New data from Aviva shows that one in four pothole-related motor claims in the UK ends in a total write-off. The figures put a sharp focus on a road network that insurers say is increasingly costly to operate around.
The insurer analysed claims from January 2023 to January 2026. The average pothole claim costs £3,863, 54 times the £72 it takes to fix the pothole itself, according to the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey 2025.
Damage ranges from tyres, wheels and alloys to suspension, wheel alignment, batteries, radiators and bumpers.
Hannah Pinches, motor claims director at Aviva, said the scale of write-offs is a concern.
“Many motorists may perceive potholes as an annoyance but it’s worrying to see how many cars have been written off due to severe damage,” she said. “Even seemingly minor damage could result in a vehicle being written off as the structural or safety integrity of the car has been compromised.”
Pinches added that older vehicles face greater exposure. Modern cars carry more built-in technology, which means components such as bumpers are more likely to trigger a write-off assessment when damaged.
Aviva is not alone in tracking the trend. Tesco Insurance settled 12% more pothole damage claims in January 2026 than in the entire second half of 2025. The average payout reached £4,441.
The RAC’s Pothole Index recorded 26,048 pothole-related breakdowns in 2025, the equivalent of 71 every day, where damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels were found.
The seasonal pattern is consistent across the industry. Admiral found that 36% of all pothole claims fall between January and March. Zurich Municipal reported a 19% rise in pothole-related claims in 2024, with road defects causing more than £2.6 million in vehicle damage that year.
Aviva’s data also shows that motorists sometimes swerve to avoid potholes. This can lead to collisions with other vehicles or vulnerable road users.
Repair costs accounted for 64% of all UK motor claims in Q3 2025, totalling £1.9 billion, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI).
The average accidental damage claim rose 8% to £3,699 in Q1 2026, as vehicle complexity and parts prices pushed costs higher.
Pinches called on the government to act faster: “The government deserves credit for providing record funding to repair. It’s crucial that this funding is front-loaded and provides local authorities with the resources to act.”
Zurich Municipal has made the same argument. The insurer says the £1.6 billion already pledged falls well short of the £15.6 billion needed to fully repair the local road network.
For brokers handling motor portfolios, the write-off rate has direct implications for how they communicate total loss risk to clients. The gap between road repair costs and claims costs points to a structural pressure on motor loss ratios. That pressure shows no sign of easing.
