Only £375k paid out in past financial year over pothole claims

Only £375k paid out in past financial year over pothole claims

13 August 2025

DRIVERS across Newry, Mourne and Down were awarded just over £375,000 in compensation claims for pothole damage to their vehicles in the last financial year.

New figures reveal that province-wide, the value of claims settled by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) amounted to £5.1m, more than double the amount paid out five years ago (£2m).

While personal injury claims made up just 14% of the 4,696 claims received last year, they accounted for about 76% of the total compensation awarded (£3.9m).

Meanwhile, vehicle damage compensation last year amounted to £1.1m, a rise of 15% on 2023/24. 

Northern Ireland drivers have been awarded more than £20m in road claim compensation over the past five years, according to the new figures provided by CompareNI.com.

Almost 20,000 public liability claims for potholes and road defects were made between April 2020 and the end of March, costing Stormont £20.6m in payouts.

Belfast North was the most expensive area in terms of compensation last year at £692,000 followed by Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon at £580,000.

At the other end of the scale, the lowest expense for road claims was in Causeway Coast & Glens at £39,000, with Derry City and Strabane just behind at £41,000.

In addition to the £20.6m in compensation over five years, the NI Executive spent a further £12.1m on various legal costs and medical fees, taking the total cost of road claims since 2020 to £32.7m.

CompareNI.com says potholes continue to present a “significant issue” for Northern Ireland motorists, accounting for 80% of all claims received by the DfI last year.

A recent survey by car insurance experts at CompareNI.com found that 91% of drivers have issues with potholes in their area, with 96% of respondents saying they weren’t being fixed quickly enough.

The insurer’s managing director, Ian Wilson, said potholes are consistently one of the biggest bugbears for drivers, leading to costly repair bills for thousands of motorists every year.

“Not only can potholes and other road defects cause serious damage to vehicles, including to suspension, steering alignment and tyres, but they also increase the risk of serious accidents and injuries,” he said.

“While standard fully comprehensive car insurance should cover pothole damage, it is worth remembering that making a claim though your provider could see you lose your no claims bonus, potentially increasing the cost of your premium.”

Mr Wilson said pothole damage to vehicles is becoming more expensive due to the increased costs of parts and labour, meaning the repair bill will typically be higher than the excess on the insurance policy – in which case, drivers may look to their insurance for help.

Drivers who experience damage from potholes can also contact the Department for Infrastructure and seek compensation, but will need proof the damage came from a pothole so it is important to take photographs and measurements to use as evidence in the claim.