The bill for fixing potholes in the UK – and the damage they inflict on our cars – is skyrocketing. With the cost of vehicle repairs on the rise, the government’s increased budget for mending shoddy road surfaces can’t come a moment too soon.
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Potholes are infamous for wreaking havoc on vehicles, leading to issues like damaged shock absorbers, busted suspension springs and warped wheels. These nuisances can form when water beneath the road surface freezes, thaws and evaporates, creating sub-surface cavities that crumble and cave in under the weight of passing vehicles.
The projected cost to mend all local roads in England and Wales blighted by potholes is a whopping £16.3 billion. Government funding for local road maintenance in England for the 2025/26 financial year will be nearly £1.6 billion, a £500 million increase from the previous year.
The AA has disclosed that the total cost of repairing vehicles it attended due to poor road surfaces in 2024 was a staggering £579 million. This marks a significant jump from the £474 million spent during the previous year and sets a new record high.
Despite fewer incidents, the escalating cost of car repair is taking a bigger bite out of motorists’ wallets.
The AA has taken advantage of National Pothole Day to call on councils to ditch the quick-fix ‘patch and run’ approach in favour of more lasting solutions. The Department for Transport (DfT) is on board, committing to ensuring local authorities use their funds wisely to carry out “proactive maintenance” and stop potholes before they start.
Authorities will have to prove they’re using a quarter of their increased funding effectively before they see the rest of it. Adam Hug from the Local Government Association’s transport team has called on the Government to rethink this strategy, arguing that councils need certainty to plan ahead.
He said: “Greater and sustainable long-term funding will enable councils to far more effectively plan for and invest in preventative treatments, which keep surfaces in better condition for longer.”
“The upcoming spending review provides an opportunity to give councils greater, longer-term funding certainty so they can help make our local roads more resilient to severe weather, boost inclusive economic growth and prevent potholes which are more expensive to repair than preventative measures.”
Meanwhile, AA president Edmund King has offered a glimmer of hope, noting: “There is some light at the end of the pothole tunnel.”
“The Government has listened to the Pothole Partnership and is beginning to instigate policies that should lead to longer-term fixes rather than the recent patchwork approach. The good news is that pothole-related car incidents have declined, but the bad news is that the cost of repairs has increased.”
“Potholes are still the number one issue for drivers and more needs to be done to build on this improvement.”
Have your say! Where are the worst roads for potholes in London? Comment below, and join in on the conversation.