To report a pothole in Glasgow, use the council’s online road fault report. If it’s a clear and immediate danger, phone the emergency line on 0800 373635. Motorways and trunk roads like the M8 aren’t the council’s, so report those to Traffic Scotland on 0800 0281414. If a pothole damaged your car, you can claim through the council’s claims page. The council decides a claim on whether it was legally liable, so a claim isn’t guaranteed, but you can still send one in.
Last checked: 26 October 2026.
How to report a pothole in Glasgow
Glasgow City Council looks after the public roads and footways on its statutory list of public roads. Start with its online report for a road or pavement fault. The council’s road faults page lists what you can report there:
- Potholes
- Damaged footways
- Blocked drains and flooding
- Damaged or missing traffic signs and road markings
- Manhole cover defects
- Faded or missing street nameplates
Report each pothole once. The council asks you not to send duplicate reports, because they can cause delays. For other problems like flytipping or broken lights, our report a problem guide points you to the right place.
When it’s an emergency
A defect that’s a clear and immediate danger, meaning a high risk to life or limb, can be treated as an emergency. Phone 0800 373635 for that. For an ordinary pothole, use the online report.
What happens after you report it
The council now repairs defects by risk. This is what its page says happens:
- A roads inspector visits the location and assesses the defect. It’s logged at that point.
- The council responds based on the level of risk. High level defects come first, within 5 days if required.
- A pothole that isn’t a risk is repaired permanently first time, with no temporary patch. These first time repairs can take up to 60 working days to arrange.
- Potholes that aren’t classed as defects are monitored and put on a programme of future patching works.
So a pothole you report may not be filled the next week. That’s how the council’s system works now. The full policy is in the council’s Road Safety Inspection and Repair Manual.
Motorways and trunk roads
The council doesn’t look after motorways and trunk roads. Amey maintains them on behalf of Transport Scotland. For a fault on the M73, M74, M77, M8, M80, A725, A726, A737, A738, A76, A77, A78 or A8, phone Traffic Scotland’s customer care line on 0800 0281414. You can also find the service on the Traffic Scotland website.
For sewage problems on public roads or footpaths, phone Scottish Water on 0800 0778 778. If you’re not sure who owns the road, the council’s statutory list above is the place to check. Driving on the M8 a lot? Our driving in Glasgow guide covers the rest of the city’s roads.
Claiming for pothole damage
You can claim against Glasgow City Council for vehicle damage, including damage from potholes. The council also takes claims for property damage or loss and for personal injury. Its compensation page has the online form, and it calls that the quickest and easiest way.
What decides it
The council decides a claim on whether you can show it acted negligently or failed to carry out its statutory duties correctly. It calls this legal liability. In plain terms, the council has to have got something wrong, and the council says it’s up to you to show that. Each claim is assessed case by case, so there’s no promise either way.
What you need
- The date of the incident
- The exact location
- Details of what happened, including the defect
- Details of the damage to your vehicle, and of any injuries
- Details of any visits to your GP or local NHS hospital because of injuries
The online form has no save button, so you can’t finish it later. Have everything ready before you start.
Photos and receipts
You can upload documents with your claim: photos of the damage, photos of the spot where it happened, and scans or photos of receipts for repair work. You can attach up to 5 documents, with a 50MB limit on all files. The council says incomplete or hard to read documents can delay your claim, so check each one before you send it.
How long a claim takes
The council emails you to say it has received your form, then acknowledges your claim within 21 working days. That email has a claims reference number, which you should quote in all correspondence. If the claim is rejected at that stage, you’re emailed to say what extra information, if any, would let it go ahead.
After that the council investigates whether it’s liable and tells you the outcome. It says there’s no time limit on handling a claim and the time varies. Claims involving injury can be more complex and take longer. If you’ve not heard for a while, the council says your claim is still being looked at.
If you can’t use the online form
You can download the council’s paper form from the compensation page and post it to Claims Team, Glasgow City Council, Financial Services, PO Box 27098, Glasgow G1 9EB.
Tips before you claim
- Note the date and the exact location straight away. The form asks for both.
- Photograph the damage to your vehicle and the place where it happened.
- Keep every receipt for repair work.
- If you were hurt, keep a note of any GP or hospital visit.
- Read the form’s guidance first. The council also has guidance notes for the claim form (a Word document).
- Have it all ready before you start, as the form can’t be saved part way.
Also report the pothole itself, so it gets inspected and fixed. Cyclists can hit the same ones, and our cycling in Glasgow guide has more on getting around safely. Separately, if a parking fine is part of your trouble, see our parking fines guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I report a pothole in Glasgow?
Use the council’s online report for a road or pavement fault. Report each pothole once. For a clear and immediate danger, phone 0800 373635.
Is there a Glasgow pothole map?
The council pages we read don’t show a pothole map. The map the council links from its road faults page is for lighting columns, control pillars and road gullies, not potholes.
Can I claim for pothole damage in Glasgow?
Yes, you can make a claim. The council’s compensation page covers vehicle damage from potholes. It decides on whether it was legally liable, which means it acted negligently or failed in its statutory duties. That isn’t guaranteed.
Where do I claim for pothole damage?
Use the online claim form on the council’s compensation page. There’s also a paper form you can post if the online one doesn’t suit you.
How long does a pothole claim take?
The council acknowledges your claim by email within 21 working days. The investigation has no set time limit and depends on the case.
Who do I report a pothole on the M8 to?
Phone Traffic Scotland on 0800 0281414. Motorways and trunk roads are looked after by Amey for Transport Scotland, not the council.
How long will the council take to fix a pothole?
High level defects come first, within 5 days if required. A permanent first time repair for a lower risk pothole can take up to 60 working days to arrange.
