If you’ve ever hit a pothole and winced at the sound, you’re not alone. Now, more and more drivers want the vehicles that cause the most road damage—mainly lorries and big vans—to pay extra to help fix the mess.
According to a new Kwik Fit study, 48% of drivers believe heavier cars should pay more in road tax (also known as Vehicle Excise Duty or VED) because they do more damage to road surfaces. And it’s not just cars—almost 60% of drivers want HGVs (heavy goods vehicles) to pay an additional fee to help fund road repairs, with 44% saying the same for delivery vans.
The UK's pothole problem isn’t going away. In fact, it's costing drivers a fortune—on average, £320 per repair, according to IAM RoadSmart. Some unlucky motorists have paid over £1,000 fixing damage caused by potholes.
And it’s not just a few craters here and there. Reports suggest there are over one million potholes across the UK. The Asphalt Industry Alliance says it’ll take nearly £17 billion to clear the backlog of road repairs.
Cars are getting heavier, especially electric SUVs packed with batteries. In fact, most new vehicles are about 10kg heavier every year and half a centimetre wider. That’s putting even more pressure on roads that are already falling apart.
The government has noticed—just last week, they updated driving licence rules to allow people to drive electric vehicles up to 4,250kg (up from 3,500kg), simply because EVs weigh so much more.
But Should You Pay More?
While most drivers think lorries and vans should foot the bill, few are willing to pay more themselves. Only 25% of people said they’d be happy to pay more road tax if it meant fixing potholes in their area. Most drivers feel they’re already paying enough and want the extra burden to fall on the vehicles doing the most damage.
Still, not everyone agrees. Around 17% are against charging HGVs extra, 23% don’t want vans to pay more, and 21% oppose a heavier tax for big cars.
Kwik Fit’s operations director, Dan Joyce, summed it up: "Our new research highlights that there are no easy answers as to how this [road maintenance] is funded. Motorists already feel that they are contributing enough so it is understandable that they want the additional burden to be on the heavier vehicles believed to do the most damage to road surfaces.
"Of course, any costs placed on businesses through levies on HGVs or delivery vans are likely to be passed through to the end consumer, so it’s critical that potential measures are not looked at in isolation."
Pothole Repair Costs: The Numbers
- £1.7 billion: What UK drivers paid last year to fix pothole damage
- 150%: Increase in pothole repair costs since 2016
- £16.8 billion: Estimated cost to fix all UK road damage
- £320: Average repair bill per driver
- £1,000+: What 5% of drivers spent fixing pothole damage in the last year
How to Make a Pothole Damage Claim in 5 Steps
If your car’s been wrecked by a pothole, here’s how to try and claim back the cost:
1. Get the evidence Take photos of the pothole and your car’s damage. Note the location, time, and date. Councils only consider it a pothole if it’s at least 2 inches deep.
2. Figure out who’s responsible Local roads? That’s your council. Motorways or A-roads? That’s National Highways.
3. Make your claim Most councils and National Highways have templates for pothole claims—use them.
4. If your claim is rejected You can appeal, provide more evidence, or even go to court—but that’s usually only worth it for big repair bills.
5. Claim on your insurance If you’ve got comprehensive cover, you might be able to claim for pothole damage. Just check if your excess or loss of No Claims Bonus makes it worth it.
As heavier vehicles become more common—especially electric ones—the debate around who pays to maintain the roads is only going to grow. Whether or not new levies are introduced, the UK’s pothole problem isn’t getting fixed any time soon. So for now, keep your eyes on the road—and your wallet ready.
