In a recent study, it has been disclosed which regions have had the highest payouts for damages caused by potholes. According to data acquired by Confused.com via Freedom of Information requests, UK councils received 144,230 claims for compensation due to pothole damage between 2022 and 2025.
During this timeframe, local authorities disbursed over £11 million in total, with £1.1 million paid out in 2025 alone. The UK encountered more than 3.4 million potholes in the past four years, with 600,000 potholes reported in 2025 alone, accounting for 18% of the total.
Despite the high number of potholes, the percentage of successful compensation claims has significantly decreased. The data indicates that in 2025, only 19% of claims were approved by councils, a decline from 29% in the previous year.
Among the regions, Devon had the highest number of reported potholes between 2022 and 2025, totaling 210,754. However, only 15% of damage claims were accepted for compensation. West Yorkshire reported 191,001 potholes, with a success rate of 11% in compensation claims. Northumberland recorded 151,485 potholes and approved 51% of claims, while Greater London had 145,618 potholes reported, with a 36% success rate for compensation claims.
Dumfries and Galloway reported 134,054 potholes, with 44% of claims being approved for compensation. Greater London led in total compensation payouts, with £1,294,566 disbursed to drivers over the four-year period, followed by East Sussex with £642,338 awarded to motorists.
In 2025, UK councils repaired a total of 990,840 potholes, with Greater London, West Yorkshire, and Devon being the top regions for pothole repairs. West Yorkshire fixed 285,545 potholes, Greater London repaired 245,415, and Devon completed 221,818 repairs.
According to a recent survey of 2,000 drivers, over half (53%) believe that road conditions have worsened compared to previous years, and 22% admit to driving over potholes daily. Approximately 41% encounter potholes several times a week. However, recovering costs from pothole damage is perceived as challenging by drivers.
Nearly one in five (18%) find the council claims process complex, and 36% believe the process should be more transparent. Successful claimants received an average of £242, slightly higher than the average repair cost.
Confused.com has introduced a pothole reporting tool that provides information from local councils on reports, repairs, and compensation claims, guiding users to report issues or file claims promptly.
Matt Crole-Rees, a motoring expert at Confused.com, advises individuals to collect evidence if their vehicle is damaged by a pothole and explore the possibility of making a claim through the relevant council. If unsuccessful, drivers may need to consider insurance options, taking into account potential impacts on premiums and excess costs.
The pothole reporting tool facilitates swift reporting of road damage to local councils, aiding in prompt repairs and safeguarding other road users from potential harm.