Pothole-related breakdowns have soared by 25% between July and September compared to the same period last year, according to new figures from the RAC’s pothole index.
RAC patrols attended 5,035 pothole-related breakdowns this summer for jobs such as broken suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers – up from 4,040 during the same months in 2024. This year’s figure is also significantly higher than the average number of these types of breakdowns typically recorded during the warmest months (4,372).
Pothole-Related Breakdowns at a Glance (2025)
- 25% rise in pothole-related breakdowns this summer (RAC)
- Average repair cost: £590 for suspension, wheels or shock absorbers
- Roads resurfaced only once every 93 years on average
- £17 billion backlog to repair roads in England and Wales
- 1 in 6 miles of UK roads have under five years’ structural life left
- Councils use Section 58 defence to deny pothole claims
- You can still claim compensation if your car’s damaged even if the council initially refuses
THE COST OF POOR ROADS AND POTHOLE-RELATED BREAKDOWNS IS RISING FOR DRIVERS
What does this mean for motorists? If your car suffers more than just a puncture due to poor roads, the average repair bill is £590. Common issues include:
- Broken suspension springs
- Damaged shock absorbers
- Distorted wheels
These aren’t just minor inconveniences – they’re costly repairs that could have been avoided with proper road maintenance.
The cost of repairing roads in England and Wales has soared to nearly £17 billion and will take 12 years, according to the latest industry report.
The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) 2025 survey reports that roads in England and Wales are only resurfaced, on average, once every 93 years.
The figures, from this year’s Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey report, spell more misery for road users with one in every six miles of the local road network equivalent to 34,600 miles – reported to have less than five years’ structural life remaining.
The AIA are calling for a complete change in mindset away from short-term funding to longer-term commitments to allow local authorities to proactively improve the network.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams commented:
“Confirmation that more drivers fell foul of potholes this summer compared to last is troubling. If nothing else, it underlines the gargantuan task of getting the roads that millions of people rely on back to a respectable standard after years of neglect. Every pothole breakdown means hassle, frustration and ultimately cost for drivers – up to £590 for anything worse than a puncture. For those on two wheels, they’re an out-and-out danger.“
WHO PAYS FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY POTHOLES?
We all do via the Insurance Premium Tax which is levied on car insurance policies, Council Taxes, vehicle excise duty, tax paid on fuel (with 20% VAT on top), car parking permits and other levies.
Councils have a statutory duty to maintain and inspect the roads to a satisfactory standard. Councils collude with claims stoppers to prevent you from upholding a legitimate claim. Proving it is difficult but not impossible.
You will be encouraged to claim on your car insurance policy. Why should you be left out of pocket due to their negligence?
WHAT PROBLEMS DO POTHOLES CAUSE?
Hitting a pothole can cause damage to your vehicles shock absorbers and suspension. Broken springs are the most common damage. Burst tyres and damaged alloys are another hazard which can cause a driver to lose control of their car.
Potholes are also a hazard to cyclists and motorcyclists who risk serious injuries or even death, especially at night.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A POTHOLE DAMAGED YOUR CAR?
Steering pulling to the left / right and uneven tyre wear is a sign that the tracking alignment is out and needs resetting by a tyre garage.
Dents on the wheels and bulges on tyre sidewalls are also a sign.
Listen to the suspension. Is it ‘clunky’? Does it thump when you are driving? That could be a sign of a broken spring.
CLAIMS HANDLERS
The default position that every Highway Authority and claims handlers will take is that they can only be held liable for potholes that have been reported and cannot be held responsible for every pothole on the roads. They won in this instance. This is known as the Section 58 defence in the Highways Act 1980 which local authorities try and hide behind.
Whilst this stance may hold water on the face of it, in reality, local authorities have a statutory duty of care to maintain the roads and inspect them regularly. When was that road last inspected?
Claims handlers work in cahoots with local authorities to reject legitimate pothole claims. That is their sole purpose – they are not independent arbitrators. They work from scripts and default answers to reject claims and hope that you give up on the first attempt.
