Claim for damage to your vehicle

You may be able to claim compensation if your vehicle has been damaged by a road. The organisation you contact depends on where the road is and the type of road.

You cannot claim compensation if debris from another vehicle caused the damage. Contact your insurer instead.

How to make a claim

Contact the organisation responsible to tell them:

  • what the damage was
  • why you think they are responsible
  • the specific location where the damage took place - the road name and the nearest marker post number or feature which identifies the part of the road you were on
  • the date and time the damage was caused

Trespassing on a motorway is a criminal offence. Do not visit or try to photograph the location where your vehicle was damaged.

England

London red routes

Check if the road is a red route. If it is, contact Transport for London about compensation.

Transport for London customer services
Telephone: 0343 222 1234
8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday including public holidays
Find out about call charges

Most A-roads and motorways

Check if Highways England manages the road your car was damaged on. If it does, contact Highways England for compensation.

Highways England
Telephone: 0300 123 5000
24-hour service
info@highwaysengland.co.uk
Find out about call charges

Other English roads

Contact the local council that manages the road to ask about compensation. You can see which council manages the road if you know the postcode where your vehicle was damaged.

You can also report the problem with the road to alert other drivers.

Scotland

Most A-roads and motorways (‘trunk roads’)

Report the problem to Traffic Scotland and ask them how to apply for compensation.

Traffic Scotland
Telephone: 0800 028 1414
24-hour service
info@trafficscotland.org
Find out about call charges

Other Scottish roads

Contact the local council that manages the road to report the problem. You can then ask the council about compensation.

Wales

Most A-roads and motorways (‘trunk roads’)

Check if Traffic Wales manages the road your car was damaged on. If it does, contact Traffic Wales for compensation.

Traffic Wales
Telephone: 0300 123 1213
contact@traffic-wales.com
Find out about call charges

Other Welsh roads

Contact the local council that manages the road to report the problem. You can then ask the council about compensation.

Northern Ireland

Apply online to the Department for Infrastructure to claim compensation for all types of roads.

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