Councils avoid blame as 9 in 10 pothole claims rejected in blow to millions of Britons

Motorists across England face a postcode lottery when seeking compensation for pothole damage, with some local authorities turning down as many as nine in 10 claims.

New figures obtained from a Freedom of Information request revealed that drivers received close to £20million in payouts during 2025 for vehicle damage caused by poor road conditions and potholes.

This represented a 30 per cent jump compared with the previous year, with the data exposing significant disparities in how councils handle compensation requests.

Approximately half of the surveyed authorities refused more than seven out of every 10 applications submitted by affected drivers.

Bristol emerged as the most difficult place for drivers to secure compensation, with the council declining 91 per cent of all claims submitted last year.

The Wirral proved even tougher for the handful of motorists who applied there, rejecting 92 per cent of requests, though it received just 13 applications in total, with only one driver successfully obtaining £322.

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Stockport demonstrated a far more favourable approach, approving 70 per cent of road damage claims and establishing itself as one of the most accommodating authorities for affected motorists.

The research indicated that drivers can be up to seven times more likely to receive a payout depending on their location, with fewer than a third of claims resulting in compensation across most areas surveyed.

Leeds topped the table for total compensation distributed, with motorists in the city collectively receiving £59,523 from 316 submitted claims during the year.

Barnet in north London attracted the highest volume of claims among major councils, with 438 drivers seeking recompense for damage to their vehicles.

Despite Bristol's stringent approach to approving applications, the council recorded both the highest average payout at £911 and the largest individual settlement, with one driver receiving a staggering £16,343.

Across thousands of claims processed by England's local authorities, the typical successful compensation amounted to just £418.

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Ash Young, founder of car care brand 1Dot, said: "Even a single pothole can cause serious damage, from tyre punctures to suspension issues - and repair costs can quickly climb into the hundreds.

"In more severe cases, drivers could be looking at bills exceeding £300, which is a considerable amount of money unexpectedly, especially if it's coming out of your own pocket."

To help motorists protect their vehicles, Mr Young advised watching for dark, uneven road surfaces where water has penetrated cracks, as these often signal developing potholes.

Drivers should also maintain safe distances to observe vehicles ahead swerving around hazards and exercise particular caution during wet weather, which accelerates pothole formation.

Motorists considering a claim should ensure the pothole measures at least four centimetres deep, according to guidance from MoneySavingExpert.

Claimants must also demonstrate that a specific section of road or a particular pothole directly caused the damage to their vehicle.

Compensation can be pursued when the local authority responsible for maintaining the road has failed in its duty to keep the surface in proper condition.

The FOI data was gathered from the 20 largest councils in England by population, with 17 responding within the statutory timeframe.