Victorian drivers struggle to claim compensation for pothole damage
- 1 day ago
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Victorian drivers are struggling to receive compensation for damage caused by potholes, with new figures showing just 23 successful claims in the past two years.
More than 1,800 motorists applied for compensation for damage on state-managed roads. Only about 2 per cent received a payout.
The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, highlight the difficulty drivers face when seeking help with repair costs.
Under Victorian law, damage must exceed $1,681 before a claim can qualify. Even successful claims have that amount deducted from the compensation.
Drivers say the threshold is too high, particularly when potholes damage tyres, wheels or other individual components.
The Victorian Government says the compensation rules have been in place for more than 20 years and will consider whether they still meet community expectations.
The government has also committed $1.04 billion to a major road maintenance program. The Department of Transport says about 266,000 potholes were repaired across Victoria in 2025.
The issue has gained further attention after almost 40 motorists suffered tyre and wheel damage from potholes on the Princes Highway near Bunyip.
Premier Ben Carroll has promised to improve road repairs and has appointed a civil engineer to the roads portfolio.
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Source : 9 News
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