Potholes have caused damage to nearly a third of cars in the UK – with the average repair bill setting drivers back more than £140 – according to the latest research by Citroën UK. In a study of 2,000 UK drivers, 32% said their car had been damaged after hitting a pothole^*. The average repair cost for the damage was £141.95, although 11% of the drivers surveyed said they had spent more than £251 on getting their car back on the road.

Nearly a quarter of those with vehicle damage said they had tried to claim back the cost of the repairs from their local council, while 42% of the study participants said they wished their vehicle had better suspension to help deal with the rougher roads in the UK.

According to the latest Asphalt Industry Alliance ALARM report, local authorities in England and Wales paid £5.9 million in pothole-related compensation to drivers in 2019/2020^**. The ALARM report found that while a pothole is filled in England and Wales every 21 seconds, authorities face an annual budget fall of £826.6 million, with 9% of the road network in poor condition and likely to require maintenance in the next 12 months.

Eurig Druce, Managing Director of Citroën UK, said: “It is concerning to find that potholes have caused damage to nearly a third of drivers’ cars across England and Wales. Local authorities have a lot of issues to solve and this will take time.”