Scots drivers face 'crumbling' local roads as insurance claims to councils soar (2025)

EXCLUSIVE: The number of insurance claims to Scots councils citing poor road maintenance has soared by 69 per cent in recent years.

Drivers are counting the cost of Scotland's "crumbling" local road network as pothole-related insurance claims soar.

Research by Scottish Labour found that between 2019 and 2023 the number of insurance claims to councils citing poor road maintenance rose by 69 per cent.

Eight local authority areas have seen claims from drivers more than double, while four have seen claims more than triple.

In Glasgow, 2,135 insurance claims were lodged to the City Council citing poor roads maintenance in 2023 - an increase of 97 per cent on the total in 2019.

The number of claims in Edinburgh increased from 221 to 669 in the same period.

During the five year period, more than 27,000 insurance claims were sent to town halls from drivers suffering vehicle damage as a result of poor road maintenance.

Scottish Labour today blamed years of SNP Government budget cuts to councils for the declining state of local roads - and warned the sharp rise in insurance claims will stretch their budgets even further.

Claire Baker, Scottish Labour transport spokeswoman, said: "Under the SNP local roads are crumbling, and motorists and councils are paying the price.

"Thousands of drivers every year are left dealing with damage from Scotland’s pothole-ridden roads, despite paying ever-rising Council Tax bills.

"Years of brutal SNP cuts has made it increasingly impossible for councils to deliver the basics, and soaring numbers of insurance claims will only pile on pressure.

"Labour has ended the era of Tory austerity and delivered record levels of funding for Scotland, so the SNP has no more excuses for short-changing councils.

"The SNP must work with local authorities to bring our roads up to scratch and end this pothole misery."

It was previously revealed that Scotland’s road repair backlog has risen to £2.56 billion.

John Swinney last month insisted Scottish councils were "adequately" funded to fix potholes.

The First Minister spoke after the UK Government announced an extra £500m for road maintenance in England.

Swinney said his administration was providing an additional £1bn in funding for councils in the 2025-26 budget.

The SNP leader said: "We fulfilled the request of local government for a real-terms increase in their core funding, so they could tackle issues such as potholes and other issues.

"The Scottish Government has adequately and fully funded local government to make sure these issues, such as potholes, can be tackled in our local communities so that we can invest in our public infrastructure and meet the needs of the public."

Cosla, which represents councils, said local authorities were committed to keeping roads for which they were responsible safe and carried out critical maintenance "where necessary".

A Scottish Government spokesman said has councils had received "a record £15 billion" in funding this year.

They added: "Ministers expect local authorities to allocate that funding to meet local needs including road repair and upkeep.”

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