The state of UK roads has been described as a "national disgrace" by the industry body responsible for the most comprehensive annual survey of local road conditions. The 2026 ALARM report, published yesterday by the Asphalt Industry Alliance, paints a stark picture: councils in England and Wales now face an £18.62 billion backlog of repairs just to bring local roads up to an acceptable standard.
For drivers, the consequences are real and expensive. The AA was called out to 137,000 pothole-related incidents in January and February 2026 alone — 25,000 more than the same period last year. Three in ten drivers say their vehicles have suffered pothole damage in the past 12 months, with the average repair bill coming in at £590.
How bad is it?
The numbers are sobering. According to the 2026 ALARM survey — the 31st edition, completed by 79% of local authorities — only 51% of local roads are in good structural condition, meaning they have 15 or more years of life remaining.
Almost one in six local roads — equivalent to more than 32,500 miles — have less than five years of structural life remaining. Nearly half the entire network (100,000+ miles) has less than 15 years left.
Local authorities filled 1.9 million potholes over the past year at a cost of £149.3 million — that's more than 5,200 every single day. Yet the backlog continues to grow, because roads are being resurfaced on average only once every 97 years.
Even with a 17% increase in average highway maintenance budgets to £30.5 million per authority, councils say they still needed an additional £1.37 billion — roughly £8.1 million each — just to prevent further deterioration. The gap between what's needed and what's spent continues to widen.
"I think all road users would agree that the condition of our local roads has become a national disgrace. The impact of frequent adverse weather events on a consistently underfunded — and increasingly fragile — network are coming home to roost."
— David Giles, Chair, Asphalt Industry Alliance
Why potholes are getting worse
The main cause is decades of underinvestment combined with worsening weather. Potholes form when water gets beneath the road surface, weakens the base layer, and is then driven over repeatedly by traffic. Freezing and thawing cycles accelerate the damage significantly — and the UK has experienced record levels of wet weather through the start of 2026.
The RAC has reported that pothole mentions by members during breakdowns surged in early 2026. In February alone, 6,290 drivers specifically mentioned potholes when logging breakdowns — compared to just 1,842 in February 2025. That's more than a threefold increase.
Much of the problem comes down to how repairs are done. Cash-strapped councils have relied on a reactive "patch and dash" approach — filling individual potholes quickly, sometimes in wet conditions — rather than properly resurfacing roads. These quick patches often break down within months, creating the same pothole again. Proper resurfacing is more expensive upfront but far cheaper in the long run.
What the government is doing
The government has pledged £7.3 billion over four years (2026–2030) to tackle local road conditions in England, along with a £1.6 billion investment for the current financial year — nearly 50% more than last year. It has also committed to repairing an additional one million potholes per year across England.
However, the ALARM survey found that despite this extra funding, actual road conditions have only improved marginally. The Asphalt Industry Alliance has urged the government to frontload the investment — spending more in the early years rather than gradually ramping up to 2030 — arguing this would allow councils to shift from reactive patching to proper preventative resurfacing.
Clearing the full £18.62 billion backlog would take an estimated 12 years. But the industry argues it would be worth it: once cleared, annual maintenance costs would drop by roughly £1 billion per year, freeing up funds that could be spent elsewhere.
What pothole damage can do to your car
Common types of pothole damage
- Tyres — punctures, sidewall bulges, and blowouts are the most common. The RAC has attended 20% more punctures in 2026 compared to last year.
- Wheels — buckled or cracked alloys, especially at higher speeds. Even a single hit can permanently warp a wheel.
- Suspension — damaged shock absorbers and broken suspension springs. These may not be immediately obvious but affect handling and tyre wear.
- Steering alignment — a hard pothole strike can knock your wheels out of alignment, causing uneven tyre wear and pulling to one side.
- Bodywork — deep potholes or standing water hiding a pothole can cause underside damage and scraping.
The average cost of a pothole repair — for anything beyond a simple puncture — is around £590 for a typical family car. Alloy wheel replacements, suspension work, and alignment corrections can quickly push bills higher. According to industry estimates, around a third of all recorded vehicle damage in the UK is attributable to potholes.
