Peterborough named as worst area in country for potholes causing damage to cars

Data from Tesco Insurance has placed Peterborough at the top of the league table for pothole damage claims since 2020.

The company said settled 12% more pothole damage claims in January 2026 than in the entire second half of 2025 across the country.

As reported by The Peterborough Telegraph, the city council said that 787 potholes were reported from January 1 to February 24 this year already compared to just 231 over the same period last year.

The cold and wet winter meant roads suffered more damage than in previous years.

While Tesco Insurance have seen a number of payouts settled, the City Council said they have not paid a penny for repairs to cars.

Since March 2024, there have been 46 claims from motorists to the city council for damage to their car.

Of those, 18 were unsuccessful. One claim, which was made in February last year, was successful – however, a note from the council’s FOI team said: “One claim from February 2025 has been settled following the issue of Court proceedings. This claim was being handled by the Highways contractor Milestone and so would not normally feature in our figures, however Milestone were not willing to settle the entirety of the claim and so the claimant issued legal proceedings against PCC as the highway authority. We then had to settle the claim and recover the money from Milestone, hence it does now feature in our figures, but the net cost to Peterborough City Council is zero.”

The remaining 27 have yet to be concluded.

Peterborough City Council said that since March 2024, they have repaired 7,746 potholes across the city.

Alex Cross, Chief Customer Officer at Tesco Insurance, said: “It’s no secret that the UK’s roads are suffering badly, with the strain clearly showing on cars and vans from the growing number of potholes on our main roads and side streets.

“But it’s telling from our figures for January 2026 that pothole damage could reach its worst levels yet. Pothole claims in the first month of the year represented 4.1% of all single vehicle accident claims we received, the highest ever recorded at Tesco Insurance.”

Across the UK, Peterborough and Northampton lead the way in pothole damage claims for 2026 so far, based on January data. Peterborough also topped last year’s claim table alongside Tonbridge, with the Kent town already sitting in joint third place for the first month of the year, alongside Plymouth and Sheffield.

Top tips for avoiding damage

To help motorists reduce the risk of pothole damage, Tesco Insurance experts have shared five quick tips:

Slow down on poorly maintained roads. Hitting a pothole at speed increases the likelihood of tyre or suspension damage.

Keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, giving you more time to spot potholes and other hazards.

Be especially cautious after heavy rain or flooding, as this is when potholes can fill with water and become harder to see.

Avoid sudden braking or swerving at the last minute, which can increase the risk of losing control or causing further damage.

Check tyre pressure regularly. Underinflated tyres are more vulnerable to impact damage from potholes.

For more details visit https://www.tescoinsurance.com/car-insurance/guides/comprehensive-car-insurance/