The number of motorists who claimed money back for pothole damage from their local council fell to the lowest level on record last year, data shows. 

Councils only paid compensation to 19 per cent of those who said their vehicle had been damaged by a pothole, compared to 29 per cent in 2024.

In some areas the number was even lower according to the data from comparison website, Confused.com.

Devon was the area with the most potholes reported between 2022 and 2025 with 210,754, the data shows. However, only 15 per cent of claimants had their damage claim approved.

West Yorkshire motorists reported 191,001 pothole incidents between 2022 and 2025, the second-highest number, but councils approved a mere 11 per cent of damage claims. 

Northumberland, Greater London and Dumfries and Galloway were branded the third, fourth and fifth worst locations for pothole numbers.

The five areas which saw councils dish out the most in compensation to motorists for pothole damage between 2022 and 2025 were Greater London, at £1.29 million, East Sussex, at £642,338, Glasgow, at £606,492, Highland Council, at £544,092, and Oxfordshire at £507,233. 

Within the last four years, 3.4million potholes were reported by motorists across Britain, with about 600,000 in 2025 alone. During the period, councils paid out on  114,230 claims with the compensation totalling around £11million.

The average payout was £242 last year, which was £67 higher than the average bill to get the damage repaired at a garage.

In a poll of 2,000 drivers in January 2026 by Confused.com, 28 per cent of respondents said they had suffered a flat tyre or puncture after hitting a pothole. One in five claimed to have suffered tracking or wheel alignment issues.

Of the drivers, 86 per cent said they paid for repairs caused by pothole damage themselves, forking out £175 on average, though this can be substantially more in some cases. 

Nearly half of motorists said they 'regularly' had to swerve to avoid potholes while driving, while 43 per cent said they feared doing so could cause a crash.  

Matt Crole-Rees, a motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, said: 'Potholes continue to be a major concern for drivers across the UK, particularly after periods of harsh weather that can accelerate damage to road surfaces. 

'Many motorists are still experiencing disruption caused by deteriorating road conditions, which can lead to vehicle damage and unexpected repair costs.'

He added: 'While local authorities are responsible for maintaining roads, funding and resource pressures mean repairs can sometimes take time.'

Which cars are more at risk from potholes?

According to an analysis by Intelligent Motoring, which runs vehicle ownership platform MotorEasy, prolonged rain this winter and 'deteriorating' road surfaces are causing a sharp rise in alloy wheel damage.

Its analysis of alloy wheel claims showed that the average value of claims had risen by 18 per cent in the past five years, with claims often peaking in March.  

Vehicles fitted with larger, more intricate alloy wheels, notably German models and electric vehicles, were 'disproportionately' affected by alloy wheel damage, the research claimed. 

Last year, BMW, Mercedes and Audi were the brands most frequently associated with alloy wheel claims. 

However, the single model which generated the highest number of alloy claims in 2025 was the Tesla Model S, according to Intelligent Motoring's research. 

Duncan McClure Fisher, chief executive of Intelligent Motoring, said, 'While we wait for the £7.3billion in road repair funding announced in last Autumn’s Budget to filter through, motorists are continuing to shoulder the cost of deteriorating road conditions. 

'Persistent wet weather seeps into already weakened surfaces, and temporary pothole repairs often don’t withstand repeated rainfall and traffic.'

He added: 'Many EVs and premium vehicles are fitted with larger wheels and lower-profile tyres, which provide less cushioning against potholes. That combination of heavier vehicles, bigger wheels and poorer road surfaces is driving up both the frequency and cost of damage. 

'This is not good news for people approaching the end of a lease contract, where financial penalties can apply for damage.

'Drivers can reduce their risk by moderating speed on damaged roads, maintaining correct tyre pressures and remaining alert to surface hazards, particularly after heavy rain. As repair costs continue to climb, understanding the risks and taking preventative steps has never been more important.'

The RAC said the number of damage reports it received this February was three-and-a-half times more than in the same month last year.

It said the increase was due to the 'incredible amount of standing water' on roads 'hiding potholes'. 

What's being done about potholes?

According to Confused's findings, councils repaired 990,840 potholes last year, with Greater London, West Yorkshire and Devon ranking among the top locations for repairs.  

In the November 2025 Autumn Budget, Rachel Reeves committed £7.3billion to fix roads over the next four years.

The Chancellor said in her 2025 Autumn Budget: 'By 2029-30, the Government will commit over £2billion annually for local authorities to repair, renew and fix potholes on their roads – doubling funding since coming into office. 

'This record level of funding will enable the government to exceed its manifesto commitment to fix an additional 1million potholes per year by the end of the Parliament.' 

Data from the Road Emulsion Association published in November 2025 indicated that 44.4 square metres of 'surface dressing' - treating around 4,000 miles of road - was laid between April and September of 2025.

This was up from 38.5 square metres in the same period in 2024, marking a 15 per cent increase.

Rather than laying asphalt over the top of the rutted road, surface dressing is a treatment that is applied to preserve and seal the surface. It makes the road surface waterproof and protects against frost and water damage. 

How to claim for pothole damage

This is Money's motoring editor, Rob Hull, has devised a five-step plan to file a claim for pothole damage to your vehicle. 

1. Collate your evidence

If you are a motorist looking to make a claim for a repair bill for pothole-related damage, or a cyclist putting in a damage or personal injury claim after hitting one in the road, the first port of call is to make a note of where the pothole is located, the time and date of the incident, and take a photo of the pothole.

A pothole needs to be at least 2 inches deep to be deemed a pothole in the eyes of councils.

And it is not just the depth and size of the pothole that councils will try to use to refuse paying out compensation.

Local authorities may defend a claim if they successfully argue that the pothole was not an obvious hazard - or if they were unaware of it, despite having in place a reasonable system of inspection and repair.

To improve your chances of a successful claim, it will help to demonstrate whether the pothole was an obvious danger or not.

Where possible, take photos at the scene, just in case the council repairs the pothole before you can return to take them.

If you didn't do this at the time of the incident, you can return to the scene to take pictures.

You should also take a photos of the damage the pothole has caused to your vehicle (or person, if you have been injured).

If possible, take your car to a garage and ask for a mechanic's report in writing for the projected cost to fix the issue caused – or if your motor isn't drivable, phone a reputable repair centre and request a quote.

2. Figure out who is to blame 

To make a claim for compensation, first you need to know who should pay out.

If the pothole is on a motorway or main trunk road, the chances are it is a National Highways (formerly Highways England) problem.

For local roads, you will need to research which council is responsible.

Once you've identified the party you need to contact, request a copy of highway maintenance schedules and number of reported incidents on the particular road for the previous 14 days as evidence that the road hasn't been properly maintained or a reported pothole hasn't been addressed.

3. Make a claim 

You will need to issue a formal claim to the local authority or National Highways and most responsible parties will have a template you can request from them. Confused.com has also developed an online tool to help you work out where you need to submit your claim. 

4. What to do if you do - or don't - get a compensation offer 

After making the claim, you should be notified if compensation is being granted.

Though you can still reject the value of the offer if you believe it isn't sufficient, especially if you have evidence that the pothole had already been reported but the responsible party had not acted to rectify it.

If the council refuses compensation, you can seek legal advice or make a case through the courts.

However, a word of warning that this could be a time-consuming process and is likely to be worthwhile only if the repair bill is considerable.

5. Final option: Make a claim through your insurance 

If you have comprehensive cover, you can claim for pothole damage on your insurance policy.

However, it's worth considering the cost of the damage as well as your excess payments and if this action will affect your No Claims Bonus.