The RAC has found that 173 councils settled only a quarter (26%) of pothole damage claims in 2024, paying 13,832 of the 53,015 submitted.
The RAC estimates this amounts to around £3,564,824 being paid out by councils in just a single year, at an average of £390 per claim. However, this is less than the £590 average repair bill if a vehicle suffers any damage more serious than a puncture after hitting a pothole.
Of all the councils that paid out to drivers in 2024, Merton Borough Council paid the highest average sum per claim – £2,267 for each of the five claims it paid, leading to an estimated total of £11,335 paid to drivers.
Of the councils that shared data for the pothole compensation claims they paid in 2024, 45% (77) refused more than nine in 10 (90%) of the claims they received.
The RAC also discovered that pothole compensation claims submitted to 177 local authorities have increased by 91% in three years, from 27,731 in 2021 to 53,015 in 2024.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Drivers are still suffering the consequences of years of neglect to Britain’s local road network. But even if you submit a compensation claim, the odds aren’t good, with around 40,000 requests for reimbursement turned down in 2024 alone.”
