UK Pothole Crisis

As an FCA-authorised motor insurance expert that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, WeCovr investigates the UK's growing pothole crisis. This article explores the shocking costs facing drivers, how to protect yourself, and whether your current motor insurance policy is truly up to the task of shielding you from this hazard.

Shock New Data Reveals Over 1 in 4 UK Drivers Face £500+ Pothole Damage Annually, Fueling Millions in Unclaimed Costs & Rising Premiums – Is Your Motor Insurance Truly Protecting You From This Growing Road Hazard

The familiar, jarring thud of a wheel hitting a pothole is a sound every UK driver dreads. What was once an annoyance has spiralled into a national crisis, costing motorists millions in repairs, pushing up insurance premiums for everyone, and posing a serious threat to road safety.

New analysis for 2025 reveals a grim picture. Over a quarter of British drivers now face repair bills exceeding £500 each year directly due to pothole damage. Many of these costs go unclaimed, with drivers choosing to absorb the financial hit rather than risk their No-Claims Bonus. This hidden epidemic is not only draining bank accounts but is also a key factor behind the steady rise in motor insurance UK premiums.

This guide will break down the true cost of the pothole crisis, explain your rights, and reveal how you can ensure your car, van, or motorcycle insurance provides the protection you actually need.

The Scale of the UK Pothole Problem: A National Breakdown

Our roads are, quite literally, breaking down. The problem isn't just in your head; the data paints a picture of systemic decay across the UK's road network.

According to the Asphalt Industry Alliance's (AIA) landmark 2025 'ALARM' survey, the situation has reached a critical point:

• A Staggering Backlog: It would now take an estimated £17 billion and a record 16 years to fix the backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales alone.
• Potholes Filled: Local authorities filled over 1.8 million potholes in the last year, but this is merely a sticking plaster on a much deeper wound. For every pothole filled, several more appear.
• Rising Breakdown Numbers: The RAC reports that its patrols attended over 30,000 pothole-related breakdowns in 2024, the highest number in five years. These incidents typically involve damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs, and distorted wheels.

This isn't just a local issue. From motorways maintained by National Highways to the B-roads managed by local councils, the problem is everywhere. Years of underfunding, combined with more extreme weather events like heavy rainfall and freeze-thaw cycles, have accelerated the decline of our road surfaces, turning everyday journeys into a high-stakes obstacle course.

What Kind of Damage Can Potholes Cause to Your Vehicle?

Hitting a deep pothole, even at low speed, can transfer a huge amount of force through your vehicle, causing a cascade of damage that is often more serious than it first appears. While a punctured tyre is the most obvious consequence, the hidden damage can be far more expensive.

Here are the most common types of pothole-related damage:

1. Tyres & Wheels: This is the first point of contact. Potholes can cause punctures, sidewall bulges, and cracks. Alloy wheels are particularly vulnerable and can be dented, buckled, or cracked, often requiring a costly replacement.
2. Suspension & Steering: Your car's suspension (including shock absorbers and springs) is designed to absorb bumps, but a sharp impact can break components or knock the steering system out of alignment. Symptoms include the car pulling to one side, uneven tyre wear, and a vibrating steering wheel.
3. Exhaust System: A deep pothole can strike the underside of your car, denting or even ripping off parts of the exhaust system. This can lead to a failed MOT and expensive repairs.
4. Chassis & Bodywork: In severe cases, the impact can damage the car's frame or lower bodywork, leading to structural issues and complex repairs.

Average UK Pothole Repair Costs (2025 Data)

The cost of repairs can vary wildly depending on the make and model of your car. For example, a specialist tyre for a performance EV can cost significantly more than one for a standard family hatchback.

Source: Analysis based on data from the AA and UK garage networks, 2025.

Pothole Damage and Your Motor Insurance: To Claim or Not to Claim?

You’ve hit a pothole, and the garage has quoted you £600 for a new wheel and suspension check. Your first thought might be to claim on your motor insurance. But should you? It's a tricky decision.

