The regions that have issued the highest amounts in compensation for road damage caused by potholes have been disclosed. Recent data acquired by Confused.com via Freedom of Information requests revealed that UK councils received 144,230 claims for pothole-related damage between 2022 and 2025. Throughout this timeframe, local authorities disbursed a total exceeding £11 million in compensation, with £1.1 million paid out in 2025 alone. Over the past four years, a staggering 3.4 million potholes were reported across the UK, with 18% of these, amounting to over 600,000, reported in 2025.
Despite the substantial number of reported potholes, the proportion of successful compensation claims has significantly decreased. The data indicates that in 2025, councils approved only 19% of claims, a notable drop from the previous year’s 29% approval rate.
Devon emerged as the region with the highest number of reported potholes between 2022 and 2025, totaling 210,754 instances, yet only 15% of damage claims were validated. In comparison, West Yorkshire reported 191,001 potholes, with a mere 11% of claims successful. Conversely, Northumberland recorded 151,485 potholes and approved 51% of claims, while Greater London had 145,618 potholes reported, with a 36% success rate for claims.
Dumfries and Galloway reported 134,054 potholes, of which 44% of claims were approved. Greater London recorded the highest total compensation payouts, disbursing £1,294,566 over the four-year period, followed by East Sussex with £642,338 awarded to affected motorists. Glasgow, Highland Council, and Oxfordshire followed with payouts of £606,492, £544,092, and £507,233, respectively.
In 2025, UK councils collectively repaired 990,840 potholes, with Greater London, West Yorkshire, and Devon ranking as the top regions for pothole repairs. West Yorkshire fixed 285,545 potholes, Greater London repaired 245,415, and Devon completed 221,818 repairs.
A recent survey of 2,000 motorists revealed that over half (53%) believe road conditions have worsened compared to previous years, with more than one in five (22%) encountering potholes daily. Two in five (41%) experience potholes several times a week. However, recovering costs from pothole damages proves challenging for many drivers, with 18% finding the council claims process complex, and 36% calling for clearer procedures. Successful claimants received an average of £242, slightly exceeding typical repair costs.
To assist drivers, Confused.com has introduced a pothole reporting tool displaying data from local councils on reports, repairs, and compensation claims, and guiding users to report issues or make claims promptly.
Matt Crole-Rees, a motoring expert at Confused.com, advises affected individuals to gather evidence of pothole damage and explore potential claims with the local council. If unsuccessful, alternative insurance options should be considered, bearing in mind the impact on future premiums and excess costs. The pothole reporting tool simplifies the process for drivers to report road damage swiftly, ensuring prompt attention from the appropriate authorities.
Reporting potholes not only expedites repairs but also safeguards other road users from potential harm.