11^th February 2026: The damage caused by Britain’s ‘pothole pandemic’ is escalating fast, with garages across the country overwhelmed by a six-fold rise in pothole-related vehicle repairs in 2025 compared to 2021.

It’s no longer just tyres taking the hit. New data from GSF Car Parts reveals that hidden potholes are now damaging suspension, steering and wheels, with garages dealing with 74% more damage-related repairs than in 2021. Around 100,000 pothole-related breakdowns were recorded in 2021, compared to more than 600,000 recorded in 2025, according to AA data.

The surge is leaving workshops battling soaring demand for parts, longer repair times, and mounting pressure to keep up with the influx of vehicles suffering from pothole-related issues.

And motorists are paying the price. With the average repair bill after hitting a pothole standing at £350 in January 2025, drivers are now increasingly being hit with eye-watering bills of £500 or more, and in some cases thousands of pounds, according to GSF findings.

With repair costs spiralling, the nationwide bill is now on course to jump beyond last year’s £1.7 billion figure, piling even more financial pressure on cash-strapped households.

In North Wales, pothole-related repairs are higher than anywhere else in the country, with drivers forking out three times the national average in repair costs. This is despite more than 130,000 potholes being filled in Wales last year. In December, it was reported that 99% of damage claims were rejected by councils across Wales.

However, the situation is significantly better in South Wales, where motorists are in line with the national average.

The regions least impacted by potholes in the UK are the South West, East Midlands and Yorkshire, coming in significantly below the national average for pothole-related damage.

GSF branded the surge in potholes since 2021 as “concerning” and has warned the issue may worsen this year. Steve Horne, CEO at GSF Car Parts, said: “Not enough is being done. Garages across the country are under intense pressure as the scale of damage continues to grow. We are doing everything we can to support garages on the frontline, working closely with them to keep essential parts moving quickly and help get drivers back on the road. But this isn’t a seasonal spike, it’s becoming a permanent problem. Until the state of Britain’s roads improves, both garages and motorists will continue to pay the price.”