Pothole compensation claims made to councils surge by 90%

RAC research has revealed that compensation claims made to councils in Britain have soared by 90% in three years.

A Freedom of Information request, issued to 207 councils across England, Scotland and Wales and covering 246,510 miles of local roads, showed that Derbyshire County Council reported the sharpest rise, with claims jumping from 224 in 2021 to 3,307 in 2024.

Despite the three-year surge, the total number of claims fell slightly year-on-year, from 56,655 in 2023 to 53,015 in 2024, representing a 6% decrease.

Only a quarter of claims were settled in 2024. The 173 councils that provided settlement data paid out on 13,832 of the 53,015 claims submitted, with an estimated £3,564,824 paid in total.

The average payout of £390 remains below the £590 average repair bill for pothole damage that goes beyond a puncture.

“The massive three-year rise in pothole compensation claims made by drivers shows what a huge task it is returning the roads to a respectable standard,” said RAC head of policy Simon Williams

“But it’s far from an even picture across the country, with just a handful of councils receiving the lion’s share of claims from beleaguered motorists. ​

“Drivers are still suffering the consequences of years of neglect to Britain’s local road network. But even if you submit a compensation claim the odds aren’t good, with around 40,000 requests for reimbursement turned down in 2024 alone.

“And with some councils not responding to our request for data, there’s every chance that we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the claims that have been settled. But positively, councils received slightly fewer pothole compensation claims in 2024 than they did they year before.

“So, while the figures we’ve analysed are a cause for concern, we hope pothole compensation claims will begin to decline as local authorities increase the amount of preventative surface dressing work on their roads.”