The pothole crisis in the UK has reached record levels, with councils across Britain paying out nearly £20 million in compensation in 2024, a 30% increase over the previous year, according to a Daily Mail analysis. The cost of repairing all potholes in England and Wales has soared to nearly £18.6 billion and will take 12 years, the Asphalt Industry Alliance reported. Roads in England and Wales are only resurfaced, on average, once every 97 years, highlighting the scale of the problem.
Despite the rising payouts, the percentage of successful compensation claims has fallen sharply. Confused.com reported that in 2025, only 19% of claims were approved, down from 29% the previous year. Motorists in Manchester are eight times more likely to win pothole compensation than those in Kent and Surrey, according to a Daily Mail analysis. In Manchester, 80% of claims were settled, with payouts averaging £14,000, while in Kent and Surrey just 10% won compensation, with cheques averaging £690.
Regional disparities are stark. Devon had the most potholes reported between 2022 and 2025 with 210,754, but only 15% of claims were approved, according to Confused.com. West Yorkshire saw 191,001 potholes reported, with 11% of claims successful. Northumberland had 151,485 potholes reported and approved 51% of claims. Greater London saw 145,618 potholes reported, with a success rate of 36%. Dumfries and Galloway had 134,054 potholes reported and 44% of claims approved.
Total compensation payouts also vary widely by region. Greater London had the highest total claims payouts, with £1,294,566 paid out over four years, according to Confused.com. East Sussex paid out £642,338, Glasgow £606,492, Highland Council £544,092, and Oxfordshire £507,233. Successful claimants received £242 on average, though regional averages can be much higher or lower.
Driver experiences reflect the worsening conditions. Over half (53%) of drivers feel road conditions are worse now than in previous years, according to a Confused.com survey. More than one in five (22%) drivers say they drive over potholes every day. Nearly one in five (18%) drivers describe the council claims process as complicated, and more than a third (36%) believe the claims process should be clearer.
Under the Highways Act 1980, the local Highway Authority has a duty to maintain highways maintainable at public expense. However, authorities can escape liability under Section 58 of the Act if they can prove they took reasonable care to ensure the highway was safe, according to legal experts. This legal framework often makes it difficult for motorists to succeed in claims, especially if the pothole had not been previously reported.
Local authorities spent £17.6 million on staff costs to deal with pothole claims last year, according to a Daily Mail analysis. Over 3.4 million potholes were reported across the UK in the last four years, and 144,230 compensation claims were made to UK councils for pothole damage between 2022 and 2025, according to Confused.com. The administrative burden is significant, with councils employing staff to process claims and defend against them.
Motorists who have lodged claims following pothole-related vehicle damage have secured compensation payments of up to £2,500, according to Money Saving Expert (MSE). One driver, Colin, told the Daily Express that after looking at the guide on MSE, his car was repaired and the council fully reimbursed him for repair costs over £2,500. Another anonymous MSE reader told the Daily Express that they had two mangled alloys and one tyre, £735 worth of damage, and the claim was settled for the full amount after initially being thrown out.
Unanswered questions remain. The exact total compensation paid out by councils in 2024 is disputed: the Daily Mail reports nearly £20 million, but data from the Daily Mirror suggests a much lower figure of roughly £3-4 million per year. The reason for the sharp fall in claim success rates from 29% to 19% is unclear. The specific criteria councils use to determine 'reasonable' maintenance under Section 58 are not publicly defined. It is also unknown how much of the £17.6 million in staff costs is justified by the number of claims processed, and what the total amount paid out by insurance companies for pothole damage is, beyond council compensation.