![\"Pothole](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_CGP_LEN_200123GV_POTHOLES_01JPG.jpg\")
Pothole claims have risen (Image: Lennox Herald)<\/p>\nGlasgow City Council saw its annual total pothole compensation claims more than double from 1,140 to 2,794.Pothole claims have risen (Image: Lennox Herald)<\/p>\n
Pothole compensation claims made to councils in Britain have spiked by 90percent in three years with Glasgow receiving the second biggest increase, according to new analysis<\/a>. RAC research found 53,015 claims were submitted to 177 local authorities in 2024, compared with 27,731 claims in 2021.<\/p>\n Of the councils which provided data, Glasgow City Council <\/a>saw the second highest increase in claims made with its annual total more than doubling from 1,140 to 2,794. Derbyshire County Council saw the biggest increase in claims over that period, from 224 to 3,307 and Oxfordshire County Council was ranked third, with 488 claims in 2021 and 1,941 in 2024.<\/p>\n The RAC described the overall increase since 2021 as \u201cconcerning\u201d, but noted that the 2024 total represented a 6 percent decline from 56,655 in 2023. The study also indicated that just 26 percent of claims made last year resulted in payouts<\/a>.<\/p>\n Payments<\/a> averaged \u00a3390 whereas the RAC estimated a typical repair bill for a family car suffering pothole damage beyond a puncture is \u00a3590. Common vehicle problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.<\/p>\n Local authorities for Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Medway, Carmarthenshire and Telford all turned down 99 percent of claims received last year, based on the data<\/a> shared with the RAC. Some 177 out of 207 councils in Britain responded to Freedom of Information requests by the motoring services company.<\/p>\n RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: \u201cThe 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\u2019s far from an even picture across the country, with just a handful of councils receiving the lion\u2019s share of claims from beleaguered motorists.<\/p>\n \u201cDrivers are still suffering the consequences of years of neglect to Britain\u2019s local road network. And with some councils not responding to our request for data, there\u2019s every chance that we\u2019re only seeing the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the claims that have been settled.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re now hopeful the dial will really begin to shift as highways authorities in England were this year given a record \u00a31.6 billion by the Government for road maintenance.\u201d<\/p>\n A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: \u201cWe\u2019re investing \u00a37.3 billion over the next four years to help councils resurface roads and fix the pothole plague, giving them certainty to plan ahead and deliver safer, smoother journeys.<\/p>\n \u201cThis will turn the tide on years of underinvestment in our road network, allowing local authorities to move away from expensive, short-term repairs and invest in proactive maintenance and prevent potholes from forming in the first place.\u201d<\/p>\n A Local Government Association spokesperson said councils have a statutory duty to maintain roads but \u201cever-increasing pressure on budgets has impacted their ability to do so as much as they\u2019d like\u201d.<\/p>\n He went on: \u201cNew funding for roads will help turn the tide on the gradual decline of local roads, but this will take time to shift from simply filling potholes reactively \u2013 which pothole compensation laws require \u2013 towards a more proactive, sustainable approach.\u201d<\/p>\n Derbyshire County Council said the rate of compensation claims it has received since May 2025 has decreased by 72 percent, while Glasgow City Council said it has seen a \u201csubstantial reduction\u201d this year compared with 2024.<\/p>\n Oxfordshire County Council said since April 2024 it has invested nearly \u00a314.5 million in the \u201clargest surface dressing programmes we have carried out for at least 20 years\u201d.<\/p>\n Surface dressing is a preservation treatment aimed at avoiding potholes forming. Medway Council said it rejects claims when \u201cit is considered that a court would not award compensation\u201d.<\/p>\n Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![\"Glasgow](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/5_JS207612956.jpg\")
Glasgow has the second most claims in the UK(Image: Derby Telegraph)<\/p>\n