Somerset pothole claims hit 1,100 as drivers paid £93k
By Laura Linham 12th Mar 2026
Drivers in Somerset have submitted more than 1,100 compensation claims for pothole-related vehicle damage in recent years, according to new research.
Figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests by Confused.com show that 1,110 claims were made to Somerset Council.
Of those, just 37 claims were successful, with the authority paying out £93,191 in compensation to motorists.
The same dataset shows the scale of pothole reporting across the county, with 17,490 potholes reported to the council.
During the same period, 38,941 potholes were recorded as fixed across Somerset's road network.
National pothole crisis
The Somerset figures form part of a wider UK picture showing the growing scale of pothole problems across the country.
More than 3.4 million potholes have been reported to councils nationwide since 2022, including more than 600,000 in 2025 alone.
Across the UK, 144,230 compensation claims were submitted for pothole-related damage between 2022 and 2025.
Councils paid out over £11 million in compensation to drivers during that period.
However, the percentage of successful claims is falling. In 2025, councils paid compensation for 19% of claims, down from 29% in 2024.
Drivers covering repair costs
Separate research among 2,000 motorists suggests potholes are now a routine hazard on UK roads.
More than half of drivers (53%) believe road conditions are worse than in previous years.
Around 22% say they drive over potholes every day, while 41% encounter them several times a week.
Nearly half (49%) say they regularly have to swerve to avoid potholes and 43% fear potholes could cause a crash or injury.
The financial impact is significant, with 86% of drivers saying they have paid for repairs themselves after pothole damage.
On average, drivers say their most recent repair bill cost £175.
Matt Crole-Rees, motoring expert at Confused.com car insurance, said potholes remain a major concern for motorists.
"Many drivers are still experiencing disruption caused by deteriorating road conditions, which can lead to vehicle damage and unexpected repair costs," he said.
"Our research shows the vast majority of drivers have had to pay for repairs themselves, with the average pothole fix costing £175."
To help, Confused.com has launched a pothole reporting tool to make the next steps simpler. It shows key pothole data from your local council, including reports, repairs and compensation claims, and directs users to the relevant page to report an issue or make a claim, so they can quickly take action.
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