Pothole Damage To Vehicle? Get Money From New York State

Even though we’ve finally got some warmer weather to enjoy, hitting the road in the spring can wreak havoc on your vehicle thanks to the damage winter left behind. 

Even if you try your best to avoid those massive, deep, annoying potholes, sometimes, you just can’t avoid it. “THUNK!” 

It’s one of the worst feelings as a driver, and affects thousands of motorists during springtime in New York State. 

Potholes Can End Up Costing You Hundreds Of Dollars

Hitting a pothole the wrong way isn’t just hard on your nerves. An unfortunate run-in with a pothole this spring can end up costing you tons of money in repairs.

According to AAA, the average bill for pothole-related damage costs over $300. Besides the dent in your bank account, drivers also have to deal with the inconvenience of waiting days or weeks for their vehicle to be repaired.  

Damage Potholes Can Cause

• If your car veers to the left or the right when you steer, the pothole likely damaged your wheel alignment. 

• If the steering wheel starts vibrating or shaking, or you hear strange noises that you didn’t before, the pothole could have messed up your suspension. 

• If the low tire pressure alert suddenly lights up on the dashboard, you’ll soon find yourself with a flat tire that needs to be patched or replaced. 

READ MORE: Get Potholes Filled By Doing This In New York

If you spot a pothole along your commute, you can report it to the New York State Department of Transportation before it wrecks your car or someone else’s by calling 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4693). 

But if it’s too late, there IS a method to get reimbursed for the repairs that awful pothole caused. 

Get Your Money Back For Pothole Repairs From New York State

Many New York drivers don’t realize that you can file a claim to have the state pay you back for up to $5,000 of expenses toward car repairs caused by pothole damage. 

Particularly, New York State’s small claims site says drivers can be reimbursed for “property damages…where the damages are found upon investigation to have been caused by the negligence of the Department or one of its employees.”

That being said, they definitely don’t make it easy to get your money back. First, you’ll have to print out a form and snail mail it to your local DOT office within 90 days of the damage occurring (there isn’t an option to fill out the form electronically). Then, a representative will investigate your claim before it’s approved.

The Easiest Way To A Refund For Pothole Damage Repairs

Instead of jumping through hoops to get your money back via New York State, many drivers avoid the hassle by filing a claim for the pothole damage through their insurance company instead. 

There’s pros and cons to going this route– the pros being it will be much faster and easier to get  your car fixed, and the cons being it has the potential to make your monthly premium go up (also, your insurance coverage may not cover potholes). 

Be sure to look into all of your options before you decide which refund route to take.