look!