Pothole repairs must come with a five-year warranty to end a widespread ‘patch and run’ approach in the UK, according to the Pothole Partnership.
The Pothole Partnership comprises The AA, JCB, British Cycling, and the National Motorcyclists Council.
It said that councils in the UK are reliant on short-term fixes that fail drivers, cost millions in vehicle repairs and risk the safety of all road users.
According to the latest AA figures, there were 613,638 pothole‑related callouts in 2025, an average of 1,681 every day, with 58,275 in December alone. It estimates that the average repair cost for a pothole incident last year was £350, which equates to £645m for all UK drivers.
Unacceptable
Edmund King, AA president, said: “Potholes are more than an irritation; they cause damage, disruption and danger on a daily basis. Despite billions spent by successive governments, our patrols still attended more than 600,000 pothole‑related breakdowns last year. That is simply unacceptable for a modern road network.
“A five‑year warranty on every non‑emergency pothole repair would be a game‑changer. It shifts the focus from short‑term patches to long‑lasting repairs and ensures accountability from those carrying out the work.
“Drivers, cyclists and motorcyclists deserve roads that stay fixed, not ones that crumble again within weeks. The damage costs drivers hundreds of thousands of pounds and can cost those on two wheels their lives.”
