How do I report a pothole?

For drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who spot a pothole on a public road.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Report a pothole to the local council for the road where you found it; GOV.UK can find the right council from the postcode.

In England, report potholes on motorways and major A roads to National Highways instead, on 0300 123 5000 (24 hours).
If you were injured because of a road or pavement hazard, you may be able to claim compensation from the council (England and Wales).

Different in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland: report local roads to your council, and motorways and major A roads (trunk roads) to Traffic Scotland on 0800 028 1414.
Northern Ireland: report to the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Roads online.

Key facts

Local roads: your council
Motorways in England: National Highways
Scotland trunk roads: Traffic Scotland
NI: DfI Roads

What you need

The exact location: road name, nearest house number or junction, and the postcode if you know it.
Where the pothole is on the road, for example which lane, or whether it is on the road or the pavement.
A description of its approximate size and depth.

Who to report it to

Where the pothole is	Who to tell
Local road in England or Wales	Your local council
Motorway or major A road in England	National Highways
Local road in Scotland	Your local council
Motorway or major A road (trunk road) in Scotland	Traffic Scotland
Any public road in Northern Ireland	Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Roads

How to report a pothole in England or Wales

Go to the GOV.UK "Report a pothole" page.
Enter the postcode of the road where you found the pothole, for example SW1A 2AA.
You are sent to the right council's reporting page.
Fill in the council's form with the location and details.
Keep any reference number the council gives you.

If the pothole is on a motorway or an A road managed by National Highways, report it to National Highways instead. You can use its online reporting service, email info@nationalhighways.co.uk, or call 0300 123 5000. The phone line is open 24 hours.

Pavement problems are reported separately, through the GOV.UK "Report a problem with a pavement" service.

After you report it

The council or roads authority responsible for the road deals with the repair. Your details on size and depth help it judge how risky the defect is. In Northern Ireland you can track the progress of a reported road fault online through nidirect.

If a pothole injured you

In England and Wales, you may be able to claim compensation from the local council if you were injured because of a hazard on a road or pavement. GOV.UK sends you to your council's claims page by postcode. Each council sets out what it needs from you.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Wales: use the same GOV.UK postcode tool to find your council.
Scotland: report potholes on local roads to your council. You can find all 32 councils through mygov.scot. For trunk roads, such as motorways and major A roads, contact Traffic Scotland on 0800 028 1414 (24 hours) or email info@trafficscotland.org for non-emergencies.
Northern Ireland: DfI Roads maintains and repairs publicly maintained roads and footways. Report a pothole by marking it on the online map on nidirect. Private roads may be the responsibility of a developer or private owner.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Report a pothole (GOV.UK)
Claim compensation for injuries caused by roads or pavements (GOV.UK)
Report a pothole in Scotland (mygov.scot)
Report a pothole or other surface defect (nidirect)

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Report a pothole

Common questions

Who fixes potholes on motorways?

In England, National Highways looks after motorways and the A roads it manages. You can call it on 0300 123 5000, 24 hours a day.

What should I include in my report?

Give the exact location and describe the approximate size and depth of the pothole, as DfI Roads asks in Northern Ireland.

Can I claim if a pothole injured me?

In England and Wales you may be able to claim compensation from the local council if a road or pavement hazard injured you.

Official sources

1.Report a potholewww.gov.uk/report-pothole
2.Claim compensation for injuries caused by roads or pavementswww.gov.uk/claim-compensation-injury-road-pavement
3.Report a pothole (Scotland)www.mygov.scot/report-pothole/
4.Report a pothole or other surface defect (Northern Ireland)www.nidirect.gov.uk/services/report-pothole-or-other-surface-defect

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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