If you've hit one of those nasty potholes lately and damaged your car, you can make a claim with the city to have Toronto pay for the damage.

But keep in mind that it is not an easy process.

You need to provide details that include photos, exact location and exact time of the accident. You also have to explain why you think the city is responsible.

The city will accept the claim only if it is proven that Toronto was not following provincial standards on road inspection and pothole repair.

Jeff Madeley, the city's risk manager, says most of the time, the city is following the standards and most claims are denied.

"It's not an automatic process to claim against the city because what you're actually doing is bringing an allegation against the city that we failed to meet our obligations to maintain the roadways," he says.

Most recent annual numbers released last April show that in 2011, the city paid out $281,000 dollars in claims, but was still looking into another almost $900,000 in claims.

To find out more information on how to make a pothole claim, go to the city's website.