The Unreported Cost of Potholes

Potholes are a common nuisance on Britain's roads, with nearly two thirds of drivers (63 percent) believing the roads in their area are in poor or very poor condition. But what is the true cost of damage and injury caused by potholes?

webuyanycar.com carried out a Freedom Of Information request to every council and borough in the UK and found that over £16m of taxpayers’ money has been paid to drivers in compensation between 2018 and 2020, caused by 2.48m reported potholes.

Here, you'll be able to see just how your council fared against others in your region, from how much compensation they paid out to how many potholes were reported.

 

East Midlands

Derby City

£98,327

Derby City council paid 37% more in compensation and reported 43% less potholes than the East Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Derbyshire County

£998,844

Derbyshire County council paid 346% more in compensation and reported 151% more potholes than the East Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Leicester City

£14,118

Leicester City council paid 86% less in compensation and reported 89% less potholes than the East Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Leicestershire County

£16,838

Leicestershire County council paid 91% less in compensation and reported 81% less potholes than the East Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Lincolnshire County

£1,860,595

Lincolnshire County council paid 528% more in compensation and reported 74% more potholes than the East Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Northamptonshire County

£223,320

Northamptonshire County council paid 6% more in compensation and reported 15% less potholes than the East Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Nottingham City

£19,965

Nottingham City council paid 79% less in compensation and reported 90% less potholes than the East Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Nottinghamshire County

£139,175

Nottinghamshire County council paid 54% less in compensation and reported 245% more potholes than the East Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Rutland County

£2,557

Rutland County council paid 77% less in compensation and reported 77% less potholes than the East Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

 

East of England

Cambridgeshire County

£339,717

Cambridgeshire County council paid 139% more in compensation than the East of England average per thousand inhabitants.

Central Bedfordshire

£68,000

Central Bedfordshire council paid 8% more in compensation and reported 3% more potholes than the East of England average per thousand inhabitants.

Essex County

£112,973

Essex County council paid 69% less in compensation and reported 22% less potholes than the East of England average per thousand inhabitants.

Hertfordshire County

£218,077

Hertfordshire County council paid 11% less in compensation and reported 10% more potholes than the East of England average per thousand inhabitants.

Norfolk County

£135,351

Norfolk County council paid 31% less in compensation and reported 29% less potholes than the East of England average per thousand inhabitants.

Peterborough City

2,080

Peterborough City council reported 300% less potholes than the East of England average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Suffolk County

£182,358

Suffolk County council paid 64% more in compensation and reported 105% more potholes than the East of England average per thousand inhabitants.

 

London

City of London

737

City of London council reported 300% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Barking and Dagenham

£383,455

Barking and Dagenham council paid 803% more in compensation than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Bexley

£34,073

Bexley council paid 31% less in compensation and reported 10% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Brent

£120,574

Brent council paid 83% more in compensation and reported 35% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Bromley

£26,397

Bromley council paid 60% less in compensation and reported 50% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Camden

£32,288

Camden council paid 40% less in compensation and reported 74% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Croydon

10,031

Croydon council reported 37% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Ealing

£2,629

Ealing council paid 96% less in compensation than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Hackney

£164,857

Hackney council paid 194% more in compensation and reported 6% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Hammersmith & Fulham

163

Hammersmith & Fulham council reported 95% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Haringey

£28,536

Haringey council paid 47% less in compensation than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Harrow

£5,714

Harrow council paid 89% less in compensation and reported 50% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Hillingdon

£31,246

Hillingdon council paid 49% less in compensation and reported 21% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Hounslow

3,532

Hounslow council reported 31% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Islington

£23,788

Islington council paid 51% less in compensation and reported 59% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Lambeth

£31,517

Lambeth council paid 52% less in compensation and reported 74% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Lewisham

£94,587

Lewisham council paid 55% more in compensation and reported 76% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Merton

£23,903

Merton council paid 42% less in compensation and reported 67% more potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Newham

£78,987

Newham council paid 12% more in compensation and reported 33% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Redbridge

£1,246

Redbridge council paid 98% less in compensation and reported 26% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Southwark

£20,012

Southwark council paid 69% less in compensation and reported 86% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Tower Hamlets

£27,350

Tower Hamlets council paid 58% less in compensation and reported 60% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Waltham Forest

£37,912

Waltham Forest council paid 31% less in compensation than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Wandsworth

£24,931

Wandsworth council paid 62% less in compensation and reported 74% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Greenwich

£4,569

Greenwich council paid 92% less in compensation and reported 59% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Kensington and Chelsea

118

Kensington and Chelsea council reported 96% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Windsor and Maidenhead

£1,358

Windsor and Maidenhead council paid 96% less in compensation than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

Westminster City

£7,691

Westminster City council paid 85% less in compensation and reported 31% less potholes than the London average per thousand inhabitants.

