Vehicle damage caused by potholes continues to rise sharply across the UK.

New data from the RAC highlights the ongoing issues, despite government pledges to address the problems from both the current and previous administrations.

The country’s deteriorating road infrastructure is taking a growing financial toll on motorists and businesses alike, having a negative impact on the overall economy.

Crash bang wallop

Between July and September 2025, RAC patrols attended 5,035 pothole-related breakdowns, up 25% on the same period in 2024.

These call-outs typically involved broken suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers.

Over the past 12 months, RAC patrols dealt with 25,758 pothole-related incidents, an 11% rise on the previous year’s 23,147.

That’s the equivalent of 71 pothole-related breakdowns every day, up from 68 per day in 2024.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the figures highlight the “gargantuan task” facing councils after “years of neglect.”

“Confirmation that more drivers fell foul of potholes this summer compared to last is troubling,” he said. “Every pothole breakdown means hassle, frustration and ultimately cost for drivers — up to £590 for anything worse than a puncture. For those on two wheels, they’re an out-and-out danger.”

Top motoring concern

The RAC’s Report on Motoring shows that the state of local, council-run roads remains the number one issue for UK motorists, with 47% citing it as their top motoring concern for 2025.

That figure has fallen slightly from 56% last year, hinting at small signs of progress.

While 59% of drivers said local roads are in a worse state than a year ago, that’s a marked improvement on the 73% who said the same in 2024.

Encouragingly, 12% of motorists believe roads have improved, double the previous year’s figure.

Yet nearly three in ten drivers (29%) still reported suffering pothole-related vehicle damage within a 12-month period.

The RAC believes the findings reflect modest improvements, but Williams cautioned that Britain’s road network “remains a long way from where it needs to be.”

‘National embarrassment’ 

Other commentators have been equally critical.

The Public Accounts Committee earlier this year branded England’s local road network a “national embarrassment,” warning of a £15 billion repair backlog and “widespread surface degradation” that was “harming motorists and the wider economy.”

Meanwhile, the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) estimates the total cost of pothole-related vehicle repairs at £1.48 billion in 2024, with the average repair bill standing at £120, and more than 660,000 motorists paying over £300 to fix damage.

The AA has also warned that extreme weather events, particularly heatwaves and flooding, are worsening the problem.

Hot summers weaken asphalt, while excess rainfall penetrates road surfaces and freezes in winter, creating new potholes.

“Recent heatwaves have baked road surfaces before heavy rainfall sets in, accelerating cracking and surface collapse,” an AA spokesperson said. “It’s a vicious cycle that leaves drivers footing the bill.”

According to analysis published by The Guardian, the UK’s transition to heavier vehicles, including large SUVs and electric cars, is also exacerbating the problem.

Damage to road surfaces increases exponentially with vehicle weight, meaning that a two-tonne car can cause up to 50 times more wear than a small hatchback.

Long-term strategy needed

The RAC and industry bodies such as the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) and Road Emulsion Association (REA) continue to push for a “preventative maintenance first” strategy.

They argue that cost-effective surface treatments, such as surface dressing and micro-asphalting, can keep roads in good condition longer and reduce the need for expensive full resurfacing.

Mike Hansford, chief executive of the RSTA, said highway authorities that take this proactive approach “report some of the best-maintained roads in the country and the lowest pothole counts.”

“It’s vital that councils use preventative treatments on roads that are still in good condition and carry out permanent, not temporary, repairs when damage appears,” Hansford added. “Where replacement is unavoidable, recycling existing materials into the new road can save both money and carbon.”

The Government has now introduced multi-year funding settlements for local authorities, giving councils greater certainty to plan road works.

It also requires authorities to publish annual reports showing the amount of preventative maintenance they have carried out.

Williams said this new approach “offers hope that the rot has finally been stopped.”

“If councils use these funds wisely, we could finally see the tide turning on Britain’s pothole epidemic,” he said. “Preventing potholes in the first place is cheaper, safer, and fairer for every road user.”

Stop the rot

With autumn upon us and winter just around the corner, the situation is poised to worsen.

Damaged and potholed road surfaces degrade more rapidly during these seasons, as rain erodes the materials beneath the tarmac, while ice causes further surface cracks, and so the cycle continues.

Experts in the field continue to demand an effective maintenance programme, with significant investment, if we are to halt and begin to reverse the deteriorating state of the British road network, and the knock-on effects of this on the economy, road safety, and our general quality of life.