The UK towns with the most pothole claims – and how to get compensated

Potholes can buckle your wheels, snap suspension springs and puncture your tyres.

New data from Tesco Insurance suggests you need to be especially wary if you drive in Peterborough, which topped the insurer's list for pothole damage claims in the first five months of the year, followed by Tonbridge and Northampton.

The insurer received 25% more pothole damage claims between January and May 2026 than in the first six months of 2025.

Here, Which? reveals the other road-damage hotspots and explains what to do if your car hits a pothole.

Which towns have the worst potholes?

Tesco Insurance analysed its customer data from January to May 2026 and ranked the towns and cities with the most and fewest pothole damage claims:

Peterborough tops Tesco Insurance’s pothole claims table, with the provider saying the city recorded the most claims of any UK town or city every year since 2020.

Tonbridge and Northampton round out the top three, while Dorchester, Lincoln and Croydon recorded the fewest damage claims in the first five months of this year.

Earlier this year, the Department for Transport also attempted to identify England's pothole hotspots, creating a new mapping tool and traffic light system. It rated 154 local highway authorities as red, amber or green based on road conditions and how well they were using government funds to make repairs.

Its latest report for 2025 to 2026 showed 13 authorities were graded red, 16 were rated green, and the remaining 125 received an amber rating, meaning improvements are under way, but further work is needed.

Out of all the English towns and cities, Tesco Insurance ranked worst for pothole damage claims; only Ipswich is in a county (Suffolk) rated red by the government.  

• Find out more: how to find cheap car insurance 

Is Britain's pothole problem getting worse?

The RAC estimates drivers have to contend with at least one million potholes on Britain's roads each year.

Its latest Pothole Index showed reports from broken-down drivers about potholes averaged 225 a day in February 2026 alone. That is nearly three and a half times the 66 a day seen in the same month last year and more than five times the 43 recorded daily throughout all of last year.

Tesco Insurance's car cover data also suggests the UK’s pothole problem is worsening. The provider received 25% more pothole-related damage claims between January and May 2026 than in the first six months of 2025. Claims also surged 12% in January alone, compared with the entire second half of 2025.  

Payouts are rising sharply too. The average successful claim jumped 41%, from £3,814 to £5,380.

A spike in pothole damage during the winter months is not unusual. Potholes can form when water gets into cracks in the road surface and repeatedly freezes and thaws, weakening the surface as vehicles pass over it.

January to April mark the peak months for pothole-related damage. Admiral insurance data released earlier this year shows 46% of claims happen during this period.

How much do repairs cost?

Wheels accounted for by far the highest number of pothole damage claims in 2026, according to the latest Tesco Insurance data. That was followed by suspension, engine, the underside of vehicles, bumpers and body panels.

Separate research by Close Brothers Motor Finance found potholes are costing drivers an estimated £3.3bn in repairs every year. 

The average repair bill for common pothole issues, such as suspension damage, misaligned tracking and blown tyres, now stands at £341. 

• Find out more: best car tyres for 2026: tested for year-round driving

Will car insurance cover the costs?

Yes, you should be able to claim the money spent on repairs from your insurer, but you need to carefully weigh up the pros and cons first.

A pothole claim may be recorded as an 'at-fault' claim if your insurer can't recover its costs from another party, and you'll usually need to pay your excess. If the cost of your repairs is lower than your excess, making a claim won't make financial sense. Making a claim can also raise the future price of your policy and affect your no-claims discount, unless it's protected.

It's particularly important to have breakdown cover in case a pothole stops you in your tracks.  Ensure your policy includes roadside assistance and local recovery options that will tow your car to a garage if pothole damage renders it undrivable 

• Find out more: our guide on the best breakdown providers reveals how the companies we've rated stack up against each other. As you'll see, the best breakdown providers aren't always the most expensive. 

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Can you claim compensation instead?

If claiming on your insurance doesn’t make financial sense, you may be able to seek compensation from the organisation responsible for maintaining the road.

To give yourself the best chance of success, make sure you gather as much evidence as possible. Take lots of photos of the pothole in its exact location and any damage it caused to your car, and keep all receipts for repair work. 

Not all roads are maintained by councils. Responsibility depends on the type of road and where the damage happened. If you’re unsure who maintains the road, you can search by road name, town or postcode on the government website before submitting a claim.

The authority may agree to cover all, some or none, of your repair costs. If your claim is rejected, check whether the authority has a process for challenging its decision. As a last resort, you can take the case to the small claims court, although it’s sensible to seek legal advice first.

• Find out more: read our guide on how to report a pothole and claim compensation