HIT A POTHOLE IN
SASKATCHEWAN?
Here's exactly what to do — and who (if anyone) picks up the bill.
Saskatchewan has over 250,000 km of roads. After every freeze-thaw cycle, they fight back. If you've just smacked something that sounded expensive, keep reading.
STOP AND ASSESS — DON'T KEEP DRIVING
Driving on a damaged rim, blown sidewall, or bent suspension component can turn a $400 repair into a $2,000 one — or worse, cause you to lose control. Pull over safely, then check:
If any of these are present, do not drive the vehicle. A $180 tow is a much better outcome than a secondary incident.
(306) 291-8567WHAT POTHOLE DAMAGE ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE
Potholes cause several distinct types of damage, and some of it doesn't show up immediately.
Tires
The most common hit. A hard pothole edge can pinch the tire against the rim, slicing the rubber or causing internal damage that creates a sidewall bulge. Flat tires and blowouts are the immediate risk. Sidewall bulges are sneaky — the tire may hold air for days before failing suddenly.
Tire damage from road surface contact is generally not covered by SGI. The tire is considered a wear item. But other damage from the same impact often is covered.
Rims & Wheels
The hard angle of a pothole can bend, crack, or chip aluminum or steel rims. A bent rim won't maintain an airtight seal with the tire, causing slow or sudden air loss. Bent rims also cause vibration and uneven wear. Replacement costs run $150–$500+ per rim for standard alloy wheels.
Suspension & Steering
This is where the real money hides. A hard impact can bend tie rods, damage control arms, crack bushings, or weaken shocks and struts. You may not feel it immediately, but your car will start pulling, vibrating, or wearing tires unevenly. An alignment check after any significant pothole hit is worth the $80–$100 — it can save you a set of tires.
Exhaust & Undercarriage
Deep potholes can ground out the exhaust system, crack the muffler, or damage brake lines. If you hear a new scraping or roaring noise from underneath, this is likely why.
DOES SGI COVER POTHOLE DAMAGE?
Short answer: sometimes — but probably not your tire. SGI treats pothole damage as a roadbed collision, the same claim type as hitting a guardrail or curb.
Before filing: Compare your repair quote against your deductible. If the damage is $300 and your deductible is $500, it's cheaper to pay out of pocket — and you protect your insurance record.
On fault: SGI generally does not assign fault for pothole damage. Most pothole claims do not result in demerit points. However, if warning signs were posted or the condition was well-known, SGI may assess partial fault.
For more about what SGI does and doesn't cover for towing, see our SGI towing coverage guide.
CAN YOU CLAIM FROM THE CITY OR PROVINCE?
You can try. It's harder than it sounds.
CITY OF SASKATOON STREETS
The City accepts vehicle damage claims through their Legal Claims process. The catch: the City is only liable if they knew about the pothole and failed to act. Their position is that drivers should contact SGI first.
In practice, the City's payout rate on pothole claims has historically been around 25%. Claims on high-traffic roads fare better than side streets.
Submit online through the City's Legal Claim Information form at saskatoon.ca
Document everything: photos of the pothole, photos of the damage, repair quotes, date and exact location
If denied, you have one year to start a lawsuit in Provincial Small Claims Court
PROVINCIAL HIGHWAYS
File a claim with the Ministry of Highways under Section 9 of The Highways and Transportation Act, 1997.
Claim must be submitted within 30 days of the incident. There is no flexibility on this deadline. Include your SGI claim file number.
The Ministry is only liable if they knew (or ought to have known) about the disrepair and failed to act. A fresh pothole that appeared overnight is a harder claim than one that's been reported and ignored.
Highway number, exact location, nearest community, direction, lane, landmarks, photos, repair estimates, and your SGI claim number. If denied, you can request a review by the Regional Director of Operations, then pursue Small Claims Court.
WHEN YOUR CAR NEEDS A TOW
Some pothole damage is driveable. Some absolutely isn't. Here's the line.
WHAT TO DOCUMENT
If there's any chance of a claim — from SGI, the City, or the Ministry — document everything at the scene.
Photos of the pothole
Multiple angles, with something for scale if possible. Only if safe to do so.
Photos of the damage
Tires, rims, undercarriage, anything visible on your vehicle.
Exact location
Street name or highway number, nearest intersection or community, which lane, which direction.
Time and date
Note it immediately — you'll need this for any claim.
Witnesses
Names and contact info of anyone who saw the incident.
Written repair estimate
Get this from a shop before work is done — some claims require it.
If you're on a highway and it's unsafe to stop and document, that's okay — note everything you can as soon as you're safely stopped and file with as much detail as possible.
WORST ROADS FOR POTHOLE DAMAGE
CAA Saskatchewan's Worst Roads campaigns consistently show potholes as the dominant problem across the province. In Saskatoon, Circle Drive, Warman Road, and arterials with heavy truck traffic appear regularly. Secondary highways throughout central Saskatchewan are high-risk, especially after spring thaw — March through May.
Slow down through standing water — a pothole underneath a puddle is invisible until you're already in it.
POTHOLE DAMAGE FAQ
CAR WON'T MAKE IT TO THE SHOP?
Flat tire. Bent rim. Suspension shot. If your vehicle isn't safe to drive after a pothole, don't risk it. We dispatch across Saskatoon and central Saskatchewan — 24 hours, every day.