When Can You Drive on Cold Patch?

By the Permanent Pothole Solutions team · Updated 26 October 2026

That’s the big advantage over products that need to dry or cure before they’re driven on: roads, driveways and car parks don’t need to be closed for long.

Getting the best result

Compact firmly — a hand tamper, plate compactor or roller
Over-fill slightly so the patch finishes level after compaction
Lay repairs deeper than 50mm in compacted layers

Crack filler is the exception: Rubberised Crack Filler is touch-dry in about 30 minutes and fully dry in 24–48 hours.

The one step not to skip

Compaction is what makes a repair permanent. Curing is activated by impact, and a dense, tightly compacted patch keeps water out — the thing that caused the pothole in the first place. Over-fill slightly, compact firmly, crown the patch, then compact again.

Choosing the right gauge

Mix	Compacted lift	Best for
5 Gauge	12.5–20mm	Shallow repairs and fine finishes (made to order)
7 Gauge	17.5–28mm	Driveways, footpaths, shallow potholes
10 Gauge	25–40mm	All-purpose pothole and road repairs
14 Gauge	35–56mm	Deeper potholes and heavy-duty repairs

Coverage at a glance

15kg bag/bucket ≈ 0.13 m² at 50mm
20kg bag/bucket ≈ 0.17 m² at 50mm
1 tonne bulk bag ≈ 8.7 m² at 50mm

Need an exact number? Use the Asphalt Calculator.

Why Asphalt in a Bag

Permanent. Expands and contracts with the road surface, so the patch moves with the pavement instead of breaking away.
Cures on impact. Curing is activated by compaction — tamp it or roll it and it sets.
Bonds to anything. Adheres to asphalt, concrete, steel and even wood.
Any weather. Apply from -26°C to 49°C, in rain, or straight into a pothole full of water.
No tack coat. No pre-coating or priming. Open, pour, compact.
Traffic-ready. Application is up to five times faster, and it can take traffic immediately.