Drivers plagued by pothole-laden roads

Northern Ireland’s most pothole-ridden areas have been revealed, with the latest data showing that the region’s broken roads continue to pose a danger to motorists.

Potholes are a persistent source of frustration for drivers, leading to costly repair bills for thousands of motorists in Northern Ireland every year. They are also a major safety concern, increasing the risk of serious accidents and injuries on our roads.

With the arrival of National Pothole Day (January 15), the car insurance experts at CompareNI.com have sifted through the latest government data to identify the worst-hit areas in 2025 and find out which local councils made the most progress in carrying out repairs.

While there was a slight drop in the number of potholes reported over the last 12 months – down 3% from the previous calendar year – they continue to present a significant challenge for NI motorists, accounting for 80% of all road claims received by Stormont last year.*

The statistics show that of the 127,109 surface defects recorded on NI roads in 2025, a staggering 77% (97,897) were related to potholes.**

Although around two thirds (67%) of all reported potholes were fixed last year, the repair rate varied wildly between council areas – with Fermanagh and Omagh tackling 87% of defects compared to 44% in Belfast.

District Council area	Potholes reported 2025	Potholes reported 2024	% change	Potholes repaired 2025	% of potholes repaired 2025
Antrim and Newtownabbey	7426	8914	-17	4787	64
Ards and North Down	5063	6066	-17	2516	50
Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon	6402	9923	-35	3006	47
Belfast	16,856	12,222	+38	7345	44
Lisburn and Castlereagh	3980	4806	-17	2773	70
Causeway Coast and Glens	4455	5501	-19	3086	69
Fermanagh and Omagh	9055	10,373	-13	7836	87
Derry and Strabane	9008	8787	+3	4903	54
Mid and East Antrim	7720	7178	+8	6502	84
Mid Ulster	12,683	11,233	+13	10,118	80
Newry Mourne and Down	15,249	15,484	-2	12,472	82
Total	97,897	100,487	-3	65,344	67

Overall, Belfast emerged as the area with the highest number of reported potholes, with 16,856 in 2025 – a significant rise of 38% from the previous year.

Newry, Mourne and Down was the next hardest hit area at 15,249, followed by Mid Ulster, which recorded 12,683 potholes.

While four of the 11 local council areas saw an increase in potholes year-on-year, the majority experienced a decrease. Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon enjoyed the biggest year-on-year drop of 35%, while Lisburn and Castlereagh recorded the fewest potholes overall at 3980.

Potholes are a consistent bugbear for motorists, with a CompareNI survey finding that 91% of drivers here have issues with potholes in their area, with 96% of respondents saying they weren’t being fixed quickly enough.

Decades of chronic under-investment in NI’s road maintenance has led to a surge in potholes over recent years and created a massive repair backlog, particularly on rural roads.

Due to the budgetary shortfall, the Department for Infrastructure typically only fixes the highest priority road defects, with potholes generally needing to be at least 50mm deep before they qualify for a repair.***

These repairs are often quick fixes that may only last a matter of months,**** an issue which is exacerbated by NI’s increasingly severe weather, with autumn 2025 being the third wettest here since records began.*****

The Department has spent some £383m over the last three years trying to fix Northern Ireland’s roads,****** but it is estimated it would take £1.2bn to bring the region’s road network up to standard.*******

Ian Wilson, car insurance expert and Managing Director at CompareNI.com said: “Potholes continue to be one of the top concerns for drivers, with motorists forking out hundreds if not thousands of pounds every year in repairs to their suspension, steering alignment and tyres.

“In 2024/25, the government paid out £5.1m in compensation to NI drivers over road defects – more than double the amount paid out five years ago,******** which clearly indicates the problem is escalating.

“Not only is the poor condition of our roads creating a financial burden for drivers, but it is also needlessly putting people’s lives at risk.

“It is vital that the government allocates more money to tackling the scourge of potholes, making our roads safer and helping drivers steer clear of costly repair bills.”

Standard fully comprehensive car insurance will typically cover pothole damage, but drivers should note they will likely lose their no claims bonus, leading to potential premium increases down the road.

While potholes can sometimes be an unavoidable part of driving, there are some preventative measures drivers can take to help reduce the risk of damage, such as regularly maintaining tyre pressure, being wary of puddles and checking navigation apps for problem areas.

To report potholes, drivers can contact the Department for Infrastructure – they can also seek compensation for damage to help with repair costs. However, they will need proof the damage came from a pothole, so it is important to take photographs and measurements to use as evidence in the claim.

CompareNI.com gives drivers the tools to shop around and find savings on car insurance, as well as niche items such as van and taxi insurance. 

References:

*https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/road-asset-maintenance-directorate-management-information-roads-related-claims-period-20202021-20242025

**https://www.opendatani.gov.uk/dataset/surface-defects

***https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/infrastructure/mid-and-east-antrim-council-report-2024.PDF

****https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/infrastructure/review-of-structure-maintenance-funding-requirements-for-dfi-roads.pdf (Page 10)

*****https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/news-and-media/media-centre/weather-and-climate-news/2025/november-and-autumn-provisional-stats

******https://datavis.nisra.gov.uk/infrastructure/northern-ireland-road-network-and-condition-statistics-2425.html?utm

*******https://www.niauditoffice.gov.uk/files/niauditoffice/210769%20NIAO%20Structural%20Maintenance%20of%20Roads__3__FOR%20WEB.PDF?utm (Page 10)

********https://www.compareni.com/press/pothole-damage-payouts-total-over-20m