Business 28 January 2026, 9:13am

It is not the persistent freezing weather typical of the previous weeks, but rather the daily temperature fluctuations resulting in nighttime freezing and daytime thawing that cause the most damage to road surfaces. On busier sections, a large pothole can form in a matter of hours: it is common experience that even drivers who are familiar with a given section of road can unsuspectingly drive into a pothole that was not there the day before.

"Most pothole damage causes flat tires, but in some cases the rim also needs to be repaired. However, it is also common for the suspension to be damaged, and potholes can even cause accidents resulting in personal injury, which can lead to millions in compensation claims," warns Lajos Papp, president of FBAMSZ. However, it is very difficult to enforce related claims for damages: experience in recent years has shown that the competent road authorities accept only about half of them.

In the case of pothole damage occurring outside populated areas, those affected should contact Magyar Közút Nonprofit Zrt., while within populated areas, the relevant local government body is responsible for such matters, and Budapest Közút Zrt. is responsible for Budapest's main and public transport roads. During the assessment process, road operators generally reject claims for compensation that are not properly documented, but those who suffer such accidents on road sections marked with warning signs indicating road defects are also not eligible for compensation.

Although road maintenance crews are constantly working to repair road defects, drivers can expect to encounter a large number of potholes on the roads until May. It is still worth taking out pothole insurance, which has many advantages over compensation from the road maintenance company, says the president.

For an annual fee of between HUF 4,000 and 5,000, it is possible to obtain adequate pothole insurance, which is usually taken out as supplementary insurance in addition to compulsory third-party liability insurance or comprehensive insurance. However, some insurers also offer it as a standalone product. Beneficiaries of pothole insurance report damage directly to their insurer rather than to the road operator, which increases the chances of successful claims settlement. Some policies also provide coverage for road sections marked with warning signs.

Insurance companies generally do not charge an excess in this type of insurance scheme, which is important because the average cost of pothole damage still does not exceed HUF 100,000. For this reason, comprehensive insurance policies, which are generally taken out with a minimum excess of HUF 100,000, are not a solution in such cases.

"Proper documentation is, of course, also necessary in the case of pothole insurance," points out the president of FBAMSZ. "It is important that the driver remain at the scene, because this is the only way to obtain witnesses or an official report. On the highway, if possible, wait for the traffic police at the nearest safe location. It is advisable to take as many photos as possible of the pothole and the damage, making sure that the location can be clearly identified. In addition to the photos, it is also worth obtaining the contact details of any witnesses, and the damaged parts must be kept until the compensation is paid.

Cover photo (for illustration purposes only): Getty Images