Britain’s motorists continue to suffer at the hands of potholes, despite claims from Government and local authorities that they are tackling the tarmac trouble.
And as the UK’s crater-hit highways continue to fall apart, millions of cars and vans are damaged every year – victims of holes, cracks and broken surfaces, with tyres, wheels and suspension broken or destroyed completely as a result.
It’s estimated that drivers now have to watch out for an average six potholes per mile on the UK’s roads, as specialists reveal that the number of repairs being carried out has actually dropped.
Latest expert figures from the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey shows that last year 1.8 million potholes were filled in by local authorities – that’s down from 2 million the previous year. Local councils fill in, on average, nearly 15,000 potholes each year.
But a recent poll by leasing company Select Car Leasing found that 80% of motorists believed their council wasn’t doing enough to repair their highways on time. And a further 70% said that when repairs were carried out, they were falling apart again, just days later.
The ALARM survey revealed that compensation claims paid to drivers has gone down by 2.6% to 410 cases per authority – with 92% of these relating specifically to potholes. There has though, says the report, been a big rise in the total amount paid out for compensation claims, which has increased by 30% to £19.7 million.
Most local authorities consider a road crack to be a pothole if it is more than 40mm deep. And as they struggle to keep up with demand to improve road surfaces, the cost of a pothole treatment steadily rises – latest figures put a pothole repair at £57 each.
The AA motoring group said that call outs for pothole related incidents rose 18% to 68,700 in January 2026 alone, while the RAC revealed that their most recent findings from last year, showed an 11% spike in pothole emergency call outs.
“Potholes have a significant financial impact on motorists, who most of the time must bear the cost of repairs to paintwork, suspension and tyres – even though they have already paid for local road maintenance through their council tax,” said James Luckhurst, road safety adviser to the GEM motoring group. “There is no consistent national policy among councils as to whether or not they will compensate drivers for damage caused by potholes. Those drivers who can’t afford to pay for their repairs risk making journeys in vehicles that are potentially unsafe.
Potholes – where do they come from?
- A pothole starts when the road surface wears away and a hollow starts to appear. A small crack can develop quickly, especially if the road is well-used, and can be a serious hazard to drivers, motorbike riders and cyclists.
- Water seeps into the cracks in the surface which over time get worse. Water pressure and constant vehicle movements can cause a pothole to increase in size. During winter, an added danger is surface water freezing and expanding repeatedly in the road surface helping to enlarge the gaps.
- As traffic moves over the weakened area it causes road material to become loose and eventually a pothole is created.
How to claim for pothole damage
- If you believe you have a valid claim, make sure you are able to give the exact location of the offending pothole.
- Be prepared to gather evidence for a good case, as claiming isn’t easy.
- Note when you went through the obstruction, what direction you were travelling in and approximately how wide and deep you think the hole was.
- If it’s safe to do so, stop and examine the pothole. Take photographs if you can, but don’t put yourself or anyone else at risk in the process.
- Obtain quotes for any repairs that may be required. Keep copies of these, along with receipts and invoices, if they form part of your claim.
- Write to the correct authority. Your local council or body can be found on the gov.uk website and for main roads, ensure you are addressing your grievance to Highways England, Traffic Wales or Transport Scotland, for example.
- Include all the details and state that you are requesting a settlement of your claim.
- Expect an initial rejection, especially if the hole has already been reported and is therefore on a ‘watch list’. Local authorities will often say that it has a system of regular inspection and repair, but you can check what the council’s system is and take steps to make sure they are carrying out the procedures they claim.
- If you feel your case is strong enough (and perhaps the damage is serious enough), it might be worth getting legal advice or taking your case to the small claims court. But this could end up being a lengthy and costly process.
Pothole ahead – staying safe on the road
- Always be aware of dangerous potholes on your regular journeys. If necessary, find an alternative route.
- Keep your distance from the car in front. Motorists will often brake or swerve suddenly if they have spotted a pothole too late, so ensure you are far enough away to slow down safely.
- Stick to the speed limit, and slow down on smaller roads and residential streets where potholes may be prevalent. Hitting a pothole at speed will cause much more damage to your vehicle.
- Never swerve to avoid a pothole; always slow down or stop completely if necessary, checking that there are no cars close behind you. Drive over the pothole slowly or manoeuvre around it if it’s safe to do so.
Reporting potholes
- Help your local authority by reporting any dangerous potholes that are causing problems in the area.
- Your local council website will guide you to the right procedure for reporting a pothole.
- The website FixMyStreet.com also allows you to pinpoint potholes in your local area, using a postcode, and reporting them that way to the correct authority.
- Main roads are the responsibility of national agencies such as National Highways. Go to www.gov.uk/report-pothole or call them on 0300 123 5000. This number is available 24 hours a day.
Read more:
- Does a seller have to declare damage on a car?
- What sort of tyre sidewall damage is dangerous?
- What is scratch and dent insurance, and do you need it?
This article was published in April 2023 and was updated in March 2026.
