Pothole Compensation Claims in Britain Double Over a Year

Only 15% of claims result in payouts as councils face mounting repair backlogs and legal costs.

RAC analysis reveals pothole compensation claims to councils rose from 8,327 in 2022 to 20,432 in 2023 across 18 major local authorities.
Surrey County Council experienced the largest surge, with claims increasing from 734 to 3,418 in a year.
Despite the rise in claims, only 15% were successful, with payouts averaging £260—far below the average repair cost of £460.
Councils spent over £166,000 on legal fees to defend claims, often rejecting them due to lack of prior knowledge of the potholes as permitted under the Highways Act 1980.
The UK government has pledged an additional £500 million for road maintenance in 2024/25, aiming to repair up to one million potholes and prioritize preventative measures.