A guide for Chicago drivers
A Chicago pothole wrecked your tire. Will the City pay?
Updated October 8, 2026
Sometimes, and usually for part of the cost. The City of Chicago takes pothole damage claims through the City Clerk. For pothole damage, the City Council's Committee on Finance generally pays 50 percent of the value of the damaged parts. Here are the steps.
Step by step
- Get safe and take pictures. Photograph the pothole, the street sign or address, and the damage to your tire and wheel. Write down the date and time.
- Get the car fixed and keep the paid receipt. If you have not fixed it yet, the City accepts two written estimates instead.
- Fill out the Damage to Vehicle Claim Form. It is on the City Clerk's claims page. You can file online, by mail, or in person at City Hall, 121 N. LaSalle St., Room 107, Chicago, IL 60602. If you file online you get a claim number right away.
- Add your papers. See the list below.
- Wait. The Clerk's office says a claim may take several months. You cannot add anything after it goes to the City Council, so send it all at once.
What you need to send
- The signed Damage to Vehicle Claim Form
- A copy of your driver's license
- A copy of your insurance card
- A paid repair receipt, or two written estimates
- For claims over $500, a letter from your insurance company about the claim (the City calls it a letter of experience)
The City Clerk's page says a police report is not required for pothole damage.
How much the City pays
| Rule | What the City says |
|---|---|
| Claims under $2,500 | Filed with the City Clerk. Decided by the City Council Committee on Finance. |
| Claims over $2,500 | Go to the City's Law Department instead. |
| Usual payment for pothole damage | 50 percent of the value of the damaged parts, not the full replacement cost. |
| Older parts | Parts five years old or older are paid at a lower value. |
| Money you owe the City | It is taken out of the payment first. |
| Checking on a claim | Committee on Finance status line: 312-744-8861. |
So if a pothole costs you a $200 tire, do not expect $200 back. Expect about half, months later. It is still worth filing if you have your receipt.
Was it a City street or an expressway?
City streets belong to the City. The expressways, like the Kennedy and the Dan Ryan, belong to the State of Illinois. For those, the claim goes to the state, not the City Clerk. NBC Chicago reported in February 2026 that the state pays only when it already knew about the pothole and had time to fix it.
Report the pothole too
Call 311, use the CHI311 app, or go to 311.chicago.gov. It helps the next driver. NBC Chicago and CBS Chicago reported in 2026 that a fix usually takes about 3 to 12 days after a report.
Need the tire handled today?
We can help with the tire. The claim is yours to file. Keep the receipt.
Call (847) 497-0677More about mobile tire repair in Chicago
Rules change. Read the City's pages before you file. This page is general information, not legal advice.