Ranked: States with the worst pothole problems

Key points

• Washington, Minnesota and Michigan are the states with the most pothole problems.
• Cities with the most pothole woes are New York City, Los Angeles and Minneapolis.
• The average pothole car repair bill is $460.
• The number of pothole car repairs increased by 57% between 2021 and 2022.

Winter weather is near, and for many drivers, that means brushing up on a much-detested roadway skill: dodging potholes. Based on the most recent data from AAA, 44 million drivers had to fork over money last year for vehicle repairs after an unwelcome encounter with a pothole.

Drivers across the nation fall victim to these asphalt atrocities, but some states present a bigger pothole problem than others. Our research suggests that Washingtonians may feel the brunt of potholes the most, while drivers in Wyoming and Nevada are less likely to experience the aftermath of those loathsome roadway craters. 

States with the worst pothole problems

Pothole data from each state isn’t available, but online searches for pothole-related terms can shed some light on where drivers are most frequently victimized by them. We analyzed Google Trends data from 2020 to 2023 to find the states with the biggest pothole problems. 

Colder, northern states, where winter precipitation and temperature fluctuations wreak havoc on roadways, top the charts. But that doesn’t mean southern drivers escape unscathed. Tennessee and Georgia have their own share of pothole issues.

Washington, Minnesota and Michigan are the states with the worst pothole problems, though Tennessee and Georgia aren’t far behind. Drivers in Nevada, Wyoming and Alabama have the fewest pothole-related complaints.

Cities with the worst pothole problems

Online search volume can also help us pinpoint what cities are home to rocky, pothole-ridden roads. As one would guess, northern states make up a vast majority of the cities most plagued by potholes. New York, NY tops the list, but there were some surprises based on available data. Los Angeles, for instance, grabs the second place rank, and Nashville, TN and San Francisco, CA aren't far behind. 

Some states are home to multiple pothole hot spots. Wisconsin has six cities in the top 50, followed by Minnesota with five and California with four. Meanwhile, Washington state boasts three cities in the top 10. 

Many of the cities tie for their place in our analysis of the cities with the worst pothole issues.

Reducing the risk of pothole damage

Regardless of where you live, there are a few things you can do to minimize the pothole damage — and the associated costs — even if you can’t avoid the car-eating craters. 

1. Reduce your speed and straighten your wheels. It’s not always possible to avoid a pothole, but the faster you hit a pothole, the more damage your car may sustain. To reduce the force with which your vehicle hits a pothole, slow down and then release your brakes before you make contact with the pothole. At the same time, straighten your wheels to hit the pothole squarely. Doing so allows you to coast over the pothole, reducing the risk of damage to your suspension and wheels. 
2. Stay alert. It may not be possible to see every pothole, especially at night or on water-washed roadways, but staying alert and looking ahead can help you avoid more obvious or substantial potholes. 
3. Be cautious when water is on the roadway. Rain storms and melting snow can make it difficult to spot a pothole, especially if it’s hiding under a puddle. Slow down if you see a puddle or standing water on the road.  
4. Stay on top of vehicle maintenance. Underinflated or worn tires are more vulnerable to pothole damage than those that are newer and properly inflated. Similarly, unaddressed issues with your steering or suspension can lead to more significant damage after a pothole encounter.   
5. Be on the lookout for vehicle changes. If you hit a pothole and start hearing a new noise or feel a change in the way your vehicle is driving (such as pulling to the left or right), make an appointment with a mechanic as soon as you can to prevent further damage.

Paying for repairs: Car insurance and potholes

Hitting a pothole is more than a jarring experience for the car and driver: It can be downright brutal on your wallet. AAA reports that the average cost of a pothole repair was $406 in 2022. 

An unexpected tussle with a pothole can lead to a range of vehicle damage, including blown-out tires, bends and cracks in wheels and a misaligned suspension. 

Some drivers may be able to seek restitution from the jurisdiction that manages the offending road, but many are left to foot the bill on their own. 

Car insurance can help, but only if you have the right type of coverage. 

Collision car insurance typically covers the cost of pothole damage repairs, but don’t assume it’s included in your existing policy.

If you lease or finance your vehicle, your lender or lessor will likely require you to carry collision and comprehensive coverage. Otherwise, there are no state or federal laws requiring drivers to carry collision coverage, so always check with your insurance company to see if your policy includes it. 

Collision coverage usually has a deductible — often $500 or $1,000. If the cost of vehicle repairs is less than or close to your deductible, it may not make sense to file a collision claim for pothole repairs.

Collision insurance can also help you cover the cost of repairs to your vehicle if:

• You’re at fault for an accident and your vehicle sustained damage. 
• Your vehicle was damaged in a hit-and-run accident. 
• You collided with an object other than a vehicle, such as a pole, guardrail or fence.
• Your vehicle was damaged by an accident, and the at-fault driver is either uninsured or underinsured (uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage would kick in first, if you have it).

Methodology

To determine the states and cities with the worst pothole problems USA TODAY Blueprint analyzed Google Trends reports from January 2020 to October 2023. Searches for “pothole,” “potholes,” “pothole repair,” “pothole damage” and “pothole complaint” were each given a search index number from zero to one hundred. That number was then used to generate a composite score for each city and state on the list.