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To report a pothole and follow up, send it through the official reporting route of the authority responsible for that road, then save the case reference and use that authority’s status page or map. The right recipient, form, urgency contact, inspection threshold and update options vary by location; a submission is not a promise that the council will order a repair or complete one by a particular date.
This guide covers local-road reporting in the UK, using examples from England and Wales. Check the road authority’s current instructions for your location before submitting.
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First identify who maintains the road. Then use that authority’s official online pothole or highway-problem form for a routine defect. A nearby council is not necessarily the right authority: responsibility can depend on the road’s classification and whether it falls within the council’s area.
- Check the responsible authority. Start with your local council’s highways or road-maintenance page. Follow its directions if it sends reports to a county council, another authority or National Highways.
- Open the official report form. Choose the closest matching category, such as pothole or road damage, and place a pin on the map if the form provides one.
- Describe the location and defect. Give the road name, an accurate map point and nearby landmarks. Add a grid reference or What3Words only if the form requests or accepts it. Describe the approximate size, depth and position if you can do so safely and accurately.
- Add a photo only if it is safe. Do not step into the road, stand in a dangerous place or otherwise put yourself at risk to take a picture. A photo is supporting information, not a reason to approach the defect.
- Submit and keep the confirmation. Save the reference number, confirmation email or other case details. You may need them to check progress or contact the authority.
Use the authority’s own reporting route unless its instructions say otherwise. A third-party reporting platform may not feed into every council’s system: Monmouthshire, for example, says it does not receive or process road reports through FixMyStreet and asks people to use its own pothole reporting guidance.
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When you open the form, select the category that most closely describes the issue rather than choosing a different type of road problem simply to get through the form. Some authorities provide a map-led process, while others ask you to enter location details in fields. Follow the prompts on the live form, and make sure the pin lands on the road or path where the defect is—not on a nearby building or junction. If the map marker is slightly off, clarify the location in the description.
A platform accepting a report is not the same as the authority receiving it. Councils may ask residents to use their own portal because reports need to enter that authority’s case system. If a third-party site appears to offer reporting, first check whether the responsible authority says it accepts submissions through that service. If not, use its own route to avoid a report that cannot be processed there.
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Who do I report a pothole to on a main road?
Do not assume that a main road is maintained by the council responsible for nearby streets. Check the authority’s road-maintenance directions: some major roads are managed by a county council or National Highways, and the relevant boundary or classification can change who takes the report.
Local examples show why checking matters. Oxford City Council directs reports about main roads to Oxfordshire County Council and says it handles minor roads on the county council’s behalf. Leicestershire County Council directs Leicester city reports elsewhere and sends motorway and major A-road potholes to National Highways. North Yorkshire also identifies particular trunk roads for National Highways. These are local arrangements, not a single map of responsibility for the UK.
If a council’s report page indicates that it does not maintain the road, follow its referral or signposting instructions rather than filing a duplicate report with several authorities. If the responsible body is unclear, its highways contact page is the safest place to confirm before submitting.
The road’s everyday name does not always tell you who maintains it. A road can pass through one council’s area while responsibility sits with another authority, and arrangements can differ between minor roads and major routes. The Oxford and Leicestershire examples show why it is worth checking the official directions even if you already know the nearest council. Do not assume every A-road belongs to the same body: follow the named road list or route guidance on the relevant authority’s page.
What information do I need to report a pothole?
The authority needs to be able to find the defect. A precise location is usually more useful than a long description: provide the road name and map pin, then add landmarks or a grid reference where the form supports them.
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- Where it is: road name, map location, nearby junction or landmark, and any requested grid reference or What3Words location.
- What you saw: approximate size and depth, and where it sits in the road or pavement, if known.
- Evidence: a photograph only when you can take it safely. Do not enter the carriageway or take risks to obtain one.
- Contact details: provide an email address or other requested details if you want the authority to send confirmation or updates, where available.
Forms differ, so answer the fields the authority actually provides. Do not guess measurements or put yourself in danger to make the report more detailed. If you cannot safely estimate the defect’s dimensions, a clear location and plain description still help the authority assess it.
For a road with several similar junctions, a nearby landmark, direction of travel or the side of the road can make a map point easier to interpret. If the form asks for a grid reference or What3Words location, supply it in the format requested. These details complement the road name and map pin; they do not replace the authority’s own location fields.
