The RAC said the findings show it is ‘a huge task’ to keep roads at a respectable standard
10:54, 30 Dec 2025Updated 13:26, 31 Dec 2025
Pothole claims have risen sharply(Image: WalesOnline/Rob Browne)
A Welsh council turned down 99% of claims received in 2024, it has been revealed. The RAC submitted Freedom of Information Act requests to 207 councils across Wales, England, and Scotland finding that pothole compensation claims has risen significantly over three years.
For 177 local authorities the claims jumped by 91% in just three years, from 27,731 in 2021 to 53,015 in 2024, data analysed by the car insurance and breakdown specialists revealed.
And it found that Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Medway, Carmarthenshire, and Telford all turned down 99% of claims received in 2024 equating to totals of 534, 146, 142, 113, and 76 requests refused.
Bridgend County Borough Council says it paid out nine out of 54 claims, estimated to bee around 16%.
In Wales Wrexham paid the most at £2,026 for each of its 38 claims amounting to an estimated £76,991 in total.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “The massive three-year rise in pothole compensation claims made by drivers shows what a huge task it is returning the roads to a respectable standard. But it’s far from an even picture across the country with just a handful of councils receiving the lion’s share of claims from beleaguered motorists.
“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.
“And with some councils not responding to our request for data there’s every chance that we’re only seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the claims that have been settled.
“But. positively, councils received slightly fewer pothole compensation claims in 2024 than they did they year before.
“We’re now hopeful the dial will really begin to shift as highways authorities in England were this year given a record £1.6bn by the [UK] Government for road maintenance.
“And for the first time they’ve been required to show how much vital preventative maintenance they’ll be carrying out to stop potholes forming in the first place.
“On top of this the [UK] Government has now announced multi-year settlements which will give councils the certainty they need to plan and deliver better maintenance programmes.
“This can only be a good thing.
“So while the figures we’ve analysed are a cause for concern we hope pothole compensation claims will begin to decline as local authorities increase the amount of preventative surface dressing work on their roads.”
Overall Derbyshire County Council reported the sharpest rise in claims increasing from 224 in 2021 to 3,307 (up 3,083) in 2024.
Glasgow City Council took second place, where claims more than doubled from 1,140 in 2021 to 2,794 in 2024 (up 1,654), with Oxfordshire County Council third with claims jumping from 488 in 2021 to 1,941 in 2024 (up 1,453).
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