How Potholes Are Draining Your Wallet

As the city works to improve street conditions, the ongoing pothole problem is causing significant strain on vehicles and wallets. News 5 spoke to two local mechanics to get their take on the toll potholes are having on vehicles, especially after the last few weeks of heavy rainfall.

Travis Flowers, a mechanic based in Lord’s Bank, told us that potholes can cause significant damage to a vehicle’s suspension, tires, and rims. He said, “It can get expensive. It’s kind of expensive if you have to get the parts here. And you have to pay the labour to put it on. So in the case of rim damage, most of the time, you can’t get the rim here either. So you have to try to go and fix it at a welding shop or something so you can get it running until you get another good one.”

He said fixing rim damage can cost $200-$300, while suspension repairs may run $400-$500, not including parts. The cost also depends on the vehicle’s model, year and the need to import parts. 

Similarly, another local mechanic, Lewis Hamilton of On The Spot Mechanic, also said that potholes can severely impact a vehicle’s entire suspension system. “I would say the suspension part like the damage would be on the bushings, the struts, the shocks, even tires; I mean, the rims could get bent easily,” he said. 

Hamilton said that tires are another major expense, with replacements costing between $300 and $400. For drivers in particularly pothole-riddled areas, Hamilton estimated drivers might need to spend between $500 and $1,000 two to three times a year just to maintain their vehicles in good shape. 

Both mechanics also noted that potholes cause fuel inefficiency, though this is less costly than mechanical repairs. 

While the Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing is handling the city entrances, the Belize City Council did its damage assessment of the city streets. The Council identified 147 streets in urgent need of repair, with a cost of about $1.6 million. City Administrator Albert Vaughan assured that funds would be secured through a disaster program, and temporary patches are already being applied. However, priority will be given to key routes, including those for public transportation and school buses.