How to claim compensation for pothole damage
If a pothole damages your car, you may be entitled to claim compensation from the authority responsible for maintaining that road. Here's what you need to know.
Who is responsible?
Different authorities maintain different types of road. On most local roads in England and Wales, your local county, city or borough council is responsible. Motorways and major A-roads are managed by National Highways (in England), Traffic Wales, or Transport Scotland. In Northern Ireland, contact the Department for Infrastructure.
Step-by-step: making a pothole damage claim
- Collect evidence immediately — photograph the pothole (with something for scale if possible), note the exact location (road name, what3words reference, or GPS coordinates), and photograph any damage to your vehicle. Do this on the same day if you can.
- Report the pothole — in England, use the GOV.UK postcode checker to find and report to the right council. This creates an official record. Even if you don't claim, reporting it protects other drivers.
- Get repair quotes — obtain two or three written quotes for the damage. Keep all invoices and receipts if you've already had repairs done.
- Contact the responsible authority — check your council's website for their claims procedure. Many have online claim forms. Include all your evidence, photos, repair quotes, and details of when and where the incident happened.
- Be patient but persistent — claims can take several months. Some councils aim to respond within four months, but complex cases may take longer. Keep copies of everything you send.
The Section 58 defence
Councils have a legal defence under Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980. If they can demonstrate that they took reasonable steps to maintain the road — including carrying out regular inspections and repairing known defects within set timescales — they may not be liable, even if your car was damaged.
This means your chances of a successful claim are significantly better if the pothole had already been reported to the council before you hit it and they had failed to repair it within their own published timescales. If the pothole appeared between inspections and nobody had reported it, the council is more likely to successfully defend the claim.
Important to know
Success rates for pothole claims vary widely between councils — from as low as 2% to as high as 68% depending on the authority. Don't be discouraged by a rejection. You can ask to see the council's road inspection records and, if you believe the claim was wrongly rejected, escalate to the small claims court. However, be aware that compensation is paid from public funds, so consider whether the amount justifies the process.
Can I claim on my car insurance instead?
If you have fully comprehensive car insurance, you may be able to claim via your insurer for pothole damage. However, bear in mind that this will count as a fault claim (since no other vehicle is involved), which could affect your no-claims bonus and push up your premium at renewal. For damage under £500–£600, it may be cheaper to pay for repairs yourself or pursue the council route.
How to protect yourself
Practical tips for drivers
- Slow down on damaged roads — the faster you're going, the worse the impact. Reducing speed on visibly poor surfaces gives you more time to react and reduces the force of any hit.
- Watch for standing water — puddles often conceal deep potholes. If you can't see the road surface, assume the worst and slow right down.
- Don't swerve suddenly — swerving to avoid a pothole can put you into oncoming traffic or cause a collision. If you can't safely avoid it, it's better to hit the pothole at a controlled speed than swerve into danger.
- Check your tyres regularly — properly inflated tyres with good tread are more resilient to pothole damage. Under-inflated tyres are particularly vulnerable.
- Report every pothole you see — this creates an official record that helps other drivers claim, pressures councils to act, and is a legal requirement for future liability.
- Keep a dash cam running — video evidence of the moment you hit a pothole can significantly strengthen a compensation claim.
The bigger picture for drivers
Poor roads don't just damage vehicles — they cost drivers money in other ways too. Pothole-damaged roads increase fuel consumption because uneven surfaces create more rolling resistance. Misaligned wheels from pothole strikes cause uneven tyre wear, meaning you replace tyres sooner. And drivers increasingly report taking risky actions — swerving, braking suddenly, or crossing the centre line — to avoid potholes, which creates real road safety hazards.
The RAC's own research found that road condition is now the number one motoring concern for UK drivers in 2026, with 47% citing it as their top issue — ahead of fuel prices, insurance costs, or congestion.
While the government's increased funding is a welcome start, the industry consensus is clear: it will be some time before drivers notice a real difference. In the meantime, being aware of your rights, reporting potholes when you see them, and knowing how to claim if the worst happens puts you in the strongest possible position.