New data obtained by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests shows 144,230 compensation claims were made to UK councils for pothole damage
The areas that have paid out the most money in pothole compensation have been revealed.
New data obtained by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests shows 144,230 compensation claims were made to UK councils for pothole damage between 2022 and 2025.
During this period, local authorities paid out a total of more than £11million, including £1.1million in 2025. Over 3.4 million potholes were reported across the UK in the last four years, with more than 600,000 (18%) of these in 2025 alone.
But the amount of successful compensation claims is falling sharply – the data shows 2025 saw the lowest percentage of successful claims, with councils paying out on just 19% of claims, down from 29% the previous year.
Devon was the area with the most potholes reported between 2022 and 2025 with 210,754 – but only 15% of claims for damage were approved.
West Yorkshire saw 191,001 potholes reported, but just 11% of claims were successful. Northumberland had 151,485 potholes reported and approved 51% of claims, while Greater London saw 145,618 potholes reported, with a success rate of 36% for claims.
There were 134,054 potholes reported in Dumfries and Galloway and 44% of claims approved. You can read our guide on how to claim for pothole damage here.
Greater London had the highest total claims payouts, with £1,294,566 paid out to drivers over the four-year period, this is followed by East Sussex where £642,338 was awarded to motorists.
Glasgow (£606,492) was next, followed by Highland Council (£544,092) and Oxfordshire (£507,233).
In 2025, UK councils repaired 990,840 potholes, with Greater London, West Yorkshire and Devon ranked among the top areas for pothole repairs. West Yorkshire fixed 285,545 potholes, Greater London repaired 245,415, and Devon completed 221,818 fixes.
Over half (53%) of drivers feel road conditions are worse now than in previous years, according to a new survey of 2,000 motorists – and more than one in five (22%) say they drive over potholes every day.
Two in five (41%) say they encounter them several times a week. But drivers say recovering the costs from pothole damage is not easy.
Nearly one in five (18%) describe the council claims process as complicated, and more than a third (36%) believe the process should be clearer. Those who were successful in claiming received £242 on average, which is slightly more than the typical repair bill.
Confused.com has launched a pothole reporting tool which shows data from your local council, including reports, repairs and compensation claims, and directs users to the relevant page to report an issue or make a claim.
Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com said: “If your car is damaged by a pothole, you should gather evidence and first check whether you can make a claim through the relevant local council.
“If that is unsuccessful, you may need to explore your insurance options, although it is worth considering the potential impact on future premiums, as well as your excess costs.
“Our pothole reporting tool makes it quick and simple for drivers to view their local council pothole data and report road damage directly to them, helping ensure issues are flagged to the appropriate authority as soon as possible.
“Reporting potholes not only supports quicker repairs but also helps protect other road users from potential damage.”
