Car insurance customers in the UK may be concentrating on staying safe on the country's current icy roads, but personal finance experts have warned of the wider consequences of the big freeze. They anticipate a surge in car insurance claims made as a result of potholes – brought on by the weather – damaging vehicles.

According to Mark Monteiro at uSwitch.com, the cost of car insurance premiums is going up at the fastest rate for ten years, a phenomenon he sees being accelerated by current road conditions.

"Potholes are a major cause of axle and suspension failure, which account for a third of all mechanical issues on UK roads and cost British motorists an estimated £2.8 billion in repairs every year," he observes.

Car insurance customers who do run into problems because of adverse road surface conditions are advised to take a photo of the pothole, the vehicle damage and the surrounding area to prove the absence of warning signs or cones.

Reporting the damaged road surface to the local highways department is also suggested, since a claim for compensation to cover the cost of repairs can be submitted to them.

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