The cost of fixing potholes in the country

Latest news reveal the cost of fixing all potholes on local roads in England and Wales has been estimated at £18.6 billion, with industry figures suggesting it could take around 12 years to bring roads back to ideal conditions.

Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, comments:

“Potholes continue to be a common hazard for UK drivers. That’s as our latest research shows more than 3.4 million potholes were reported over the last 4 years, with over 600,000 reported in 2025 alone. Potholes are a major safety concern for motorists, with more than 2 in 5 (43%) worried that they could cause a crash or injury. And almost half (49%) of them say they regularly have to swerve to avoid potholes.

“For many drivers, the financial impact can also be just as frustrating. Our data shows 86% of motorists who have experienced pothole damage ended up paying for repairs themselves, costing £175 on average. While councils have paid out over £11 million in pothole compensation in the last four years, the amount of successful claims is dropping. From 29% in 2024 to only 19% in 2025.

“But this shouldn’t discourage drivers from reporting potholes when they see them. Doing so can help councils make roads safer for all and gives you a better chance of receiving compensation. To make this easier, our pothole reporting tool allows drivers to quickly check the latest figures for their area, report issues and start a claim, helping take some of the stress out of dealing with pothole damage.”

Ros spoke to Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com

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