Below are options for making a claim for damage caused by a pothole, that don’t involve your insurance company.
Potholes are more than just a nuisance — they can cause serious and expensive damage to your car’s tyres, suspension, rims, or even steering components. If you’ve hit one, you may be wondering: Can I claim compensation for pothole damage in Australia?
✅ Short answer: Yes — but only in some cases, and it depends where you are.
In this guide, Auto Hero Roadside Assistance breaks down how to claim pothole compensation in Sydney and every capital city and state across Australia, including the official links and tips to increase your chances of a successful claim.
🛑 What Can You Claim For?
Typical damages caused by potholes include:
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Flat tyres or blowouts
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Cracked or bent rims
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Wheel misalignment
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Suspension or steering damage
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Undercarriage damage
🧾 What You’ll Need to File a Claim
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Photos of the pothole and damage
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Location details (intersection, nearest landmark)
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Time and date of incident
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Mechanic or tyre repair invoice
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Your vehicle registration number
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Any witness details (optional)
- Dash Cam footage is perfect too.
📍 Claim Process by Capital City & State
🏙️ Sydney – New South Wales (NSW)
Who to claim with:
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Local council for suburban roads
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Transport for NSW for highways and state roads
🔗 Transport for NSW Damage Claims
🏙️ Melbourne – Victoria (VIC)
Who to claim with:
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VicRoads for major roads
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Your local council for side streets and suburbs
🏙️ Brisbane – Queensland (QLD)
Who to claim with:
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Brisbane City Council or other councils
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Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) for highways
🔗 TMR Land and Property Resumptions
🏙️ Perth – Western Australia (WA)
Who to claim with:
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Main Roads WA or your local city council
🏙️ Adelaide – South Australia (SA)
Who to claim with:
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Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT)
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Local councils (like City of Adelaide)
🏙️ Hobart – Tasmania (TAS)
Who to claim with:
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Department of State Growth
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Your local Tasmanian council
🏙️ Canberra – Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Who to claim with:
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Transport Canberra and City Services (TCCS)
🏙️ Darwin – Northern Territory (NT)
Who to claim with:
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Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics
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City of Darwin or other local councils
🔗 NT Department of Logistics and Infrastructure Contacts
📌 Pro Tips to Improve Your Claim Success
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📸 Take clear photos of the pothole and your vehicle damage
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🧾 Get a written report or invoice from your repairer
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📍 Note the exact location, date, and time
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⏱️ Lodge your claim quickly (within days if possible)
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🧠 Stay polite and factual in all communications
🛞 Auto Hero Roadside Assistance Can Help Too!
If you’ve hit a pothole in Sydney and need help with:
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Cracked rim or damaged wheel
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Loans or Rental Tyre and wheel delivery
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Roadside battery jumpstart
📞 Call Auto Hero on 1800 79 79 77 — 24/7, fast, mobile service across the Sydney metro area.
🧠 Final Thought
Claiming for pothole damage isn’t always easy, but it’s worth a try — especially if you’ve documented the incident well. If you’re unsure, talk to your mechanic or give your local roads authority a call