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Report a pothole or claim compensation

Report a pothole

Find out how to report a pothole or start a pothole claim with the right council.

The UK pothole problem

Between 2022 and 2025, UK councils received over 3.4 million pothole reports.

Over the same period:

  • 5,285,158 potholes were repaired
  • 144,230 compensation claims were submitted
  • Just 27% of claims were accepted
  • Councils paid out nearly £11.1 million in compensation

Reports jumped from 716,582 in 2022 to over 1 million in both 2023 and 2024, suggesting the pothole problem worsened before easing slightly in 2025.

Potholes can cause problems such as damaging tyres, cracking alloys and knocking wheels out of line. And when that happens, you’re left with the bill. So while millions of potholes are being fixed, thousands of drivers are still dealing with pothole damage to their cars.

What to do if you hit a pothole

A OnePoll survey of 2,000 UK drivers found that more than 1 in 4 have suffered a flat tyre after hitting a pothole. Around 1 in 5 experienced alignment issues, and 1 in 6 reported suspension damage.

If you think your car has pothole damage, here’s what to do:

  • Pull over safely - stop as soon as it’s safe and check your tyres.
  • Check for visible damage - look for punctures, bulges, cracked alloys or anything unusual with steering.
  • Take photos if it’s safe - photograph the pothole, the road around it and the damage to your car.
  • Make a note of the location - record the exact road name, nearby landmarks and the time it happened.
  • Get repair quotes - ask a garage to assess the damage and keep written quotes or invoices.
  • Report the pothole to the council - even if you’re not claiming, reporting it helps prevent further damage to other drivers.

Should I claim on my car insurance for pothole damage?

A OnePoll survey of 2,000 UK drivers found most drivers (86%) have had to pay for repairs out of their own pocket. And the average repair bill after hitting a pothole was £175. For many drivers, that’s similar to, or even less than, their insurance excess.

If your excess is £150 or more, claiming on your car insurance could leave you paying most of the repair cost yourself. And once you’ve made a claim, it may reduce your no-claims bonus and increase what you pay at renewal.

"Comprehensive car insurance policies usually cover pothole damage. But where a council is responsible for maintaining the road, it’s worth checking whether you can claim directly from them first. That could help protect your no-claims bonus and avoid unnecessary increases to future policy costs."

Reports vs compensation: which areas are hit hardest?

Some parts of the UK are feeling it more than others. Devon reported 210,754 potholes between 2022 and 2025 - the highest in the country - while Nottinghamshire fixed 291,085, more than anywhere else.

Over the same period, Greater London paid out nearly £1.3 million in compensation.

County Potholes reported* Potholes fixed*

*In December 2025, Confused.com issued a Freedom of Information request, requesting the total number of potholes reported and repaired, the number of claims made, the number of claims accepted, and the total paid out in compensation from UK councils. 183 UK Councils replied to the request out of 207.Unless otherwise stated, all research was carried out by OnePoll on behalf of Confused.com OnePoll of 2,000 UK drivers. This was conducted between the 15th and 21st January 2026.