Whiplash Tariff Calculator UK 2025 — Check Your Compensation Under the 2021 Act
The Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021, made under the Civil Liability Act 2018, set fixed tariff compensation amounts for soft-tissue road traffic injuries. Use our free checker to find the tariff amount that applies to your injury prognosis, plus any psychological element and special damages.
Tariff amounts are fixed under the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. Applies to road traffic accidents from 31 May 2021. Psychological injuries assessed separately. Non-tariff injuries (fractures etc.) assessed under Judicial College Guidelines.
What Is the Whiplash Tariff and Why Was It Introduced?
The whiplash tariff was introduced by the Civil Liability Act 2018 and came into force on 31 May 2021 alongside the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021. Before this reform, whiplash compensation was assessed using the Judicial College Guidelines, which gave solicitors flexibility to argue for higher awards. The government argued this was driving up motor insurance premiums through an increase in low-value soft-tissue claims, many of which were allegedly fraudulent or exaggerated.
The tariff replaces the previous flexible approach with a fixed scale based entirely on the medical prognosis period — how long your symptoms are expected to last, as determined by an independent medical expert using the MedCo system.
Tariff Amounts Under the 2021 Regulations
| Prognosis Period | Tariff Amount (Whiplash Only) |
|---|---|
| Not more than 3 months | £470 |
| More than 3 months, not more than 6 months | £1,005 |
| More than 6 months, not more than 9 months | £2,045 |
| More than 9 months, not more than 12 months | £3,005 |
| More than 12 months, not more than 15 months | £4,215 |
| More than 15 months, not more than 18 months | £5,425 |
| More than 18 months, not more than 2 years | £6,845 |
What Is NOT Covered by the Whiplash Tariff?
The tariff applies only to soft-tissue injuries sustained by vehicle occupants in road traffic accidents on or after 31 May 2021. The following are NOT subject to the tariff:
- Injuries to cyclists and pedestrians
- Injuries to children (under 18)
- Non-soft-tissue injuries such as fractures, dislocations, or nerve damage
- Psychological injuries without any physical soft-tissue component
- Injuries caused by accidents before 31 May 2021
- Fatalities
Mixed Injury Claims — Tariff and Non-Tariff Elements
A "mixed injury" arises where the claimant has both soft-tissue (tariff) injuries and non-tariff injuries, such as a fractured wrist alongside whiplash. In these cases, the tariff amount applies to the soft-tissue element, while the non-tariff element is assessed using the Judicial College Guidelines. The court has a broad discretion to depart from the tariff in exceptional circumstances.
The Official Injury Claim (OIC) Portal
Most whiplash claims where the total value is under £5,000 must be processed through the government's Official Injury Claim portal. This allows claimants to make claims directly to the at-fault insurer without a solicitor. However, if liability is disputed, injuries are complex, or you have non-tariff injuries alongside whiplash, legal advice is strongly recommended.