The Claiming Dilemma

Making a claim will likely impact two key things:

• Your Policy Excess: This is the amount you agree to pay towards any claim. If your excess is £300 and the repair bill is £600, your insurer will only pay the remaining £300. If the bill is less than your excess, you can't claim at all.
• Your No-Claims Bonus (NCB) or No-Claims Discount (NCD): This is a valuable discount you build up for every year you don't make a claim. A single fault claim (and a pothole claim is usually considered a 'fault' claim as no other party is involved) can wipe out several years of NCB, causing your premiums to rocket at renewal.

Example: Let's say your premium is £500 with a 5-year NCB (a 60% discount). A £600 pothole claim might look like this:

• You pay your £300 excess.
• Your insurer pays the remaining £300.
• At renewal, you lose some or all of your NCB. Your premium could jump from £500 to £900 or more for the next few years.

In this scenario, claiming £300 from your insurer could cost you well over £1,000 in increased premiums over the next 3-5 years. This is why millions in damage costs go unclaimed every year. Many drivers rightly conclude that it's cheaper in the long run to pay for the repair themselves.

Understanding Your Motor Insurance Policy: Are You Covered?

Before you can even consider a claim, you need to know what your policy covers. In the UK, it is a legal requirement to have at least Third-Party Only motor insurance.

The Three Levels of Motor Insurance Cover

As the table shows, only a Comprehensive policy will cover damage to your own vehicle from a pothole. If you only have Third-Party cover, you will have to bear the full cost of repairs yourself or attempt to claim from the local council.

Business and Fleet Insurance Obligations

For businesses, the stakes are even higher. If you use a vehicle for work (even just for commuting to multiple sites), you need business car insurance. For companies operating multiple vehicles, fleet insurance is essential.

A single vehicle off the road due to pothole damage can mean lost revenue and broken client promises. A robust fleet insurance policy, expertly arranged by a broker like WeCovr, can provide comprehensive cover that not only pays for repairs but can also include crucial extras like guaranteed courtesy vans to keep your business moving.

Claiming Directly from the Local Council: An Alternative Route

There is another way. Under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980, highway authorities (usually your local council, or National Highways for motorways) have a legal duty to maintain the roads to a safe standard. If they fail in this duty, you may be able to claim the cost of repairs from them directly.

However, it's not a straightforward process. The council can defend itself by proving it had a reasonable inspection and maintenance system in place and was not aware of that specific pothole.

How to Make a Compensation Claim from the Council

1. Act Immediately and Safely: If possible, stop somewhere safe and take photos of the pothole and the damage to your vehicle. Include a familiar object (like a shoe or drink can) in the photo to show the pothole's scale.
2. Record the Exact Location: Use a map app on your phone to pinpoint the location. Note the road name, town, and any nearby landmarks or house numbers.
3. Report the Pothole: Report it to the correct authority immediately. This creates a record and helps other drivers. You can do this on the council's website or via gov.uk.
4. Get Repair Quotes: Get at least two written quotes for the repair work. Keep copies of all estimates and the final invoice.
5. Gather Your Evidence: Write a formal letter or email to the council's highways department. Include:
   • Your full details.
   • The precise location, date, and time of the incident.
   • Your photographic evidence.
   • A copy of the mechanic's report detailing the damage.
   • Copies of your repair quotes/invoices.
6. Be Persistent: Councils often reject initial claims. If you believe your claim is fair and they have been negligent, you may need to follow up or take your case to the small claims court.

This route avoids an insurance claim, protecting your NCB. However, success rates can be low, and the process is often long and frustrating.

How Potholes Are Quietly Inflating Everyone's Motor Insurance Premiums

Even if you've been lucky enough to avoid pothole damage yourself, the crisis is still costing you money by pushing up the price of motor insurance UK wide.

Insurers paid out billions in motor claims last year, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). A significant and growing portion of these claims are for single-vehicle incidents, including damage from poor road surfaces.

Here's the chain reaction:

• More potholes lead to more damaged vehicles.
• This leads to a higher volume of insurance claims and council compensation payouts.
• Insurers and councils face higher costs.
• To cover these costs and manage future risk, insurers increase premiums for all drivers.

Your postcode, the type of car you drive, and your personal driving history are no longer the only factors. The deteriorating state of the roads you use every day is now a major variable in the algorithm that sets your car insurance premium.

Optional Extras That Can Offer a Lifeline

When arranging your motor policy, the optional extras can seem like an unnecessary expense. But in a pothole incident, they can be invaluable.

