The regions that have had the highest payouts for damage caused by road potholes have been disclosed. Recent data obtained by Confused.com through Freedom of Information requests reveals that UK councils received 144,230 compensation claims for pothole-related issues between 2022 and 2025.
During this timeframe, local authorities disbursed a total sum exceeding £11 million, with £1.1 million in 2025 alone. A staggering 3.4 million potholes were reported across the UK over the past four years, with 600,000 of them documented in 2025 alone, constituting 18% of the total.
However, the data indicates a sharp decline in successful compensation claims. In 2025, there was a notable decrease in the percentage of successful claims, with councils only approving 19% of claims, down from the previous year’s 29%.
Devon emerged as the region with the highest number of potholes reported between 2022 and 2025, totaling 210,754, yet only 15% of damage claims were accepted. West Yorkshire reported 191,001 potholes, but only 11% of claims were successful. Northumberland recorded 151,485 potholes with a 51% approval rate, while Greater London had 145,618 potholes reported, with a 36% success rate for claims.
Dumfries and Galloway logged 134,054 potholes, with 44% of claims being approved. Greater London ranked highest in total claims payouts, with £1,294,566 dispersed to drivers over the four-year period, followed by East Sussex at £642,338.
In 2025, UK councils repaired 990,840 potholes, with Greater London, West Yorkshire, and Devon leading in pothole repairs. West Yorkshire fixed 285,545 potholes, Greater London repaired 245,415, and Devon completed 221,818 repairs.
A recent survey of 2,000 motorists revealed that over half (53%) believe road conditions have deteriorated compared to previous years, and more than one in five (22%) encounter potholes daily. Two in five (41%) face potholes several times a week, with many finding the claims process challenging.
Nearly one in five (18%) find the council claims process complex, and more than a third (36%) call for clearer procedures. Successful claimants received an average of £242, slightly higher than the typical repair costs.
Confused.com has introduced a pothole reporting tool that displays local council data on potholes, repairs, and compensation claims, guiding users to report issues or make claims directly to the relevant authorities. Matt Crole-Rees, a motoring expert at Confused.com, advises affected individuals to gather evidence and explore council claim options before considering insurance claims to mitigate future premium impacts and excess costs.
Reporting potholes not only expedites repairs but also safeguards other road users from potential harm.