Pothole compensation claims to Glasgow City Council double in three years

Pothole compensation claims made to councils in Britain have spiked by 90% in three years, according to new analysis.

RAC research found 53,015 claims were submitted to 177 local authorities in 2024, compared with 27,731 claims in 2021.

Of the councils which provided data, Derbyshire County Council saw the biggest increase in claims over that period, from 224 to 3,307.

That was followed by Glasgow City Council, which saw its annual total more than double from 1,140 to 2,794.

Oxfordshire County Council was ranked third, with 488 claims in 2021 and 1,941 in 2024.

The RAC described the overall increase since 2021 as “concerning”, but noted that the 2024 total represented a 6% decline from 56,655 in 2023.

The study also indicated that just 26% of claims made last year resulted in payouts.

Payments averaged £390 whereas the RAC estimated a typical repair bill for a family car suffering pothole damage beyond a puncture is £590.

Common vehicle problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.

Local authorities for Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Medway, Carmarthenshire and Telford all turned down 99% of claims received last year, based on the data shared with the RAC.

Some 177 out of 207 councils in Britain responded to Freedom of Information requests by the motoring services company.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “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.

“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.

“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.

“We’re now hopeful the dial will really begin to shift as highways authorities in England were this year given a record £1.6 billion by the Government for road maintenance.”

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: “We’re investing £7.3 billion over the next four years to help councils resurface roads and fix the pothole plague, giving them certainty to plan ahead and deliver safer, smoother journeys.

“This will turn the tide on years of underinvestment in our road network, allowing local authorities to move away from expensive, short-term repairs and invest in proactive maintenance and prevent potholes from forming in the first place.”

A Local Government Association spokesperson said councils have a statutory duty to maintain roads but “ever-increasing pressure on budgets has impacted their ability to do so as much as they’d like”.

He went on: “New funding for roads will help turn the tide on the gradual decline of local roads, but this will take time to shift from simply filling potholes reactively – which pothole compensation laws require – towards a more proactive, sustainable approach.”

Derbyshire County Council said the rate of compensation claims it has received since May 2025 has decreased by 72%, while Glasgow City Council said it has seen a “substantial reduction” this year compared with 2024.

Oxfordshire County Council said since April 2024 it has invested nearly £14.5 million in the “largest surface dressing programmes we have carried out for at least 20 years”.

Surface dressing is a preservation treatment aimed at avoiding potholes forming.

Medway Council said it rejects claims when “it is considered that a court would not award compensation”.