DEFAULT RESPONSES USED TO DECLINE POTHOLE CLAIMS
Claims handlers use the following responses to decline pothole claims.
- No reports received about the defect before the incident.
- There was no defect outwith criteria at the location on the inspection before the incident.
- A repair was carried out once the defect was reported but unfortunately this was after the
incident.
This is the first obstacle you will be faced with. Claims handlers use these responses knowing that the majority of claimants will simply give up.
HOW TO CLAIM FOR POTHOLE DAMAGE
Knowing how to claim for pothole damage is becoming increasingly difficult due to Councils moving to a revised risk-based approach on inspections.
Councils used to have policies which specified exactly that if a pothole was x mm deep it would be fixed. That made it an objective decision for staff.
Now staff have to consider a variety of “factors” (without any specific mention of depth dimensions). This results in subjective decisions being made meaning one Inspector may choose to instruct a repair when another would not. Councils have made what was a black and white decision into a grey area for their own benefit to deny claims.
REPORT IT
If you hit a pothole and you believe it has damaged your vehicle, you need to report it as soon as possible. You can do this via www.fixmystreet.com or www.fillthathole.org.uk or simply contact the local authority direct by phone or via X (was Twitter).
TAKE PHOTOS
Take photos if possible to evidence your claim. If it is safe to do so, put your foot by the pothole or in it for scale. I would suggest measuring it as well but nobody carries a ruler for such events, hence suggesting this.
PROVIDE A SKETCH WITH YOUR CLAIM TO PINPOINT THE POTHOLE
You will be asked to help the local authority find the pothole as there are that many on the roads. A simple sketch will suffice.
GET AN ESTIMATE FOR COST OF REPAIRS / PROVIDE A COPY RECEIPT
You are seeking a full refund for the damage caused due to the negligence of the local authority. Include this in your claim from the outset.
SUBMIT AN EIR / FOI REQUEST
Ask for 12 months worth of inspection reports and how many times this pothole has been reported. When was the last repair made? Was it reported before you hit it? You can also find out how many times it has been reported via www.fixmystreet.com and www.fillthathole.org.uk.
CRITERIA
Every local authority has a statutory responsibility to inspect the roads on a set timescale and ensure that the roads are fit for purpose.
If, after a pothole has been reported and it has been remedied within days, it can clearly be argued that the pothole was dangerous and the road was not fit for purpose at the time it was reported and the damage caused.
Local authorities have to adhere to a specific criteria for inspections and repairs.
LIABILITY
The authority has demonstrated liability because they have taken the time and trouble to repair it straight away to prevent any further claims or injuries. If they were not liable, why would they bother dealing with it?
RETROSPECTIVE POTHOLE CLAIMS
I know individuals who have lodged claims for pothole damage to their cars based on failed MOT reports for broken springs that have cost over £200 to replace. They have simply picked out a pothole, reported it and retrospectively lodged a claim. It’s easy to do (although I could not condone it myself).
You can reopen a pothole claim and appeal it. You have up to 6 years in England and Wales and 5 years in Scotland via the Small Claim Court.
APPEAL IT
Lodge an appeal with the Council. Submit a Freedom of Information request asking the right questions to blow their case apart.
SMALL CLAIMS COURT
The Small Claims Court is always a last resort, but don’t be afraid to use it.
Pothole claims are one of my specialities.
You had a 10% chance with Fife Council. I lodged a Freedom of Information request asking for the statistics.
This is now 1% with Fife Council, which is completely unacceptable.
FINALLY
We are in a state of managed decline. Throwing money at patching and potholes does not provide the best value for money. We need a national roads renewal programme.
Local authorities do not do their best with the resources available. I proved that with a £3,500 pothole repair, where Edinburgh City Council made a weekend out of one repair!
If local authorities repaired potholes properly to the correct specification and criteria, more money would be available for more repairs.
Utility trench repairs also need to be monitored and checked by local authorities and costs recharged.
Knowing how to claim for pothole damage is more difficult than ever.
Do you know how to claim for pothole damage to your car? Have you been able to successfully win a claim for pothole damage?