Pothole Claims Have Risen By 90% Since 2021, Says RAC
Drivers across Britain are filing far more compensation claims over pothole damage than they were just a few years ago, according to new analysis by the RAC. Claims sent to councils have risen by around 90% since 2021, highlighting the ongoing struggle to keep local roads in decent shape.
The RAC found that 53,015 pothole compensation claims were made to 177 local authorities in 2024, which is up sharply from 27,731 three years earlier. While that figure is slightly down on the 56,655 claims recorded in 2023, it still shows how widespread the problem has become.
Despite the surge in claims, most drivers are walking away empty-handed. Only 26% of claims made last year resulted in a payout, with councils paying out an average of £390 per successful claim. That falls well short of the typical £590 repair bill for family cars when the damage caused by a pothole is more serious than a puncture.
Derbyshire County Council saw the biggest jump in claims over the three-year period, with the number of claims rising from 224 in 2021 to 3,307 in 2024. Glasgow City Council and Oxfordshire County Council followed with large increases of their own. However, Derbyshire says the situation has improved more recently, with claims dropping sharply since last year.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “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. But it’s far from an even picture across the country, with just a handful of councils receiving the lion’s share of claims from beleaguered motorists.”
He added that even when drivers do apply for compensation, success is far from guaranteed. “Drivers are still suffering the consequences of years of neglect to Britain’s local road network. But even if you submit a compensation claim the odds aren’t good, with around 40,000 requests for reimbursement turned down in 2024 alone.”
Williams also told the BBC: “It does seem that councils have a variety of different criteria for what they class as a pothole. Often they have to be four centimetres deep and so many centimetres wide. If you hit one, it can cause a real jolt to the car and serious damage... not just damage to vehicles, it's also a serious road safety danger, particularly on two wheels.”
Councils say tight finances are a major barrier. The Local Government Association pointed to “ever-increasing pressure on budgets” limiting how much preventative work can be done. The Department for Transport said the government is investing £7.3bn over the next four years to improve road surfaces and reduce the need for short-term fixes.
Some councils argue the focus should shift toward prevention. Oxfordshire County Council said the emphasis “should be on maintenance work to prevent potholes forming in the first place, which is much more cost-effective than repairing them afterwards”, adding that it has invested heavily in surface dressing to protect roads before damage appears.
The RAC says new funding and longer-term settlements could finally help turn things around, but warns drivers may continue to feel the impact until those changes take effect.
