The Official Injury Claim (OIC) portal explained

Since the 2021 whiplash reforms, many UK road-traffic injury claims no longer go through a solicitor at all — they go through the Official Injury Claim portal. If you've been told to "use the portal" and aren't sure what that means, this guide explains exactly what the OIC service is, who it is and isn't for, and the practical steps to use it.

One thing to be clear about from the outset: we are an independent information service, not a law firm and not a firm of solicitors. Nothing here is legal advice about your own situation. For that, speak to an SRA-regulated solicitor or use the official sources we signpost below.

What the Official Injury Claim portal is

The OIC portal is an online service launched on 31 May 2021 alongside the Whiplash Reform Programme. It is operated by the Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB) on behalf of the Ministry of Justice and is designed for litigants in person — claimants acting without a lawyer. It guides you through registering a road-traffic injury claim, notifying the at-fault driver's insurer, obtaining your medical evidence and reaching a settlement, all in one place and free of charge.

Who can — and can't — use the portal

The portal is for road-traffic accident injuries where the injured person was 18 or over at the time, the injury is valued at up to £5,000, and the total claim (injury plus losses) is under £10,000. It is not for higher-value or more complex claims, for accidents that aren't road traffic, or for people who lack capacity, who need a litigation friend. Children and many vulnerable road users have their claims handled differently. If any of that applies, a solicitor route is usually correct — see our road traffic accident guide.

The £5,000 small-claims limit and legal costs

The reforms raised the small-claims track limit for road-traffic personal injury to £5,000. Below that level, you generally cannot recover your legal costs from the other side, which is the whole reason the portal exists — it lets people bring these claims without paying for a lawyer out of their compensation. You can still instruct a solicitor if you wish, but you would normally have to fund that yourself. Our no win no fee guide explains how costs work above the small-claims limit.

How to register and progress a claim

In outline: you register on the portal and confirm your eligibility; you set out the accident and the at-fault driver; the defendant's insurer is notified and responds on liability; you obtain a fixed-cost MedCo medical report; the portal then helps you put a value on the claim using the tariff for the injury plus your financial losses; and you receive, negotiate or accept an offer. If you and the insurer can't agree, there is a structured route to a court decision on paper. Keep good records throughout — see our evidence guide.

When you should still use a solicitor

Use a solicitor instead of the portal if your injury is likely worth more than £5,000, your symptoms last beyond 24 months, liability is disputed, there are complicating factors (multiple parties, serious injury, a child or a dependant), or you simply don't feel confident running it yourself. Above the small-claims limit, an SRA-regulated solicitor can usually act on no win no fee and recover costs from the other side, so legal help need not reduce your compensation.

Frequently asked questions