Tarmac Driveway Repairs

A proper tarmac repair cuts out the damaged area in a neat square, digs out any failed stone beneath, rebuilds and compacts the base, bonds the edges and lays new hot tarmac flush with the drive.

What is included in a tarmac driveway repair?

Find the cause: water, root, soft base or missing edge
Saw-cut the damaged area square, back to sound tarmac
Dig out and replace failed sub-base, compact in layers
Bond coat to the cut faces and base
Hot binder and surface course laid flush and rolled
Joints sealed to stop water getting under the patch
Edge restraint replaced where the side has crumbled

How is it built?

How much does a tarmac driveway repair cost?

As a 2026 guide at our UK midpoint rate, £150–£400 each inc VAT. Edging, drainage and access are itemised separately where they apply.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Pothole or small patch repair, cut out and re-laid	£150–£400 each
Crack sealing on a domestic drive	£100–£300 per job
Edge repair with new edge restraint	£300–£800 per job

Rates vary by region:

Region	Guide (inc VAT)
London	£180–£480 each
South East	£160–£440 each
East of England	£160–£420 each
South West	£150–£410 each
West Midlands	£150–£400 each
East Midlands	£150–£390 each
North West	£150–£390 each
Yorkshire and the Humber	£140–£380 each
North East	£140–£370 each
Wales	£140–£380 each
Scotland	£150–£390 each
Northern Ireland	£130–£350 each

Guides only. Your survey turns these into a fixed written price. Full price list · Guide price tool

When it suits

Isolated potholes or sunken patches
Crumbling edges next to lawns or borders
Trip hazards near doors and gates

Watch out for

A repaired patch will be darker than an older drive until it weathers
Widespread cracking is a sign the whole drive needs resurfacing or rebuilding
Roots from nearby trees can lift a repair again

How long does it take and how long does it last?

On site: Usually half a day to a day
Lifespan: A well-made hot repair should last as long as the drive around it

Do I need planning permission?

It depends where you live and where the water goes.

England: A new hard surface over 5 m² in front of a house needs planning permission unless it is porous or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property.
Wales: New front hardstanding should be porous or drain to a permeable area within the property, and work covering 100 m² or more with drainage effects usually needs SAB approval first.
Scotland: A hard surface between the house and a road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, whatever its size.
Northern Ireland: More than 5 m² of hard surface in front of a house should be porous or drain to a porous area within the property; DfI Roads approves dropped kerbs.

Dropped kerbs always need the highway authority's approval: the council in England, Wales and Scotland, and DfI Roads in Northern Ireland. Read the full planning guide.

What happens next?

Tell us about the job
Use the guide price tool, the form, WhatsApp or the phone. A postcode, rough size and a couple of photos are enough to start.
Survey and measure
We check the ground, levels, edges, drainage and access, and the planning and kerb position where it applies.
Written specification and price
You get an itemised quote listing every layer, the edging, drainage, waste and VAT. The price is fixed once the spec is agreed.
Build day
Dig-out and base first, then hot binder and surface course rolled in, edges finished and the site cleared. You get aftercare notes before we leave.

Tarmac driveway repairs: questions

How much does a tarmac pothole repair cost?

As a 2026 guide, about £150–£400 per pothole or small patch including VAT, cut out and re-laid hot. Several patches on one visit cost less each.

Will the repair match my drive?

New tarmac is darker than a weathered drive, so a patch will show at first and fade over months. If appearance matters, a full overlay gives one even colour.

Can you fix crumbling edges?

Yes. We cut back to firm tarmac, put in a kerb or block edge on a concrete haunch, and re-lay the edge strip. Edge repairs are typically £300–£800 per job including VAT.

Is crack sealing worth doing?

On fine cracks in an otherwise sound drive, sealing keeps water out and slows the damage. Wide or crazed cracking usually means the base has moved and sealing will not hold for long.

Do you do small jobs?

Yes, though a single small patch carries a minimum visit cost because the crew, roller and hot material still have to come out. Grouping repairs into one visit is the cheapest way.

Where do we offer tarmac driveway repair work?

Across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.

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