A new survey by car insurance company AA Insurance has revealed that icy weather has caused more road damage than usual, with claim figures for cars damaged by potholes rising by three times last month.
In February 2008, car insurance claims for pothole damage were around 700, and this year they are at 2000 and thousands more are thought to have suffered minor damage for which it is not worth claiming.
The AA estimates that road damage has increased by 40 per cent since January's icy weather, with potholes in Britain now totalling 1.5 million.
Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance, said: "Cars with alloy wheels and low-profile tyres are particularly prone to damage while some potholes are so huge that they cause damage to valances and sills, rupture suspension and steering and even rip off exhaust systems."
He also encouraged drivers who hit potholes to get their car checked by a tyre dealer to assess the damage in order to work out whether it is worth claiming for car insurance .
Motorists have recently been downsizing their cars, according to a report by Saga Insurance, in order to save money by lowering their car insurance premiums and spending less when their car does get damaged.