Describe what you can observe rather than trying to diagnose the cause. For example, explain that the defect is near a particular junction and give an approximate size if known. The form may ask for a photo, but a picture is optional evidence only where the authority offers that field and you can take it safely. Do not stop in an unsafe place, walk into traffic or attempt to measure a defect in the carriageway.
What should I do if the pothole is an immediate danger?
Use the responsible authority’s urgent phone contact or emergency guidance if the defect appears to create an imminent danger. A routine online form is intended for non-emergency reports and may not reach the right person quickly enough for an urgent hazard.
Urgency definitions and phone numbers are local. Check the authority’s road-problem page for the correct contact and follow its instructions; do not rely on a number from a different council. If the authority describes the issue as suitable for ordinary reporting, submit it through the routine form and retain the reference.
Choosing the urgent route does not mean that every defect will be classed as an emergency. Councils distinguish ordinary maintenance reports from hazards that need prompt attention, and the authority’s published guidance determines which contact to use. If the online form or service page gives separate instructions for severe or dangerous defects, follow those rather than waiting for a routine submission to be reviewed.
Do not put yourself in danger while reporting or trying to warn others. In particular, do not stand in the carriageway to photograph the pothole. If you have already submitted a routine report and the situation changes so that it appears immediately dangerous, use the authority’s urgent contact guidance instead of relying only on the original case status.
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How can I track my pothole report?
Use the same authority’s tracking page, map or account system that handles the report. Keep the case reference, check whether the location is already listed, and subscribe to updates if the system offers that option. Tracking features differ: some allow map searches without an account, while others restrict case tracking or updates for guest reports.
- Check for an existing report before submitting. Look at the authority’s map or report list, if available. If the same defect is already recorded, use the existing case or subscribe rather than creating a duplicate, following the council’s instructions.
- Save the reference when you submit. Note the number and keep any confirmation email. Some authorities use that reference to retrieve the case.
- Open the status route stated by the authority. This may be a map pin, a tracking page or a signed-in account. Enter the reference or select the location as prompted.
- Opt into updates if available. Check whether you need to give an email address, sign in, or subscribe to the existing report. A guest submission may not appear in your account.
Examples illustrate the differences. Hertfordshire says users can check progress, obtain a reference or subscribe by email when a fault is already on its map, and advises: “There’s no need to report it again.” Liverpool allows signed-in users to track reports and lets people subscribe to an issue already reported at the same location; it also accepts reports without an account, but says it cannot provide case updates without contact details. Oldham directs users to use the reference supplied at submission. Suffolk says an email address brings a reference and updates, while people who do not provide one can search its map and select the report pin. Monmouthshire says guest reports cannot be tracked within the user’s account. Use the particular authority’s own instructions rather than assuming another council’s options apply.
These examples also show why keeping the reference matters. Oldham uses the submission reference to find progress, while Suffolk describes both an email-based route and a map-pin route for people who did not provide an email address. If you have lost the reference, check the authority’s confirmation email or its map and account options; whether you can retrieve the case without the number depends on the system.
Before sending a second report, check whether the original has appeared on the authority’s map or case list. If the same location is already recorded, a follow or subscribe option may be available instead. Hertfordshire explicitly advises against reporting an existing mapped fault again. A second submission can create a duplicate rather than add useful information, so use the council’s stated update or contact route if you need to correct the location or explain that the condition has changed.
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How long does a council take to fix a pothole?
There is no single UK pothole repair deadline or universal size threshold in the local guidance cited here. A council may inspect a report without ordering a repair, and its published inspection or repair times depend on local standards, the risk assessment and available work programmes.
Authorities may consider the defect’s size and location, road type, traffic volume, speed and public-safety risk. North Yorkshire describes factors including risk, size, location, traffic volume and road speed; Hertfordshire says prioritisation can also account for road type, budget and planned work. Those factors help explain why an acknowledgement or inspection does not guarantee an immediate repair.
That means there are two different questions to check on a local service page: when the authority expects to inspect or assess a report, and when it may carry out any resulting repair. A stated inspection period is not automatically a repair deadline. Similarly, a report that has been accepted or assessed may not lead to work if it does not meet the authority’s local intervention criteria. Check the wording of the status and service page rather than treating every update as a promise of a repair date.
