Do you remember when snow used to be fun? A couple of months ago the idea of a White Christmas was a bit thrilling. We couldn't wait to don our gloves and start building snowmen. Now, however, we're sick to death of it, and all the hassle and upset it brings.

More freezing weather and snow has gripped the nation. There are due to be inches of the white stuff all over the place in the next few days, and another salt shortage means more slipping over, more sliding in the car, and more risk of an accident.

But even if you take the wise approach and leave your car at home until the risks melt away, there's a good chance the snow could still cost you a fortune at the garage.

So what's the risk, and what can you do about it?

Apparently the problem is potholes. They have been the bane of every driver's life for the last few weeks, and this latest bout of bad weather is only going to make them worse. The problem is that water seeps into the road, and then freezes and expands. This cracks the tarmac, and when the thaw comes, the road is washed away.

Not only do they make for an uncomfortable ride, they can seriously damage your car, The number of insurance claims for pothole-related damage to cars has bumped sharply upwards, according to figures released by broker AA Insurance. "We're seeing a four-fold increase in the number of claims for pothole damage compared with the same period last year," says Simon Douglas, director of AA Insurance.

So how on earth can a pothole cause damage? Simon explains: ""It would take a quarry-like pothole to cause the sort of damage that would justify an insurance claim, but there are certainly some 'A-list' holes out there. But more commonly, our customers have either tried to avoid a pothole and hit something else, such as a kerb, or hitting a hole has caused them to momentarily lose control and hit another vehicle or object."

So how can you protect yourself? The sensible thing to do is slow down. Work on the assumption that every road is riddled with potholes and you will need to drive carefully to avoid them, and avoid the kind of last-minute swerving that causes accidents.

You can also report potholes, and discover where the risks lie at the AA Zone.

If you do end up in a particularly large hole, check for damage. Pothole damage to cars is usually confined to tyres and wheels, steering and suspension. Simon says:"If you hit a pothole and afterwards you notice vibration, the steering wheel doesn't 'centre' properly or it pulls to one side, get the car checked immediately, as faults such as tracking or steering damage can lead to later expense or even an accident."

"Keep an eye on your tyres, too," Douglas advises. "Damage may not be immediately obvious but watch for development of tell-tale bulges on the tyre walls, indicating serious internal damage. If you see such a defect, change the tyre immediately as a bulge is likely to result in a blow-out which could be catastrophic if you're travelling at speed."

The snow is going to make life a bit tricky for the next few days, and the roads uncomfortable for weeks afterwards. The aim is simply to avoid this translating into a massive garage bill or the loss of your no-claims bonus, which would really be the icing on the cake.