From the whiplash tariff to vehicle damage and lost earnings — a plain-English look at what makes up a non-fault claim, with the current 2025 figures.
There's no single number — a claim is the sum of several parts. Here's what typically goes into a non-fault motor claim, and the current figures where they're fixed by law.
Injury: the whiplash tariff
For most whiplash injuries from accidents on or after 31 May 2025, compensation is set by a fixed government tariff. It runs from £275 for an injury lasting up to three months to £4,830 for one lasting 18–24 months (slightly higher where there's also a minor psychological injury). More serious injuries fall outside the tariff and are valued individually.
Vehicle damage
You're entitled to have your vehicle repaired to its pre-accident condition, or — if it's written off — to a settlement reflecting its true market value. This is often the largest single part of a claim.
Replacement vehicle
The cost of a like-for-like replacement while your car is off the road is recoverable from the at-fault insurer.
Uninsured losses
These are the costs your own policy won't refund, and they add up:
- Your insurance excess
- Lost earnings for time off work
- Travel costs — taxis, public transport, fuel to appointments
- Other out-of-pocket expenses caused by the accident
Why the figures matter
Insurers settle millions of motor claims a year, and the average paid claim reached around £4,900 in 2024. Knowing the parts of a claim helps you spot a low offer. Swift Assist arranges your replacement vehicle, recovery and storage, and connects you with a specialist solicitor who values and pursues your injury claim — get a free, no-obligation assessment by calling us.
The averages, for context
UK insurers handled 2.4 million motor claims in 2024 and paid out a record £11.7 billion — an average of roughly £4,900 per paid claim, up 13% in a year (ABI). Averages hide huge variation, but they are a useful sense-check: if an early offer for injury plus vehicle damage lands far below the average for a far-from-minor incident, ask questions before accepting.
A worked example
A rear-end collision, not your fault: whiplash lasting about seven months (£965 on the tariff), £2,400 of repairs, 11 days in a like-for-like replacement vehicle, a £350 excess and two physiotherapy sessions. Each element is recovered from the at-fault insurer separately — the tariff figure is the floor of the claim, not the whole of it.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a whiplash claim worth in the UK?+
For accidents on or after 31 May 2025, most whiplash injuries follow a fixed government tariff — from £275 for an injury lasting up to three months to £4,830 for one lasting 18–24 months. Vehicle damage and other losses are valued separately on top.
What is the average motor claim payout?+
Insurers settle millions of motor claims a year, and the average paid claim reached around £4,900 in 2024. Your own figure depends on your injuries, vehicle damage and out-of-pocket losses.
What can I claim for besides my injury?+
Vehicle repairs or the market value if your car is written off, a like-for-like replacement vehicle while yours is off the road, and uninsured losses such as your policy excess, lost earnings and treatment costs — all recoverable from the at-fault insurer.
Does it cost anything to make a claim?+
No — injury claims are handled by an independent specialist solicitor on a no win, no fee basis, and the cost of your replacement vehicle, recovery and storage is recovered from the at-fault insurer.
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Sources
About this guide. Written and reviewed by Swift Assist's claims specialists, who handle non-fault motor accident claims for UK drivers every day. Figures are taken from official UK sources and checked on publication. It is general information, not legal or financial advice. See our sourced UK statistics.