 

North East

Durham County

£35,194

Durham County council paid 93% less in compensation and reported 182% more potholes than the North East average per thousand inhabitants.

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough

£69,869

Gateshead Metropolitan Borough council paid 38% less in compensation and reported 89% less potholes than the North East average per thousand inhabitants.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne City

£13,435

Newcastle-upon-Tyne City council paid 92% less in compensation and reported 89% less potholes than the North East average per thousand inhabitants.

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough

2,172

North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough council reported 84% less potholes than the North East average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Northumberland County

£903,905

Northumberland County council paid 406% more in compensation and reported 166% more potholes than the North East average per thousand inhabitants.

South Tyneside

£12,912

South Tyneside council paid 85% less in compensation than the North East average per thousand inhabitants.

Sunderland City

£1,150

Sunderland City council paid 99% less in compensation and reported 86% less potholes than the North East average per thousand inhabitants.

 

North West

Bolton Metropolitan Borough

£60,690

Bolton Metropolitan Borough council paid 49% less in compensation and reported 7% less potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Cheshire East (Unitary)

£64,059

Cheshire East (Unitary) council paid 59% less in compensation and reported 123% more potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Cheshire West and Chester

£526,186

Cheshire West and Chester council paid 87% more in compensation and reported 28% less potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Cumbria County

£392,796

Cumbria County council paid 144% more in compensation and reported 62% more potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough

£58,791

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough council paid 5% less in compensation and reported 78% less potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Lancashire County

£469,135

Lancashire County council paid 20% less in compensation than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Manchester City

21,792

Manchester City council reported 8% less potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough

£139,276

Rochdale Metropolitan Borough council paid 52% more in compensation and reported 149% more potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Salford City

£24,443

Salford City council paid 77% less in compensation and reported 70% less potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Sefton Metropolitan Borough

£2,919

Sefton Metropolitan Borough council paid 97% less in compensation than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Stockport Metropolitan Borough

£24,415

Stockport Metropolitan Borough council paid 80% less in compensation and reported 63% less potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough

£154,627

Tameside Metropolitan Borough council paid 66% more in compensation and reported 56% less potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Trafford Metropolitan Borough

£188,850

Trafford Metropolitan Borough council paid 93% more in compensation and reported 38% more potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

Wigan Metropolitan Borough

£37,827

Wigan Metropolitan Borough council paid 72% less in compensation and reported 62% less potholes than the North West average per thousand inhabitants.

 

South East

Buckinghamshire

£109,817

Buckinghamshire council paid 31% less in compensation and reported 62% more potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants.

Hampshire County

£206,273

Hampshire County council paid 53% less in compensation and reported 40% less potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants.

Isle of Wight

£1,660

Isle of Wight council paid 96% less in compensation and reported 49% less potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants.

Kent County

£275,440

Kent County council paid 34% less in compensation and reported 28% less potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants.

Milton Keynes

£125,500

Milton Keynes council paid 58% more in compensation and reported 57% less potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants.

Oxford City

2,420

Oxford City council reported 300% less potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Oxfordshire County

£408,364

Oxfordshire County council paid 158% more in compensation and reported 219% more potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants.

Portsmouth City

696

Portsmouth City council reported 94% less potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

Southampton City

£108

Southampton City council paid 100% less in compensation and reported 56% less potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants.

Surrey County

£1,372,539

Surrey County council paid 290% more in compensation and reported 114% more potholes than the South East average per thousand inhabitants.

West Berkshire

£40,045

West Berkshire council paid 93% less in compensation than the South East average per thousand inhabitants.

 

South West

Bath and North East Somerset

£18,047

Bath and North East Somerset council paid 51% less in compensation and reported 71% less potholes than the South West average per thousand inhabitants.

Bristol City

£14,858

Bristol City council paid 83% less in compensation and reported 87% less potholes than the South West average per thousand inhabitants.

Cornwall (Unitary)

£48,455

Cornwall (Unitary) council paid 55% less in compensation and reported 86% more potholes than the South West average per thousand inhabitants.

Devon County

£242,085

Devon County council paid 36% more in compensation and reported 160% more potholes than the South West average per thousand inhabitants.

Dorset County

£5,353

Dorset County council paid 96% less in compensation than the South West average per thousand inhabitants.

