First, make sure the car is safe
- Pull over somewhere safe and look for a flat or bulging tire, a bent wheel, fluid under the car, or new warning lights
- A pull to one side, a shaking steering wheel or new noises are reasons to get it checked before driving far
- If anyone is hurt or the car can't be driven safely, call 911 or a tow
Write it down while it's fresh
- The date, time and exact spot: the street and the nearest cross street or address
- Photos of the pothole and of the damage to your car
- Report the pothole to 311 by phone or online. The City is clear that reporting a pothole to 311 is not the same as making a claim
The 10-day deadline for a claim against the City
If you want to claim against the City, it says you must submit notice of the claim within 10 days of the date of the incident, using its online Claim Submission Web Form. The City describes this as required, so don't wait for the repair estimate before you file.
The form asks for your name, address and email, the date and location, and a short description of what happened and what was damaged. You can't upload photos or receipts on the form, so keep them: the City's adjuster asks for them once one is assigned. You get a claim number by email.
Notice to the City is not the same as starting a lawsuit. The City points out that any legal action must be filed in court within two years under Ontario's Limitations Act, 2002.
How the City decides, and the odds
The City says it is not responsible for pothole damage if it met the province's Minimum Maintenance Standards for roads (Ontario Regulation 612/06). Under those standards the City repairs potholes within four days of a report on the busiest roads, and within 30 days on side streets.
Adjusters check the City's patrol and repair records. The City states plainly that the majority of property damage claims are denied, because its divisions regularly meet the standards, and that payment is not guaranteed. If a claim is approved, compensation is based on the property's current value, not its replacement value. Claims typically take about 90 days, longer when volumes are high.
Going through your own insurance instead
The City notes that your own coverage is generally broader than what you may recover from the City, and that your insurer will often pay up front whoever is at fault, though a claim can raise your premiums later. It also says repairs can be faster through your insurer. Whether to claim depends on your deductible and your policy, so call your insurer or broker before you decide.
Get the damage looked at and estimated in writing
Whichever route you take, a written estimate from a repair shop is part of your paper trail. At our shop we inspect first, show you what we find and give you a written estimate before any work starts. We can't say whether the City or your insurer will pay.
What potholes usually damage
- Tires: bulges, sidewall damage and slow leaks
- Wheels and rims: bends and cracks
- Alignment: the car pulls or the steering wheel sits off-centre
- Suspension and steering: shocks, struts, tie rods and ball joints
- Sometimes the exhaust and underbody
Sources
Good to know
This is general information, not legal advice. It reflects the City of Toronto's website in October 2026, so check the City's pages for the current rules before you file.