Pothole levy for heavy vehicles supported by most drivers

Admin

June 19, 2025
3 min read

Pothole levy for heavy vehicles supported by most drivers

With pothole damage to vehicles increasing, many drivers believe that funding road repairs should be covered by those with the biggest impact. Research from Kwik Fit, which tracks the annual cost of damage to vehicles from pothole impact, has found that a majority of drivers believe that drivers of HGVs should make a larger contribution to cover repairs. Just over half of drivers believe that lorry drivers should pay an additional levy with 17% disagreeing.

Nearly half of drivers said that they believe the weight of a vehicle should be a factor in how vehicles are taxed. Owners of heavy cars, they told Kwik Fit, should pay a higher rate to reflect the impact they have on the nation’s roads while a fifth were against it.

SUVs Should Pay Higher Tax and Parking Fees, Says London Assembly

London Assembly calls for increased charges for SUV drivers to tackle emissions and urban congestion.

Bonnet Heights Rising, Creating Greater Safety Risks

New report finds modern vehicle design increases threat to pedestrians and cyclists.

Repair Bills Nearly 20% Higher on Most Popular Cars

Owners of Britain’s best-selling vehicles face rising repair costs, according to analysis.

Kwik Fit published its PIT Report (Pothole Impact Tracker) 2025 earlier this year. This revealed that over the last year, the country’s drivers paid £1.7bn to repair vehicle damage caused by potholes. As well as being financially damaging, this new data shows that the vast majority of drivers believe the condition of our roads reflects poorly on the nation. 77% of drivers say that the number of potholes on UK roads is an embarrassment for one of the world’s leading economies.

The government has clearly recognised the impact potholes are having and recently announced new measures to tackle them. However, many drivers remain sceptical of the difference this will make. Despite the additional funding from the government, 64% of drivers say they don’t expect to see an improvement in the condition of roads in their local area in the near future.

It’s clear from the research that most motorists feel they are already personally paying enough to support the country’s road maintenance programme. In contrast to a levy on HGVs or vans, only a quarter (26%) of drivers would be prepared to pay more ‘road tax’ which would be ringfenced for road repairs in their local area. Interestingly, younger drivers would be much more willing to do so than older drivers. Two-fifths of Gen Z (40%) and Millennials (38%) would be prepared to pay an additional local road tax, compared to just 18% of Generation X and 15% of Boomers.

Stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.