New research has suggested that fewer than one in five compensation claims for damage to vehicles caused by potholes are successful.

Motoring firm Halfords said potholes are now a “huge issue” across the country, with its research showing that more than a quarter of drivers have had their vehicles damaged.

The company added that even if the Government met its pledge to fill in a million potholes a year, it would only “plaster over the cracks”.

Only one in five motorists paid compensation by councils for pothole damage to their cars

Karen Bellairs, Halfords’ managing director of garages, said: “The UK’s roads are in a shocking state and drivers are hitting potholes more and more frequently.”

In Halfords' research, dozens of councils suggested that only 18% of compensation claims for motorists whose vehicles were damaged by driving over potholes were successful.

Halfords has launched a pothole damage check which it said was aimed at helping drivers make claims for pothole-related damage.

Recommended Reading:

How to claim compensation from the council for pothole damage to your car

Am I legally allowed to fill in potholes myself on UK roads? Here is the law

Am I allowed to fill in potholes all by myself?

Experts strongly advise against doing this as you could be held liable for damages caused to another car.

DAS Law states: "We would recommend anyone considering repairing a pothole themselves to instead report the matter to the relevant authority as soon as possible. 

"This will allow the authority to conduct their own assessment of the matter and if necessary repair the road to the correct standards. 

"This could potentially avoid any personal liability both criminally and civilly that may occur when conducting a repair attempt yourself."