Every whiplash payout amount on the official UK scale, plus what gets added on top — vehicle damage, replacement vehicle, excess and lost earnings — and the average total insurers actually paid.
Searching for a payout scale usually means one question: what number applies to me? Here is the full official scale, what it does and doesn’t cover, and what a complete claim adds on top.
The official whiplash tariff (accidents on or after 31 May 2025)
- Up to 3 months: £275 (£300 with psychological injury)
- 3–6 months: £565
- 6–9 months: £965
- 9–12 months: £1,510
- 12–15 months: £2,335
- 15–18 months: £3,445
- 18–24 months: £4,830
The band is set by how long your symptoms last, which is why the medical report matters — it fixes your recovery period and therefore your tariff amount. Each band is slightly higher where a psychological injury such as travel anxiety is diagnosed alongside.
What the scale doesn’t include
The tariff compensates the whiplash injury alone. A complete non-fault claim also recovers: your vehicle’s repair cost or market value if written off, a like-for-like replacement vehicle while yours is off the road, your policy excess, lost earnings, and treatment or travel costs. Injuries other than whiplash are valued separately and usually higher.
How the numbers compare in practice
Insurers paid an average of about £4,900 per motor claim in 2024 across 2.4 million claims. If an early offer is a long way below the relevant tariff band plus your other losses, that is a signal to check before accepting.
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Our free tools give you a figure in under a minute: the whiplash tariff lookup finds your exact band, and the compensation estimator adds vehicle damage and out-of-pocket losses for a full-claim range.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK whiplash payout scale for 2025/26?+
For accidents on or after 31 May 2025 the fixed tariff runs: up to 3 months £275; 3–6 months £565; 6–9 months £965; 9–12 months £1,510; 12–15 months £2,335; 15–18 months £3,445; 18–24 months £4,830. A slightly higher band applies where psychological injury is included.
Is the whiplash tariff the whole payout?+
No — the tariff covers the whiplash injury only. Vehicle repairs or write-off value, a replacement vehicle, your policy excess, lost earnings and treatment costs are claimed on top from the at-fault insurer.
What was the average motor claim payout?+
UK insurers paid an average of around £4,900 per motor claim in 2024 (ABI), across 2.4 million claims — a useful benchmark for judging whether a settlement offer is low.
What if my injury lasts longer than 24 months?+
Injuries lasting beyond 24 months, or more serious injuries, fall outside the tariff entirely and are valued individually — usually at significantly higher amounts — with medical evidence.
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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.