Gloucestershire County

£79,983

Gloucestershire County council paid 17% less in compensation and reported 117% more potholes than the South West average per thousand inhabitants.

Plymouth City

£189,543

Plymouth City council paid 281% more in compensation and reported 59% less potholes than the South West average per thousand inhabitants.

Somerset County

£47,078

Somerset County council paid 70% less in compensation and reported 74% less potholes than the South West average per thousand inhabitants.

Wiltshire

£212,317

Wiltshire council paid 55% more in compensation and reported 72% less potholes than the South West average per thousand inhabitants.

 

Wales

Blaenau Gwent County Borough

£612

Blaenau Gwent County Borough council paid 96% less in compensation and reported 18% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Bridgend County Borough

£20,633

Bridgend County Borough council paid 28% less in compensation and reported 45% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Caerphilly County Borough

£18,500

Caerphilly County Borough council paid 47% less in compensation and reported 72% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Cardiff

£52,190

Cardiff council paid 27% less in compensation and reported 29% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Carmarthenshire

£37,238

Carmarthenshire council paid 1% more in compensation and reported 22% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Flintshire County

£141,739

Flintshire County council paid 367% more in compensation and reported 41% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Gwynedd County

£6,156

Gwynedd County council paid 75% less in compensation and reported 27% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough

£2,960

Merthyr Tydfil County Borough council paid 75% less in compensation and reported 46% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Monmouthshire County

£20,969

Monmouthshire County council paid 14% more in compensation and reported 16% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Newport City

£5,956

Newport City council paid 80% less in compensation and reported 74% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Pembrokeshire County

£14,051

Pembrokeshire County council paid 43% less in compensation and reported 83% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Powys County

£62,515

Powys County council paid 143% more in compensation and reported 27% more potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough

£8,744

Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough council paid 81% less in compensation and reported 46% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Swansea City and Borough

£74,424

Swansea City and Borough council paid 55% more in compensation and reported 26% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Torfaen County Borough

£11,485

Torfaen County Borough council paid 37% less in compensation and reported 58% less potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

Wrexham County Borough

£32,614

Wrexham County Borough council paid 23% more in compensation and reported 81% more potholes than the Wales average per thousand inhabitants.

 

West Midlands

Birmingham City

£210,151

Birmingham City council paid 62% less in compensation and reported 38% less potholes than the West Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Coventry City

£23,954

Coventry City council paid 87% less in compensation and reported 74% less potholes than the West Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Dudley Metropolitan Borough

£98,348

Dudley Metropolitan Borough council paid 36% less in compensation and reported 46% less potholes than the West Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Herefordshire

£23,973

Herefordshire council paid 86% less in compensation and reported 2% less potholes than the West Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough

£25,547

Solihull Metropolitan Borough council paid 75% less in compensation and reported 21% less potholes than the west Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Staffordshire County

£1,457,258

Staffordshire County council paid 245% more in compensation and reported 34% more potholes than the West Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Stoke-on-Trent City

£378,411

Stoke-on-Trent City council paid 208% more in compensation and reported 207% more potholes than the West Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Wolverhampton City

£94,711

Wolverhampton City council paid 25% less in compensation and reported 18% less potholes than the West Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

Worcestershire County

£50,503

Worcestershire County council paid 82% less in compensation and reported 42% less potholes than the West Midlands average per thousand inhabitants.

 

Yorkshire and the Humber

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough

£19,598

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough council paid 80% less in compensation and reported 66% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

Bradford Metropolitan District

£71,517

Bradford Metropolitan District council paid 66% less in compensation and reported 75% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough

£29,644

Calderdale Metropolitan Borough council paid 64% less in compensation and reported 73% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

City of York

£22,130

City of York council paid 73% less in compensation and reported 2% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough

7,207

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough council reported 36% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants. Compensation data was not disclosed.

East Riding of Yorkshire

£24,380

East Riding of Yorkshire council paid 82% less in compensation and reported 29% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

Hull City

£58,995

Hull City council paid 41% less in compensation and reported 14% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

Leeds City

£174,529

Leeds City council paid 43% less in compensation and reported 42% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

North East Lincolnshire

£683

North East Lincolnshire council paid 99% less in compensation and reported 46% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

North Yorkshire County

£221,119

North Yorkshire County council paid 36% less in compensation and reported 63% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough

£232,388

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough council paid 126% more in compensation and reported 544% more potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.

Sheffield City

£69,367

Sheffield City council paid 69% less in compensation and reported 31% less potholes than the Yorkshire and the Humber average per thousand inhabitants.