Pothole damage claims rise as drivers report millions of road craters

Britain's worsening pothole plague laid bare in new data

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More than 3.4 million potholes have been reported across the UK in the past four years, with councils paying out more than £11 million in compensation to drivers whose vehicles were damaged by the road defects.

Data obtained through Freedom of Information requests shows 144,230 compensation claims were submitted to UK councils between 2022 and 2025 after motorists hit potholes.

But the likelihood of drivers receiving compensation is falling. In 2025, councils paid out on just 19% of claims, the lowest success rate in the four-year period and down from 29% in 2024.

Research by insurance comparison site Confused.com also found that more than 600,000 potholes were reported in 2025 alone, highlighting the scale of the issue facing local authorities.