The cost of mending vehicles damaged by potholes in the UK reached a record-breaking high last year, according to new data. Potholes are notorious for causing issues such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.
The AA revealed that the total cost of repairing vehicles it attended due to poor road surfaces in 2024 was a staggering £579 million. This is a significant increase from the £474 million spent during the previous 12 months and marks the highest total on record.
Despite a slight decrease in incidents, from 647,690 to 643,318, the average repair bill jumped from £250 to £300. The AA attributes this rise to inflation, advanced car technology and spare parts shortages.
As part of the Pothole Partnership campaign group, the AA marked National Pothole Day on Wednesday by urging local authorities to prioritise permanent resurfacing and repairs over temporary ‘patch and run’ policies. 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 12 months.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has pledged to ensure highway authorities “spend the money wisely” and deliver “proactive maintenance” to prevent potholes from forming. .
One-fourth of the increased funding will be withheld until authorities demonstrate its effective usage. Adam Hug, Local Government Association’s transport spokesperson, urged the Government to reconsider this decision, providing councils with the certainty they require.
He stated: “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.”
(Image: PA Graphics/Press Association Images)
“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.”
The estimated cost to repair pothole-ridden local roads in England and Wales stands at £16.3 billion. AA president Edmund King remarked: “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.”
Breakdown rescue firm, the RAC, reported a 17 per cent surge in pothole-related callouts between October and December, compared to the previous quarter. The company warns that the issue may escalate this year due to the recent severe weather, which led to one of its busiest periods for breakdowns in the past five years.
Potholes often form when water seeps into road surface cracks, freezes, and expands. RAC spokeswoman Alice Simpson stated: “In the aftermath of this month’s blast of snow and ice, we may see the unwelcome trend continue in 2025.
“To prevent water-damaged roads in future, we urge local highways authorities to resurface those in the worst condition and surface dress (a preservation treatment) other roads to stop them deteriorating further. Hopefully the Government funding announced before Christmas will go some way towards literally filling in the cracks.”
On Wednesday, Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood will visit a JCB factory in Derbyshire to meet engineers and test the Pothole Pro machine, which can repair a pothole in eight minutes and is currently used by 20 local authorities.
Ms Greenwood said: “Potholes are a clear sign of decline in our infrastructure, and for too long roads like those in Derbyshire have been left in a state which endangers and costs road users.
“It’s time for change and we are investing £1.6 billion to fix up to seven million more potholes across England next year, including over £75 million for the East Midlands Combined Authority.
“JCB’s Pothole Pro is one of the many great examples of using new technology to repair potholes faster and demonstrates how companies are harnessing new technology to repair potholes faster.”
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