Pothole claims up 90% in three years, says RAC

According to an analysis by the RAC motoring group, pothole compensation claims made to councils in the United Kingdom increased by 90% between 2021 and 2024. Only a quarter of all claims made by motorists in 2024 resulted in payouts, according to the report. However, the RAC reported that the number of claims decreased in 2024 in 2021 compared to the year before. The Local Government Association (LGA) said ever-increasing pressure on budgets was affecting councils' ability to repair roads, according to the Department of Transport, while the government was spending £7. Over the next four years, the 3bn will invest in improving road surfaces.

Potholes have become a common problem for several drivers. Repair bills can be costly, and they can also result in injuries to passengers, bicycles, or pedestrians. According to the RAC, 53,015 compensation claims were made to 177 local authorities in 2024. That was up from 27,731 in 2021, but it was down from the 56,655 seen in 2023. Just 26% of allegations resulted in a payout in 2024, with an average amount of £390 given to claimants. According to the RAC, a typical repair bill for a family car with damage from a pothole is £590. Potholes can damage shock absorbers and suspension springs, as well as distort wheels.

It appears that councils have a variety of different criteria for what they define as a pothole,

RAC chief of policy Simon Williams told the BBC:

Understands have said that council assemblies have varying standards for

They must be four centimeters deep and so many centimetres wide. "If you're lucky enough to have one, it'll be a real jolt to the car and serious harm. It's not just damage to cars; it's also a significant road safety issue, especially on two wheels.

The RAC consulted with 207 councils about pothole compensation claims. Derbyshire County Council saw the largest increase in calls over the three-year period, from 224 to 3,307. However, Derbyshire councillor Charlotte Hill, the council's cabinet member for potholes, highways, and transportation, said the numbers had decreased by 72% since May 2025.

Going forward, Derbyshire highways can become more proactive rather than reactive,

she said, and residents can begin to make repairs before they become a problem for residents. The next two largest increases between 2021 and 2024 were seen in Glasgow City Council and Oxfordshire County Council. Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council's transportation manager, said in a tweet,

should be on maintenance work to avoid potholes from forming in the first place, which is much more cost-effective than replacing them afterwards.

We've invested almost £14 for almost £14.

We're glad we did. We have the best surface dressing programs we have seen in at least 20 years since 2024.

The surface dressing is a preservation measure aimed at preventing pothole formation. The BBC has contacted Glasgow City Council for comment. The government was investing £7, according to a Department for Transport spokesperson, who confirmed it. Over the next four years, 3bn will help councils resurface roads.

This will turn the tide on years of underinvestment in our road network,

they said, encouraging local authorities to shift away from costly, short-term fixes and investment in proactive care and prevent potholes from forming in the first place. According to a spokesperson for the Local Government Association,

ever-increasing pressure on budgets has harmed their ability to do so as well as they'd like

regarding road repairs.

New funding for roads will help turn the tide on local roads' gradual decline,

says the author, but it will take time for the change from simply filling potholes reactively – which pothole compensation laws mandate – to a more proactive, sustainable approach. ".