A whiplash claim is no longer valued by simply comparing symptoms with older court awards. For most road traffic accidents in England and Wales, the starting point is a fixed statutory tariff. That makes the basic whiplash compensation amount UK claimants receive more predictable, but it does not mean every case with the same recovery time has the same total value.
For accidents on or after 31 May 2025, the updated tariff applies throughout 2026. The correct band depends on the prognosis in an independent medical report: how long the expert expects your symptoms to last. Your settlement may also include compensation for non-whiplash injuries and proven financial losses.
Whiplash tariff amounts applying in 2026
These figures cover pain, suffering and loss of amenity for whiplash lasting no more than two years.
Symptoms lasting up to three months
The tariff is £275 for whiplash alone, or £300 where it is accompanied by a minor psychological injury.
More than three months and up to six months
The fixed award is £565 for whiplash alone, rising to £595 with a qualifying minor psychological injury.
More than six months and up to nine months
The tariff is £965 for whiplash alone, or £1,025 where minor psychological symptoms are included.
More than nine months and up to 12 months
The fixed figure is £1,510 for whiplash alone and £1,595 for whiplash with a minor psychological injury.
More than 12 months and up to 15 months
The award is £2,335 for whiplash alone, or £2,435 with a minor psychological injury.
More than 15 months and up to 18 months
The amount is £3,445 for whiplash alone and £3,550 where a minor psychological injury also applies.
More than 18 months and up to 24 months
The highest fixed band is £4,830 for whiplash alone, or £4,975 with a qualifying minor psychological injury.
The earlier tariff, which started at £240, still applies when the accident occurred between 31 May 2021 and 30 May 2025. The accident date, not the date you submit the claim, determines which tariff is used.
What decides how much your claim is worth?
The medical prognosis is central. A doctor may diagnose a soft tissue injury claim involving the neck, back or shoulder and estimate that symptoms will resolve within a particular period. If the prognosis crosses two tariff bands, the higher band normally applies.
Minor psychological injury can include low-level travel anxiety or occasional sleep disturbance that is secondary to the physical whiplash. A separate, more serious diagnosed psychiatric condition is not automatically included in the tariff and may need separate valuation.
In exceptional cases, a court can increase the tariff award by up to 20%. This is not a routine uplift for inconvenience or slow recovery. The injury or the claimant’s circumstances must make the suffering exceptionally severe.
Your total payout may be higher than the tariff
The tariff covers the whiplash element only. A minor RTA injury payout may also include non-whiplash injuries, such as bruising, a fractured finger or another separately assessed injury. It can include reasonable losses caused by the accident when supported by evidence.
Recoverable losses can include lost earnings, prescription charges, treatment costs, travel to medical appointments, an insurance excess and certain vehicle or property expenses. Keep wage records, receipts, invoices, photographs and relevant correspondence. A genuine cost without evidence may be disputed or excluded.
A practical payout example
Suppose a passenger is injured in a non-fault collision in June 2026. The medical report predicts five months of whiplash symptoms and records minor travel anxiety. The tariff element would be £595. If the passenger also proves £450 in lost earnings and £120 in treatment and travel costs, the claim could total £1,165 before any separately valued non-whiplash injury. Liability and the evidence would still need to be accepted.
This is why an online calculator can only estimate part of a claim. The fixed tariff may be clear, but the overall settlement depends on the complete injury picture and documented losses.
Using the Official Injury Claim portal
The Official Injury Claim portal is free for many lower-value road traffic injury claims in England and Wales. It is for people aged 18 or over who were inside a vehicle, believe another person was at fault, and have an injury claim worth no more than £5,000. The total claim must normally remain within £10,000.
You provide details of the accident, vehicles, injuries and losses. The claim is sent to the relevant insurer, called the compensator, which investigates responsibility. You must then obtain medical evidence through the process. A whiplash claim cannot be settled without an appropriate medical report.
After liability and evidence are considered, the compensator makes an offer. You may accept it, counter it or ask the court to decide a dispute. The portal is not intended for pedestrians, cyclists or motorcyclists. Different procedures may apply to children, higher-value injuries, accidents outside England and Wales, or claims involving uninsured or untraced drivers.
Useful related reading includes road traffic accident claims process, proving loss of earnings after an accident, and medical evidence in personal injury claims.
Should you settle before you recover?
Do not judge an offer by the tariff figure alone. Check whether the medical report accurately records every symptom, the expected recovery period and any psychological effects. Make sure all losses have been included and supported.
If you are still symptomatic near the end of the prognosis, settling immediately may create a risk because most injury settlements are final. Consider appropriate advice where recovery is uncertain, liability is disputed, the injuries may exceed portal limits or the case includes a significant non-whiplash condition.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum whiplash tariff payment in 2026?
For an accident on or after 31 May 2025, the highest fixed tariff is £4,830 for whiplash alone or £4,975 with a minor psychological injury, where symptoms last more than 18 months but no more than 24 months.
Does the 2026 tariff apply to an older accident?
No. The accident date controls the tariff. Accidents from 31 May 2021 to 30 May 2025 use the original figures, even if the claim is settled in 2026.
Can I claim more than the fixed tariff?
Yes. Your total may include separately valued non-whiplash injuries and proven financial losses. A court may also award an exceptional-circumstances uplift of up to 20% on the tariff element.
How long do I have to make a whiplash claim?
Personal injury court proceedings are generally subject to a three-year limitation period for adults, usually running from the accident date. Exceptions can apply, so obtain advice promptly if the deadline is approaching.
Understanding the real value of your claim
The updated whiplash tariff 2026 gives a clear base figure, but the medical prognosis, accident date, additional injuries and financial evidence determine the wider value of the claim. Use the correct tariff band, document every genuine loss and avoid settling until the evidence gives a reliable picture of recovery. Where the case falls outside the Official Injury Claim portal or involves disputed or serious injuries, tailored legal advice can help protect your position.
