Scotland’s pothole crisis just hit a painful new milestone. A fresh BBC Scotland investigation has revealed that councils handed over more than £2 million to drivers for vehicle damage caused by crumbling roads over the past five years. But behind that figure sits a frustrating truth, one that thousands of motorists across the country are about to learn the hard way.
The £2 Million Bill Hitting Scotland’s Councils
Figures gathered through freedom of information requests show the true scale of the damage. Councils in Scotland paid out a total of £2,029,045 for pothole-related vehicle damage.
Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, local authorities received more than 18,600 claims for pothole-related vehicle damage across Scotland, but only around a quarter received compensation.
And the real total could be even higher. Complete data was only provided by 25 out of the 32 Scottish councils, so the true figure will be higher.
Zoom out to the wider picture and the numbers get heavier. Across Britain, over 146,000 claims were submitted for pothole-inflicted vehicle damage over the past five years, with councils paying out £13.5m in claims.
Where Scotland’s Pothole Hotspots Are
The pain is not evenly spread. Some councils are writing fat cheques, while others are slamming the door shut on nearly every driver who applies.
Highland Council had the largest pothole bill of all councils, paying out almost £580,000 over the five-year period. It was also the most generous when it came to approving claims.
| Council | Claim Success Rate |
|---|---|
| Highland | 74% |
| Aberdeenshire | 22% |
| City of Edinburgh | 6% |
| North Ayrshire | 6% |
| South Ayrshire | 6% |
On average, 22% of claims were successful in Scotland, slightly lower than the average across Britain of 24%. In total, nearly 5,500 claims received payouts.
Glasgow remains the unofficial pothole capital. Recent investigations revealed that Glasgow was hit by more than 34,000 official pothole reports in less than two years. RAC data published last year showed that pothole compensation claims against the council more than doubled from 1,140 in 2021 to 2,794 in 2024.
‘It Was a Bit Scary’: Drivers Speak Out
The numbers are huge, but the human stories show what is really at stake on Scotland’s roads.
Marie McCallum, a mobile hairdresser from Macduff, is one of the lucky few who got her money back. The pothole caused nearly £200 worth of damage to her car.
She told BBC Scotland how the crash unfolded on a bend with a lorry coming the other way, leaving her no choice but to drive straight over the hole. Describing the compensation process, McCallum said: “I sent an email to the council, not expecting compensation back. I had to send in photos, which luckily I took at the time, and my receipt. It went to Aberdeenshire Council and then it had to go to their insurance company. I think I got 90% of the bill.”
Even after her win, she still drives in fear. “I live in Macduff and on the main road there is a big pothole, you’ve got to avoid it every time or slow down. I’m frightened I’ll go over it and rip the tyre again.”
Mechanics are seeing the fallout up close. Lewis Mennie, manager at Westhill Cars, told BBC Scotland his garage had seen a “significant increase” in the amount of cars requiring repairs for suspension components, wheels, tyres and wheel alignment.
“These components aren’t needing replaced for any other reason other than due to the road conditions. We’re seeing cars that are maybe one or two years old requiring replacement parts that they shouldn’t be needing. It’s purely down to the road conditions.”
He warned the problem now goes beyond cost. “It’s getting to the stage now where it could become a safety issue because of people swerving potholes.”
How to Claim and What to Watch For
Drivers are not automatically owed a penny. Despite figures suggesting Scotland’s pothole problem is getting worse, drivers are not automatically entitled to compensation from councils. Drivers could only be entitled to a payout if the council is legally liable.
If you want a real shot at success, the basics matter. Here is what works:
- Take clear photos of the pothole right after the incident
- Measure the depth and width if it is safe to do so
- Note the exact location, date and time
- Keep every repair receipt and quote
- Report the defect to your council’s online system
- Submit your claim in writing with all evidence attached
The AA’s data shows why drivers must stay alert. The AA recorded 5,241 pothole-related incidents in Scotland in March, an increase of almost 8% on the previous month. It said its monthly average for 2026 is tracking at 5,295 incidents, higher than in recent years.
What Politicians and Councils Are Saying
The blame game is heating up fast. Cosla, which represents Scotland’s councils, said authority finances were under “intense pressure”, adding that authorities were having to “juggle competing priorities”.
The Scottish government insists it is doing its part. “The Scottish Budget 2026/27 provides record funding of £15.7bn to local authorities, including £250m of unrestricted general revenue grant. It is for individual local authorities to allocate the total resources that are available to them on the basis of local needs and priorities.”
Bigger money is now on the table. The SNP has promised a £350 million “Better Surfaces” fund to tackle potholes. Meanwhile, SNP-led Glasgow City Council has desperately pledged £119 million to upgrade the city’s battered road network after it was branded the ‘pothole capital’ of Scotland.
Opposition voices are not impressed. Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said motorists are “trying to go to work, go about their daily business and, more often than not, they’re encountering these highly dangerous potholes”. Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer argued that governments keep pouring money into new roads while letting existing ones rot.
The investigation paints a picture of a country where every drive can turn into an expensive gamble. Roads that should connect communities are instead draining wallets, damaging cars and rattling nerves from the Highlands to the Borders. For families already squeezed by rising bills, a £200 tyre repair from a hole that should not exist feels like a final insult. Have you ever claimed compensation from your council for pothole damage, or has a bad road wrecked your vehicle this year? Share your story in the comments and let other drivers know what really worked.
