Brits spent more than £1billion repairing pothole damages last year, figures show.

An estimated 11 million drivers had their vehicles damaged due to poor road conditions, with the cost reaching a staggering £1.21billion – an increase of 32% on the year before.

In the year ending March 2016, the equivalent total bill was £684million, meaning that the cost of damage reported by motorists has risen by 77% in just three years, the report by Kwik Fit found.

The average cost to a driver affected by a pothole is now £108.86, and the number of motorists being affected has jumped by 2.9 million since last year.



Almost a third of drivers who have hit a pothole in the past year had their car damaged by the impact, with the most common repairs being to tyres, suspension, wheels, steering, bodywork and exhaust.

Almost two in 10 motorists estimate they hit an average of 30 potholes a month – an average of one a day.


"The cost of damage from potholes is hitting more and more drivers who are continuing to see their cash being spent on issues that are not entirely their fault," explained Roger Griggs at Kwik Fit.



Pothole claims - your rights

Make a claim and the council will review all the evidence you have provided and make an assessment

Hitting a pothole normally causes damage to a car's tyres or axles - if you fall into one, you'll immediately know something's wrong.

What many drivers don't know is that their local council could be to blame, as they have a responsibility to keep roads fit for purpose.

If you drive into one and the local authority knew about the pothole but hadn't repaired it/followed road maintenance guidelines, you may be able to claim compensation.

You can find their details on the Highways England, or Transport for London website.

How much you can claim for generally depends on the extent of the damage. Typically, payouts tend to be around £300-£500. When you make a complaint, ask for a claims form to which you can bill them. But first, make sure you can prove you're not the one at fault.

Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980 provides councils with a statutory defence if they can show that reasonable care was taken to secure the road and that it wasn't dangerous to traffic.

That's why it's important to gather evidence. Aim for all of the following in your claim:

  1. Images: A handful of pictures showing the width and depth of the pothole should suffice. Get images from as many angles as possible.

  2. Witnesses: If possible, gather notes from anyone who saw the incident

  3. Timestamps: Make a note of the date and time the damage occurred

  4. Location: Make sure you can pin point it on a map

  5. Contact details: Share your information and details of your mechanic's statement if you are getting it fixed. If you're not, do your research and gather some quotes to prove the severity of the damage.

  6. Payment proof: You'll need to share repair invoices and proof of payment