Most UK whiplash claims after a road accident now go through the free Official Injury Claim portal. You register, the at-fault driver's insurer responds, you obtain a fixed-cost MedCo medical report, and compensation for the injury is set by the government tariff in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. You normally have three years from the accident to claim, and you can add your financial losses (lost pay, treatment) on top of the tariff.
If you have been hurt in a rear-end shunt and want a practical, ordered walkthrough rather than the legal theory, this guide takes the whiplash claim apart step by step. For the underlying rules — the tariff bands, who is exempt and how the 2021 reforms work — see our companion whiplash claims explainer. Here we focus on what you actually do, in what order, and what to have ready at each stage.
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.
Step 1: get medically checked and keep a record
Before anything else, see a GP or attend A&E if you have neck, back or shoulder pain after a crash. Whiplash symptoms often appear a day or two later, so don't dismiss stiffness that starts the next morning. A contemporaneous medical record is the single most valuable piece of evidence in a soft-tissue claim, because the injury rarely shows on a scan. Keep a short symptom diary, note any time off work, and hang on to receipts for treatment, painkillers or travel. Our evidence guide explains what else is worth keeping.
Step 2: work out whether you use the OIC portal or a solicitor
The route depends mainly on value. If your injury is worth under £5,000 and the whole claim (including losses) is under £10,000, it normally falls in the small-claims track and goes through the free Official Injury Claim portal, where legal costs aren't usually recoverable. If your symptoms last beyond 24 months, liability is disputed, or you are a vulnerable road user (cyclist, pedestrian, motorcyclist, horse rider — all exempt from the tariff), the claim is valued the ordinary way under the Judicial College Guidelines and a solicitor on no win no fee is usually worthwhile.
Step 3: register your claim and notify the insurer
If you are using the portal, you register at the Official Injury Claim service, which is run by the Motor Insurers' Bureau on behalf of the Ministry of Justice. You set out what happened, the at-fault driver's details and your injuries. The defendant's insurer is notified and must respond on liability within set timescales. If you instruct a solicitor instead, they send a letter of claim under the relevant pre-action protocol — see our claim process guide for the full sequence.
Step 4: obtain your MedCo medical report
You cannot settle a road-traffic whiplash claim without an independent medical report sourced through MedCo, the official accreditation portal. An accredited expert examines you, reviews your records, and gives a prognosis on how long your symptoms will last. That prognosis decides which tariff band you fall into, so it directly controls the figure. Be honest and consistent — the report is written by an independent doctor, not your advocate.
Step 5: value the claim and consider any offer
Your compensation has two parts. The tariff covers the injury itself (pain, suffering and loss of amenity) and is fixed by duration of symptoms under the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, with a slightly higher band where there are also minor psychological injuries. Your financial losses — lost earnings, treatment, travel, care — are separate, uncapped, and added on top from your evidence; our what compensation covers guide breaks these down. The insurer makes an offer based on the report; you can accept, negotiate, or in the portal use the structured offer process. Don't feel pressured to accept the first figure if it ignores your losses.
Don't miss the three-year time limit
Under the Limitation Act 1980 in England & Wales you generally have three years from the accident to start a whiplash claim. For children the clock starts at 18 (so until their 21st birthday); there is no fixed limit for those who lack mental capacity. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own equivalent rules. Start early — arranging a report and gathering evidence takes time. See our time limits guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim whiplash myself without a solicitor?
Yes. For most road-traffic whiplash injuries worth under £5,000 you can claim yourself for free through the Official Injury Claim portal, because legal costs are not normally recoverable at that level. If your injuries are more serious, last beyond 24 months, or liability is disputed, an SRA-regulated solicitor is usually worthwhile, often on a no-win-no-fee basis.
How long does a whiplash claim take in 2026?
A straightforward tariff whiplash claim through the portal often settles within a few months once your medical report is in, though it can take longer if liability is disputed or symptoms are slow to resolve. The medical prognosis usually has to be reached before the claim can be valued, so longer-lasting symptoms naturally mean a longer claim.
Do I need a medical report for whiplash?
Yes. For almost all road-traffic whiplash claims you must obtain a fixed-cost medical report through MedCo before the claim can be settled. The report confirms the injury is genuine and gives a prognosis on how long it will last, which decides the tariff band and therefore the amount.
Will my whiplash claim affect my insurance?
Making a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver does not directly change your own premium for being injured, but you must declare any accident to your insurer as required by your policy. How insurers price renewals is a commercial matter outside the scope of a compensation claim.
What if my whiplash symptoms last longer than expected?
If your symptoms persist beyond 24 months, your claim falls outside the fixed tariff and is valued in the ordinary way using the Judicial College Guidelines, which usually produces a higher figure. At that point a solicitor is generally cost-effective, so it is worth getting advice if recovery is slower than your report predicted.
Get help from official, free sources
- GOV.UK — official guidance on injury claims, the courts and your rights
- Citizens Advice — free, impartial advice on making a claim
- Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) & The Law Society — check and find a regulated solicitor
- Official Injury Claim (OIC) — the free portal for lower-value road-traffic injury claims
- Civil Procedure Rules (justice.gov.uk) — the rules and pre-action protocols that govern claims