• Breakdown Cover: If a pothole leaves you stranded with a shredded tyre or broken suspension, having breakdown cover means you won't be stuck on the roadside facing a huge recovery bill.
• Legal Expenses Insurance: This can be a godsend if you decide to pursue a claim against the council. It provides access to legal advice and can cover your legal costs if you need to take the case to court.
• Guaranteed Courtesy Car/Van: Standard courtesy cars are often subject to availability and only provided if your car is being repaired at an approved garage after an insured incident. A guaranteed courtesy car add-on ensures you get a replacement vehicle, keeping you on the road.

An expert broker can help you decide which extras offer genuine value for money based on your specific needs.

Protecting Your Vehicle: Practical Tips to Minimise Pothole Risk

While you can't fix the roads yourself, you can adopt defensive driving and maintenance habits to reduce your risk.

On the Road

1. Maintain a Safe Distance: Don't tailgate. Leaving a good gap to the car in front gives you more time to see and react to hazards on the road ahead.
2. Scan the Road: Look well ahead, not just at the bumper of the car in front. Scan from side to side to spot potholes early.
3. Be Wary of Puddles: That innocent-looking puddle could be hiding a deep, wheel-destroying crater. Avoid driving through them if you can do so safely.
4. Reduce Speed: On poor surfaces, slow down. The faster you are travelling, the greater the impact and the more severe the potential damage.
5. Hold the Wheel: Grip the steering wheel firmly with both hands to maintain control if you do hit an unexpected pothole. Don't swerve dangerously into oncoming traffic or off the road to avoid one.

Vehicle Maintenance

1. Check Tyre Pressures: Correctly inflated tyres are more resilient and provide a better cushion against impacts. Under-inflated tyres are more likely to be damaged. Check pressures weekly.
2. Inspect Your Tyres: Regularly check your tyres for cuts, bulges, and uneven wear. Uneven wear can be an early sign of a steering alignment issue, possibly caused by a previous minor pothole strike.
3. Listen to Your Car: Pay attention to any new rattles, vibrations, or clunking sounds, especially after hitting a bump. These could be early warnings of suspension or exhaust damage.

Special Considerations for Different Vehicle Types

The pothole crisis affects all road users, but the risks and costs can differ significantly.

• Electric Vehicles (EVs): EVs are typically heavier than their petrol or diesel counterparts due to their large batteries. This extra weight puts more strain on suspension components, potentially making them more susceptible to pothole damage. Furthermore, EV-specific tyres can be more expensive to replace.
• Vans & Fleets: Commercial vans cover high mileages, often on varied and poorly maintained roads. This massively increases their exposure to pothole risk. For a fleet manager, this means more downtime, higher maintenance budgets, and a greater need for a comprehensive fleet insurance policy that minimises disruption.
• Motorcycles: For motorcyclists, potholes are not just a financial risk; they are a deadly hazard. Hitting a pothole can easily cause a rider to lose control, leading to serious or fatal injuries. Riders need to be exceptionally vigilant.

How WeCovr Can Help You Find the Right Protection

Navigating the complexities of the motor insurance market can be daunting, especially when faced with new risks like the pothole crisis. This is where an expert, independent broker can make all the difference.

WeCovr is an FCA-authorised insurance broker with a proven track record of helping UK drivers, businesses, and fleet managers find the right cover at a competitive price. We understand that the cheapest policy isn't always the best one.

• Expert Guidance: We help you understand the fine print, explaining the real-world implications of your excess, NCB, and optional extras.
• Comprehensive Comparison: We compare policies from a wide panel of leading UK insurers to find cover that truly protects you from modern road hazards. Whether you need private car insurance, specialist van cover, or a multi-vehicle fleet insurance policy, we have the expertise to help.
• Client-Focused: Our service is provided at no cost to you. We enjoy high satisfaction ratings from our customers because we put their needs first. We can even help you secure discounts on other policies, such as home or life insurance, when you purchase your motor cover through us.

Don't wait until you're stranded at the roadside with a four-figure repair bill to find out your insurance isn't up to scratch.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Pothole Claims

Don't let a pothole ruin your finances. Take control and ensure you have the right protection in place. Get a fast, free, no-obligation motor insurance quote from the experts at WeCovr today.