Pothole season: Tips to avoid costly car repairs

It’s “pothole season” and as well making driving uncomfortable and annoying, it could also cost you a pretty penny if a pothole causes damage to your car.

According to AAA, damages caused by potholes have an average price tag of almost $600 per repair.

“In 2024, there were nearly 7,000 AAA Members, just in the Philadelphia 5-county area alone, whose tire troubles required a tow because they did not have a useable spare,” says Jana Tidwell, spokesperson for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “While drivers can’t always avoid a pothole, having a useable spare may help them avoid additional inconvenience and expense.”

A survey done by AAA found that 1 in 10 drivers sustained vehicle damage significant enough to warrant a repair after hitting a pothole. Potholes can cause damage to tires, rims, wheels, wheel weights, struts, shock absorbers, exhaust systems, steering systems and ball joints.

AAA offers the following tips for avoiding potholes/minimizing damage:

• Beware of Puddles – Puddles are often potholes in disguise.
• Look Ahead – Make a point of scanning the road ahead for potholes. An alert driver is more likely to have time to avoid a pothole.
• Increase Following Distance – This will give you additional time to avoid potholes otherwise hidden by the vehicle in front of you.
• Limit Distractions – Avoiding a pothole is much easier if you are paying attention to the road ahead.
• Slow Down – Slowing down will increase the chance of avoiding a pothole, and if a pothole cannot be avoided, reduced speed will likely mean reduced damage.
• Inspect Tires – Make sure tires are properly inflated and have a healthy tread. Tires that are not road-ready are at greater risk of a blowout or flat.
• Take Care of Your Spare – Check your trunk. Many newer cars do not have spare tires or the spare is unusable, causing greater inconvenience to drivers and their passengers in the event of a flat.
• Don’t Ignore Noises/Vibrations – A hard pothole impact can dislodge wheel weights, damage the tire or wheel and even break suspension components. Any unusual noises after a pothole hit should be inspected immediately.