Pothole Destroy Your Tire Around Michigan? You Could Get $800

Michigan's roads are notoriously bad. It's not just me saying that. The state ranks 40th out of 50 states in overall road conditions. One of Governor Whitmer's leading campaign promises to "fix the damn roads" helped get her elected. I mean, come on, we have an ice cream flavor called Michigan Pot Hole.

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While I have thankfully never had a pothole damage my car, I've seen how tires can explode, and rims can get bent out of shape from hitting a pothole. If that has ever happened to your car, then you could get $800 as part of a new campaign to raise awareness for Michigan's poor road conditions.

FixMiState's Pothole Payback Contest

A coalition of Michigan businesses, government, and policy organizations has launched the Fix Mi State campaign to identify and fix Michigan's infrastructure issues.

READ MORE: Michigan 'I Voted' Sticker Contest Returns for 2026

Part of that campaign is a new contest called the Pothole Payback Contest, which gives drivers who have had their cars damaged by a pothole the opportunity to express their grievances about road conditions and get paid $800 for their efforts. 

From April to June, up to five people each month who describe their pothole incident, submit proof of vehicle damage, and a receipt of vehicle repair costs or an estimate HERE. If you don't get chosen one month, you can resubmit your story the following month.

Fix Mi State chose $800 based on a 2024 TRIP report that showed that was the average repair cost for cars damaged by potholes. It's a pretty unique contest and can really help people in a bind while providing fantastic first-hand stories for Fix Mi State.