Pothole-related car insurance claims in the United Kingdom have reached record levels, according to new data from Tesco Insurance, with the company settling 12% more pothole damage claims in January 2026 than in the entire second half of 2025.
The figures show that claims paid out in January alone represented 56% of the total number settled throughout 2025. The average payout stood at around £4,441, with January’s total compensation accounting for nearly a third (32%) of all pothole-related payouts made during 2025.
Alex Cross, chief customer officer at Tesco Insurance, said pothole damage could reach its worst levels yet. “It’s no secret that the UK’s roads are suffering badly, with the strain clearly showing on cars and vans from the growing number of potholes on our main roads and side streets,” he said.
“But it’s telling from our figures for January 2026 that pothole damage could reach its worst levels yet. Pothole claims in the first month of the year represented 4.1% of all single-vehicle accident claims we received, the highest ever recorded at Tesco Insurance,” Cross added.
Peterborough and Northampton led the UK for pothole damage claims in January 2026. Peterborough also topped the claims table for 2025 alongside Tonbridge, with the Kent town placing joint third in January’s figures alongside Plymouth and Sheffield.
Wheel damage accounted for the greatest share of pothole claims in January, consistent with trends throughout 2025. Other affected components included bumpers, brakes, suspension systems, and, in at least one case, a panoramic roof. The most common locations for wheel-related pothole claims since 2020 were Peterborough, Tonbridge, Aberdeen, Chelmsford, Stevenage, and Redhill.
Cross advised drivers to take extra care. “With the trend likely to continue as roads deteriorate, we advise drivers to take extra care when driving to avoid any costly damage to their vehicles,” he said.
Tesco Insurance warned the situation could worsen further following significant rainfall recorded across the UK in February 2026.
According to the RAC’s Pothole Index, pothole-related breakdowns rose 15% in 2025, with RAC patrols attending a total of 26,048 incidents - the equivalent of 71 every day - where damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs, or distorted wheels were the cause. The figure marks an increase of more than 3,300 on the previous year.
In a longer-running breakdown of claims since 2020, Peterborough again ranked first, followed by Northampton, Tonbridge, Chelmsford, Plymouth, Glasgow, Guildford, Ipswich, Cambridge, and Nottingham. The cities and towns with the joint lowest claim numbers over the same period included Blackpool, Liverpool, Wakefield, and Warrington, though Tesco Insurance noted these figures may reflect variations in its customer distribution as well as differences in road conditions.
