New research from Close Brothers Motor Finance reveals that potholes are costing drivers an estimated £3.3 billion in vehicle repairs every year, highlighting the financial strain poor road conditions are placing on motorists in the UK.
The deteriorating state of Britain's roads is having a direct impact on the nation's drivers with almost one in four motorists (23%) having suffered damage from hitting a pothole in the past year alone.
The average cost to repair common pothole issues, such as suspension damage, misaligned tracking, and blown tyres, now stands at £341. When this figure is scaled up to encompass the nation’s 42.3 million licensed vehicles, the true financial impact of our crumbling roads can be seen clearly on a national scale.
Beyond the immediate financial hit, the crisis is causing widespread anxiety among road users. Separate consumer research from Close Brothers Motor Finance found that 27% of motorists now rank potholes among their single biggest concerns when it comes to owning and driving a vehicle, highlighting a deep and growing frustration with the state of the UK's infrastructure.
John Cassidy, Managing Director at Close Brothers Motor Finance, said, “The state of Britain’s roads has escalated from a minor driving inconvenience into a multi-billion crisis that is hitting motorists directly in the pocket. Facing an unexpected repair bill of £341 is a bitter pill to swallow. The fear of a surprise financial hit is manifesting as real anxiety for many Brits, with over a quarter listing potholes among their biggest concerns when driving.
“At a time when drivers are already navigating high insurance premiums, running costs, and a broader cost-of-living crisis, we hope the government will continue to support motorists and properly equip local councils to fix this worsening issue.”
Road maintenance body Alarm surveys the pothole situation every year and supplied the image above.