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Published local examples should not be treated as national rules:
- Liverpool: its guidance says it normally inspects road potholes deeper than 4 cm and pavement, cycle-path or crossing defects deeper than 2.5 cm. It gives a non-emergency inspection within 10 days in its examples and says severe hazards should be phoned in.
- Oldham: it gives the same example depth thresholds for road and pavement-type defects and says a reference number can be used to track a report.
- Suffolk: its example criterion is a road pothole at least 4 cm deep and 20 cm wide. It says reports are assessed according to problem type, road category and public-safety risk.
These figures describe the named councils’ guidance only. They are not a recommended reporting cutoff for other places: report the defect through the responsible authority’s route and follow its current local criteria. Also distinguish an inspection timeframe from a repair date. Liverpool’s example refers to inspection; it does not establish a deadline for completing a repair.
Do not use another council’s threshold to decide whether a defect is worth reporting. Liverpool and Oldham describe particular depth examples, while Suffolk also specifies a width in its example criterion. The figures are not interchangeable, and they do not establish one UK-wide standard. A local authority may assess a report using its own road categories, safety considerations and service rules, so its current instructions are the relevant ones for your location.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if the status has not changed?
Start by checking the case through the route the council specifies and confirm that the report is attached to the right location. If you have a reference, use it; if the authority uses a map, search the pin or select the existing report. Check whether your submission was made as a guest and whether the council requires an account or contact details for updates.
If the report is already listed, avoid sending another for the same defect unless the authority tells you to. Use its update or contact option to provide a correction or explain that the hazard has changed. If the situation has become an immediate danger, follow the authority’s urgent phone guidance rather than waiting for an ordinary online status to change. The council’s local service page controls what status labels mean and what follow-up it accepts.
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If you have new information—for example, the map pin needs correcting or the defect has changed—use the authority’s update option where available. Do not create repeated reports simply to try to prompt a faster response. If the hazard now appears immediate, the urgent contact route is the appropriate way to flag that change.
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How do follow-up options vary by council?
The useful comparison is not just whether a report form exists, but whether it provides a reference, supports guest tracking and offers updates. Those details are local and can affect how easily you can follow the case later. It is also worth checking whether the authority directs urgent hazards to a separate phone contact and whether it asks for reports through its own system.
| Authority | What its guidance says about tracking or routing |
|---|---|
| Hertfordshire | For a fault already on its map, users can check progress, get a reference or subscribe to email updates; it says not to report it again. |
| Liverpool | Signed-in users can track reports; users can subscribe to an existing issue. Reports can be made without an account, but without contact details the council cannot provide case updates. |
| Oldham | Use the reference number supplied at submission to find progress. |
| Suffolk | An email address brings a reference and updates; without one, users can search the map and select the report pin. |
| Monmouthshire | Guest reports cannot be tracked within the user’s account, and the council asks people to use its own reporting channel rather than FixMyStreet. |
These are examples from the authorities’ published guidance, not a guarantee that every feature is available for every report. Check the current form before submitting, especially if you want email updates or intend to report without signing in.
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There is no need to buy special equipment to make a useful report. The relevant steps are using the correct authority’s form or phone route, supplying a clear location and retaining the reference. A photo can help if the authority accepts one and you can take it safely, but it is not worth creating a risk to obtain it; a phone or other equipment does not improve a report’s priority or guarantee a faster repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I report a pothole to my council?
Check which authority maintains the road, then use its official pothole or highway-problem form for a routine defect. Add a precise location and any safe, requested details, submit the report and save the confirmation or reference.
How can I track my pothole report?
Use the responsible authority’s tracking page, map or account system, using the reference number if you have one. Some councils allow map searches or subscriptions without an account; others limit updates for guest reports.
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What information do I need to report a pothole?
Give the road name and a precise map point, then add a nearby landmark or requested grid reference or What3Words location. Describe approximate size, depth and position if known, and provide contact details if you want available updates. Take a photo only if safe.
Who do I report a pothole to on a main road?
Check the road-maintenance directions for that location. A county council or National Highways may maintain a main road, and the responsible authority can differ from the council that handles nearby streets.
How long does a council take to fix a pothole?
There is no single UK response or repair deadline. Local thresholds and inspection times vary, and an inspection or assessment does not guarantee a repair. Check the responsible authority’s current service information.
