Whiplash claims - soft tissue injuries to the neck and back arising from road traffic accidents - were the single largest category of personal injury claims in the UK motor insurance market before the Civil Liability Act 2018. The Act, which received Royal Assent in December 2018 and whose whiplash provisions came into force in May 2021, introduced the most significant structural reform to low-value RTA personal injury claims in a generation. Its core mechanism is a fixed tariff of compensation replacing the open common-law damages system that previously applied, combined with a mandatory online portal (the Official Injury Claim portal, operated by Motor Insurers' Bureau on behalf of the MoJ) through which unrepresented claimants can submit and settle claims without a solicitor. The MoJ publishes quarterly statistics on the OIC portal at justice.gov.uk, covering claim volumes submitted, claims settled, representation rates, and average settlement values. These figures provide the clearest post-reform picture of whiplash claim activity in the UK. For the broader road accident context, see our UK road accidents statistics guide. For market-wide claims data, see our average UK car insurance claim guide. For the full market overview, visit the car insurance hub. The whiplash tariff - compensation amountsThe Civil Liability (Injuries) (England and Wales) Regulations 2021 set the fixed tariff amounts for whiplash injuries. The tariff applies to whiplash injuries of up to 2 years' duration arising from road traffic accidents. Injuries lasting longer than 2 years or involving more severe neurological damage fall outside the tariff and are subject to common-law assessment. The current tariff amounts (as set in the 2021 Regulations, indexed for future review by the Lord Chancellor) are:
Note: Where a claimant suffers both whiplash and a minor psychological injury arising from the same accident, an uplift of up to 20% on the whiplash tariff amount applies under the 2021 Regulations. Claims involving concurrent minor psychological injury use the combined injury table within the same statutory instrument. MoJ OIC portal statistics - claim volumes post-reformThe MoJ has published quarterly statistics on the Official Injury Claim portal since its launch in May 2021 (with the first full-year data covering April 2022 onwards). The data is published at justice.gov.uk under the Official Injury Claim statistics series. Key patterns from the MoJ's published quarterly data:
Pre-reform vs post-reform - what changed?Before the Civil Liability Act 2018, whiplash claims in England and Wales were assessed under common-law Judicial College Guidelines for general damages. A typical 3-month soft tissue injury might attract general damages of £1,000-£2,000 at common law, compared to the fixed tariff of £240. The reform therefore reduced the headline compensation figure substantially for short-duration injuries, while simultaneously creating a free online portal designed to allow unrepresented claimants to settle without incurring legal costs.
What this means for UK driversFor drivers who are injured in a road accident and suffer a soft tissue whiplash injury, the OIC portal is the correct starting point for a claim in England and Wales. The portal is free to use, available at officialinjuryclaim.org.uk, and designed for unrepresented claimants. Claims above the £5,000 cap (or involving injuries outside the whiplash tariff scope) continue through the civil courts. For drivers at fault in accidents causing whiplash injuries to other parties, the reform has reduced the maximum compensation payable for short-duration injuries from the common-law level, which the ABI argued would reduce claims costs. The FCA raised concerns in its market study publications that the premium reductions anticipated from the whiplash reforms had not fully materialised for consumers. The FCA's Consumer Duty obligations (PS22/9), which came into force July 2023, include a requirement for insurers to demonstrate that consumer outcomes - including value for money - are delivered. The FCA has indicated it will continue to monitor whether reform-related cost reductions flow through to premium pricing. For average claims costs in the broader motor market, see our average car insurance claim guide. For the accident context underpinning claim volumes, see UK road accidents statistics 2026. For the claims process from the policyholder perspective, see how to claim car insurance after an accident. Methodology - how we sourced this data
We refresh this article when the MoJ publishes updated OIC portal quarterly statistics. Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the whiplash tariff in the UK?The whiplash tariff is a fixed schedule of compensation amounts set by the Civil Liability (Injuries) (England and Wales) Regulations 2021, which implements the Civil Liability Act 2018. The tariff replaces common-law general damages for whiplash injuries of up to 2 years' duration caused by road traffic accidents in England and Wales. Amounts range from £240 for injuries not exceeding 3 months, to £4,215 for injuries lasting 18-24 months. How do I make a whiplash claim in the UK?For road traffic accident whiplash injuries in England and Wales where the total claim value (including any other losses such as vehicle damage, medical expenses and loss of earnings) does not exceed £5,000, the correct starting point is the Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal at officialinjuryclaim.org.uk. The portal is operated by the Motor Insurers' Bureau on behalf of the MoJ and is free to use. You do not need a solicitor to use the portal, though many claimants choose to use one. Does the whiplash reform apply in Scotland?No. The Civil Liability Act 2018 whiplash tariff and the OIC portal apply in England and Wales only. Scotland has a separate personal injury claims system under Scots law. Scottish claimants pursue whiplash and soft tissue injury claims through the Scottish courts system, which continues to apply common-law assessment of general damages using the Scottish courts' own guidelines rather than the English statutory tariff. Did whiplash reform reduce car insurance premiums?The ABI argued that the Civil Liability Act 2018 reforms would reduce bodily injury claims costs and feed through to lower premiums. However, the ABI's own Premium Tracker data shows premiums rose sharply in 2022-2024, reaching a peak of £741 in 2024, before falling to £622 in Q4 2025 - a reduction attributable to multiple factors including easing repair costs. The FCA has noted in Consumer Duty oversight publications that the relationship between claims cost reductions and retail pricing requires ongoing scrutiny. What if my whiplash injury lasts longer than 2 years?Whiplash injuries that are assessed as lasting longer than 2 years fall outside the statutory tariff under the Civil Liability (Injuries) Regulations 2021. Such claims revert to common-law general damages assessment using the Judicial College Guidelines for general damages. These claims are typically pursued through the civil courts with legal representation rather than through the OIC portal, and the recoverable compensation is assessed on the facts of the individual case rather than a fixed schedule.
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Whiplash Claims Statistics UK 2026: MoJ Post-Reform Data Analysis
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