You are more likely to win a claim if:
The pothole had been reported previously and the council did not repair it within their required timeframe. (Each council has its own deadlines depending on pothole size and road type.)
The pothole was large enough to be considered dangerous and should have triggered urgent repair under the council’s policy.
You have evidence showing the pothole caused the damage (photos, location, repair invoice, date/time).
Why a claim is usually rejected
Councils often refuse claims if:
They can show they inspected the road on schedule and the pothole formed between inspections.
The pothole was reported very recently, and they were still within their repair window.
You cannot prove the pothole caused the damage.
This is because councils have a legal defence under Section 58 of the Highways Act if they can show a “reasonable system of inspection and maintenance.”
How to make your claim
Collect evidence
Photos of the pothole (with scale)
Photos of vehicle damage
Exact location (what3words helps)
Date and time
Repair quote or invoice
Check the pothole’s report history
Cambridgeshire show the location of reported potholes on a map at https://highwaysreporting.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/en-gb
If it was reported days/weeks ago and still not fixed, your case is stronger.
Submit a claim to the council
For Peterborough/Cambridgeshire, you use the Highways claim process on the council website at making a highways claim
Be prepared to appeal
Councils often reject first claims automatically.
You can challenge with stronger evidence.
Quick guidance for your situation
If the pothole had already been reported and the council did not repair it within their own stated timescales, you have a strong claim for compensation.
The Cambridgeshire County Council highways claim page confirms that Cambridgeshire uses a risk‑based inspection and repair system, where each defect must be repaired within set times depending on its severity and the road classification.
Cambridgeshire normally operates (based on their published Highways Maintenance Policy and typical UK council standards):
Cambridgeshire’s Usual Pothole Repair Timescales
(These are the standards the council will use to accept or reject your claim.)
Category 1 – Emergency defects
Examples:
Very deep potholes
Exposed edges
Immediate danger
Repair target:
2 hours for the most severe
24 hours for urgent but not life‑threatening
Category 2 – Safety defects
Examples:
Potholes typically 40mm+ deep on roads
Potholes 20mm+ on footways
Repair target:
5 working days (common Cambridgeshire target)
Category 3 – Non‑urgent defects
Examples:
Shallow potholes
Surface deterioration
Repair target:
28 days or added to a planned works programme
These are the timeframes the council must meet to use the Section 58 defence (“we inspected and repaired in time, so we’re not liable”).
What this means for your claim
If the pothole that damaged your vehicle:
Was already reported,
Was large enough to meet the safety threshold, and
Was not repaired within the correct timescale,
then it is likely that Cambridgeshire County Council is liable, and your claim is strong.