Potholes are costing UK drivers more than ever.

New analysis by the RAC reveals a sharp rise in compensation claims, highlighting the growing strain on both motorists and local authorities.

Meanwhile, the government says it is investing in new road surfacing through additional funding to local authorities.

Breaking through

Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests to 207 councils across England, Scotland and Wales shows that pothole compensation claims submitted to 177 local authorities jumped by 91% in just three years.

Claims surged from 27,731 in 2021 to 53,015 in 2024, covering almost a quarter of a million miles of local roads.

The scale of the increase underlines what many drivers already feel on the ground – that road conditions have deteriorated significantly following years of underinvestment, heavier traffic and extreme weather.

Rises in the sales of electric vehicles, which are heavier due to battery weight; the popularity of larger, heavier SUVs; increasing courier delivery van traffic and larger HGVs; and reduced road maintenance over the years of austerity are all contributing to the ongoing problems.

 Downs and ups

Derbyshire County Council recorded the steepest rise, with claims rocketing from 224 in 2021 to 3,307 in 2024.

Glasgow City Council followed, where claims more than doubled to 2,794, while Oxfordshire County Council saw numbers jump from 488 to 1,941 over the same period.

While the three-year trend is alarming, there is a small note of reassurance.

Claims have fallen slightly year-on-year, down six per cent from 56,655 in 2023 to 53,015 in 2024, suggesting the situation may be stabilising in some areas.

However, for drivers seeking compensation, the odds remain stacked against them.

Of the claims submitted in 2024, councils settled just over a quarter.

In total, 173 local authorities paid out 13,832 claims, only 26% of those received.

Big bucks

The RAC estimates this amounted to £3.56m in compensation last year, at an average of £390 per claim.

That figure falls well short of the actual cost many drivers face.

According to the RAC, repairing anything more serious than a puncture after hitting a pothole can cost around £590 for a typical family car.

Earlier this year, almost four in ten drivers said they would struggle to pay an unexpected repair bill of £500, highlighting the financial vulnerability pothole damage can expose.

The payout picture also varies widely by location.

Merton Borough Council paid the highest average amount per claim in 2024, at £2,267, although this covered only five cases.

Derbyshire is estimated to have paid out the largest total sum, spending around £605,000 in compensation to drivers.

In Scotland, Glasgow paid an estimated £154,724, while in Wales, Wrexham paid out nearly £77,000 despite handling just 38 claims.

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At the other end of the scale, the majority of councils rejected almost all claims.

The data shows that 172 of the 177 councils – 97% – refused more than nine in ten claims in 2024.

Several authorities, including Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Medway and Carmarthenshire, turned down 99% of requests.

Bridgend was the only council to pay out on every claim it received, albeit a relatively small number of 52.

The geographic spread of claims also reveals stark disparities.

Glasgow City Council received more than twice as many claims as the total mileage of its road network.

At the same time, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Edinburgh and Bury Metropolitan Borough each recorded roughly one claim per mile of road.

Surrey, which topped the list last year, saw one claim for every two miles of its network.

Light at the end….

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the findings show the scale of the challenge facing councils.

“The massive three-year rise in pothole compensation claims made by drivers shows what a huge task it is returning the roads to a respectable standard,” he said. “Drivers are still suffering the consequences of years of neglect to Britain’s local road network, and even if you submit a claim, the odds aren’t good.”

Williams added that there are reasons for cautious optimism.

A record £1.6bn has been allocated this year for road maintenance in England, alongside new requirements for councils to demonstrate preventative work.

With multi-year funding settlements now in place, the RAC hopes sustained investment will finally slow the formation of potholes and reduce the cost and misery for drivers in the years ahead.