A recent report has unveiled the regions that have paid the highest amounts in compensation for pothole damages. According to data acquired by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests, UK councils received 144,230 claims for pothole damage between 2022 and 2025, resulting in over £11 million in payouts, including £1.1 million in 2025. The total number of reported potholes in the UK over the past four years exceeded 3.4 million, with 600,000 reported in 2025 alone.
Despite the substantial payouts, the percentage of successful compensation claims has significantly declined. In 2025, only 19% of claims were approved, a sharp decrease from the previous year’s 29%. Devon emerged as the area with the highest number of reported potholes during the mentioned period, totaling 210,754, but only 15% of damage claims were accepted.
Other regions with notable pothole reports include West Yorkshire, Northumberland, Greater London, and Dumfries and Galloway. Greater London led in total claims payouts, disbursing £1,294,566 to affected drivers, followed by East Sussex, Glasgow, Highland Council, and Oxfordshire.
In 2025, UK councils managed to repair 990,840 potholes, with Greater London, West Yorkshire, and Devon being prominent in pothole repair efforts. A survey of 2,000 motorists revealed that more than half of drivers perceive road conditions as deteriorating, with 22% encountering potholes daily and 41% encountering them several times a week.
Navigating the council claims process for pothole damage remains challenging for many drivers, with 18% finding it complicated and 36% calling for clearer procedures. On average, successful claimants received £242, slightly exceeding the average repair costs.
To assist drivers in reporting potholes and streamlining the claims process, Confused.com has introduced a pothole reporting tool that provides data on local council reports, repairs, and compensation claims, facilitating direct reporting to the authorities for prompt action. Matt Crole-Rees, a motoring expert at Confused.com, emphasized the importance of reporting potholes promptly to ensure timely repairs and safeguard all road users from potential harm.