Consumer group Which? has issued fresh advice for drivers on what to do if a pothole damages their vehicle, as new data shows a surge in claims.
Which?'s step-by-step advice
Posting on social media, Which? outlined the steps drivers should take to secure compensation. It said: "If a pothole damages your vehicle, this is what you should do. Take photos of the damage and the pothole immediately. Report the pothole to the relevant agency, which is usually the local council."
"Keep any quotes or receipts you get for repairs. Make your claim by contacting the council. If they reject it, ask to see their road inspection reports and check they've actually been following them properly. If you think they're still at fault, appeal."
Surge in claims
The advice comes as Tesco Insurance reports a 25 per cent increase in pothole damage claims between January and May 2026 compared with the first six months of 2025.
The data suggests Peterborough in Cambridgeshire is now the pothole capital of the UK, with the most claims since 2020, followed by Tonbridge in Kent and Northampton in Northamptonshire. Plymouth, Chelmsford, Glasgow, and Nottingham follow. Derbyshire, previously known as the 'pothole capital', does not feature. The places with the fewest claims are Dorchester, Lincoln, Croydon, Wigan, Huddersfield, Watford, and Dartford.
Earlier this year, the Department for Transport attempted to identify England's pothole hotspots, creating a new mapping tool and traffic light system. It rated 154 local highway authorities as red, amber or green based on road conditions and how well they were using government funds to make repairs, Which? said. Its latest report for 2025 to 2026 showed 13 authorities were graded red, 16 green, and the remaining 125 amber.
The RAC estimates there are around 1 million potholes on UK roads each year. Its figures showed reports from broken-down drivers about potholes averaged 225 a day in February 2026 alone, up nearly three and a half times the 66 a day seen in the same month last year.
Claims are most often made from January to April, when cold, wet weather has the biggest impact on road surfaces. Wheels often bear the brunt of the damage, followed by suspension, engine, the underside of vehicles, bumpers, and body panels.
Costs and insurance impact
The average payout climbed 41 per cent from £3,814 to £5,380. Close Brothers Motor Finance estimates potholes cost drivers £3.3bn in repairs every year.
Pothole damage can usually be claimed on insurance, but it usually goes down as an 'at-fault' claim, which could mean paying your excess first, affecting your no-claims bonus and subsequent premium.
