Areas in the UK that have seen significant payouts for pothole compensation have been disclosed following data obtained by Confused.com. Between 2022 and 2025, there were 144,230 claims made to councils, resulting in over £11 million in payouts, including £1.1 million in 2025 alone. Over the past four years, more than 3.4 million potholes were reported nationwide, with 18% of these reported in 2025.
Despite the high number of reported potholes, the success rate for compensation claims has decreased notably. In 2025, only 19% of claims were approved, a decline from 29% the previous year. Devon had the highest number of reported potholes at 210,754, but only 15% of damage claims were accepted.
West Yorkshire reported 191,001 potholes, with a success rate of 11% for claims. Northumberland had 151,485 potholes and approved 51% of claims, while Greater London had 145,618 potholes, with a 36% success rate for claims. Dumfries and Galloway reported 134,054 potholes, and 44% of claims were approved.
Greater London topped the list for total claims payouts, with £1,294,566 paid out over four years, followed by East Sussex with £642,338. Glasgow, Highland Council, and Oxfordshire followed closely with payouts of £606,492, £544,092, and £507,233, respectively.
In 2025, UK councils repaired a total of 990,840 potholes, with Greater London, West Yorkshire, and Devon leading in pothole repairs. Drivers expressed concerns about deteriorating road conditions, with over half feeling that conditions have worsened compared to previous years. A survey of 2,000 motorists revealed that 22% encounter potholes daily, and 41% encounter them several times a week.
Navigating the claims process for pothole damage was described as challenging by 18% of respondents, with 36% calling for clearer procedures. On average, successful claimants received £242, slightly more than the average repair cost.
Confused.com has introduced a pothole reporting tool that provides local council data on potholes, repairs, and compensation claims, facilitating users in reporting issues and making claims promptly. Matt Crole-Rees, a motoring expert at Confused.com, emphasized the importance of reporting potholes promptly to ensure timely repairs and safeguard other road users from potential harm.