uk Transport & mobility emergencies

What to do if…
your car feels unsafe, shakes, or pulls after hitting a pothole

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: 26 July 2026 Last reviewed: 16 August 2026 Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Slow down smoothly and move to the first place where you can stop away from moving traffic. Do not continue the journey if the car still shakes, pulls, feels unstable, has visible tyre or wheel damage, or makes a new scraping, knocking, or grinding noise.

Do not do these things

Do not brake or steer abruptly unless needed to avoid an immediate danger.
Do not keep driving to test whether the shaking or pulling disappears.
Do not drive to a garage if the steering is affected or a tyre or wheel appears damaged.
Do not assume the car is safe because it has a current MOT certificate.
Do not crawl underneath the car or touch damaged, hot, sharp, or hanging parts.
Do not attempt repairs or change a wheel on a motorway.
Do not enter the road or return to a motorway to inspect or photograph the pothole.
Do not ignore a tyre-pressure warning or another warning that appeared after the impact.

What to do now

Keep a firm hold of the steering wheel, ease off the accelerator, avoid sudden movements, and signal before moving towards a safe stopping place.
On a motorway, leave at the next exit or enter a service area if possible. If you cannot, move left and use an emergency area or hard shoulder if you can reach one safely. Stop as far left as possible and switch on the hazard warning lights.
On a motorway or other high-speed road, if the car is stopped in a live lane or you cannot get out safely, stay inside with seat belts and hazard warning lights on and call 999 immediately for the police. If you can leave safely, exit on the side furthest from traffic and wait well away from the car, behind a safety barrier where available.
From a safe standing position, look for a flat tyre, a tyre bulge or tear, exposed cords, a visibly bent or cracked wheel, or a loose or hanging part. Do not handle the damage or go underneath the vehicle.
Contact a breakdown recovery service and explain that the shaking, pulling, instability, warning, or noise began immediately after a pothole impact. Arrange recovery rather than driving onward if a tyre is flat, bulged, torn, or showing cords, a wheel appears bent or cracked, steering control is affected, or the car cannot hold a straight course.
Once the car and everyone with you are safe, note the road name, direction of travel, approximate location, date, and time. Photograph the vehicle damage only from a safe place away from moving traffic.

What can wait

Reporting the pothole, contacting the insurer or vehicle owner, seeking compensation, choosing a repairer, comparing quotations, and deciding whether to make a claim can wait. You do not need to identify the exact fault at the roadside.

Important reassurance

Shaking or pulling after a pothole does not reveal by itself which part has been damaged. Stopping and arranging a professional inspection avoids having to guess whether the tyres, wheels, steering, or suspension are safe.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Later decisions may require help from a breakdown service, tyre fitter, qualified mechanic, insurer, vehicle owner, or the organisation responsible for the road.

Important note

This is general information, not mechanical, legal, insurance, or other professional advice. Follow instructions from the emergency services, police, traffic officers, breakdown operator, or a qualified vehicle professional who can assess the specific situation.

Additional Resources

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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