How Chicago Residents Can Report Potholes, Track Repairs, and File a Vehicle Damage Claim

Chicago residents can report potholes via the 311 website, app, or phone, with repairs typically completed within three to six days. The article also details how to file a vehicle damage claim with the City Clerk's office, including necessary documentation and the claim approval process.

Chloe Jenkins

October 19, 2026 · 5 min read

Chicago residents can report a pothole in three ways: through the city's 311 website, the CHI311 mobile app, or by calling 311 directly. Repairs are generally completed within three to six days of the first report, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation, though weather and street type can extend that window. If your car is damaged, you can seek reimbursement from the city, but the process demands specific documentation and patience: an ABC7 Chicago review of nearly 1,400 claims found 46% approved, 37% denied, and 18% still pending, with an average payout of $333.

How to Report Potholes and Road Damage in Chicago

The city's reporting system works best when residents identify what they're actually looking at. CDOT defines a pothole as an irregularly shaped pavement hole formed when street surfaces freeze and thaw and crack, allowing water to seep under the pavement. As that water freezes and thaws, it expands the surface crack. Potholes usually occur in a traffic lane, are normally irregular in shape and size, and tend to be relatively shallow unless ignored, with the base of the street still observable.

Two other kinds of road damage require different handling. A utility cut is usually a square cut in the pavement made for water or sewer repairs. A cave-in, sometimes called a sinkhole, can occur when utility services housed underneath the roadway are damaged, and is usually found near a manhole or catch basin. Cave-ins can range from a slight dip in the roadway to a deep hole requiring immediate attention. CDOT asks residents who see a utility cut or a sinkhole to call 311 directly rather than using the online pothole request.

When you file a pothole report, include the location of the pothole. The more precise you can be about the address, the better the routing. Once a report reaches 311, it enters CDOT's repair queue. The city also publishes a Pothole Tracker map showing potholes patched by the Department of Transportation in the last seven days; clicking a dot shows potholes filled by address, the date the request was completed, and the total number of potholes filled on that block, with duplicate requests removed.

One boundary matters before you file: this guide covers streets maintained by the City of Chicago. State-maintained expressways fall under the Illinois Department of Transportation, which has its own claim form and requirements, including photos of the pothole and vehicle damage, repair estimates, and proof of vehicle ownership.

Filing a Vehicle Damage Claim with the City of Chicago

Damage claims go to the Office of the City Clerk, not to 311. For vehicle damage caused by a pothole, the required packet includes a copy of your insurance card, a copy of your driver's license, a completed and signed Damage to Vehicle Claim Form, and either a copy of a paid receipt for the repairs performed to the vehicle or two written estimates for the cost of repairing the damage. A copy of each estimate is sufficient.

Two additional rules shape the packet. If the damage exceeds $500, the city also requires a letter of experience from your insurance company, a letter stating you are insured and confirming whether you've filed an insurance claim. A police report is not required for pothole damage, though NBC Chicago reports that if your car sustains significant damage, a police report can strengthen a claim no matter which agency you file with.

WBEZ, drawing on guidance from Alyssa Goodstein, chief external relations officer for the Office of the City Clerk, advises providing the city with as much information as possible: photos of the pothole location and the damage to the car, contact information for any witnesses, and insurance information. The more evidence, the stronger the case.

Timing matters as much as content. The City Clerk's office warns that once a claim is submitted and introduced to City Council, no other materials can be added to it, so the packet must be complete before filing. The process is not necessarily speedy: WBEZ reported that in 2021, the city approved 376 claims that had been filed in 2019. And if a claim is denied, the Committee on Finance told ABC7 Chicago there is no appeals process; the next step would be going to court and suing the city. The committee says it reaches out to claimants when insufficient proof is provided and gives people extra time to comply.

Step	Reporting a Pothole	Filing a Vehicle Damage Claim
1. Identify the problem	Confirm it is a pothole (irregularly shaped, shallow, base of street visible). If it looks like a square utility cut or a sinkhole near a manhole or catch basin, call 311 directly instead.	Confirm the street is city-maintained; expressways fall under IDOT, which uses a separate claim form.
2. Gather information	Note the exact location of the pothole, including the address.	Take photos of the pothole location and the vehicle damage; collect witness contact information and insurance information.
3. Choose your channel	Submit via 311.chicago.gov, the CHI311 mobile app, or by calling 311.	Prepare the City Clerk's Damage to Vehicle Claim Form, completed and signed.
4. Assemble required documents	Not applicable; the location is the key information.	Copy of insurance card; copy of driver's license; paid receipt for repairs or two written repair estimates; letter of experience from your insurer if the claim exceeds $500; a police report is not required for pothole damage.
5. Submit and track	Expect repair within roughly 3–6 days, weather and street type permitting; check the Pothole Tracker map for completed work.	File the complete packet with the City Clerk's office; no materials can be added once the claim is introduced to City Council.

How Chicago Residents Can Report Potholes, Track Repairs, and File a Vehicle Damage Claim

How to Report Potholes and Road Damage in Chicago

Understanding CDOT's Pothole Repair Process and Timeline

Filing a Vehicle Damage Claim with the City of Chicago

Pothole Reporting and Damage Claim Checklist

Your Next Steps for Pothole Action

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