What Is an Interim Payment
Your claim is taking a while and you need some money before it finally settles.
An interim payment is money paid to you before your road accident claim is settled or decided by a court. It is an advance. It is deducted from your final compensation, not added to it.
Why this comes up at all
A claim can take time to reach a final figure, especially while treatment continues. If a real cost cannot wait, an interim payment covers that gap.
When it is realistic to ask
An interim payment is more likely to be considered where liability is not seriously disputed, so the law already points toward the insurer paying eventually anyway.[1] A specific, documented cost is easier to discuss than a general request for money.
What it does not do
It does not lock in your final settlement figure early, and it does not shorten the claim process as a whole. It simply changes when part of the money arrives relative to the end.
How to actually ask for one
Raise it with the insurer, or through whoever handles your claim, and bring documents showing the specific cost. It is not offered automatically, so you need to ask.
Does asking weaken my claim?
No. A clear, documented request is a normal part of a claim that is taking longer than expected. Once treatment is complete, before you accept a settlement offer covers the final stage, with the interim amount carried into that figure.
If the insurer keeps delaying, an independent lawyer can ask for an interim payment as part of handling your claim. Send the accident date, the place, whether anyone was injured (yes/no), the bills and the police report status.
For the fuller detail on when this option genuinely fits, see interim payments during a claim.
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.
Common questions
Is an interim payment the same as my final compensation?
No. It is an advance paid before the claim ends, and the amount is deducted from your final settlement or judgment once that is decided. It exists to help with costs in the meantime, not to replace the final figure.
Am I automatically given an interim payment if my claim is genuine?
No. Whether one is offered depends on the insurer, or a court, agreeing to it, and it is normally something you have to raise yourself rather than something offered without being asked.
What makes an insurer more willing to agree to one?
A situation where liability is not seriously disputed and the cost you are asking about is specific and well documented. A vague request is harder to act on than a clear one tied to an actual bill or upcoming procedure.
Does receiving an interim payment mean I have accepted a final settlement?
No. It is a separate step from agreeing to end the claim, and your final settlement or judgment is decided afterwards in the normal way, with the interim amount taken into account.
Sources
- Road Transport Act 1987, s.96 (Ministry of Transport) (accessed 2026-09-22)
Need a lawyer to handle your injury claim?
For people seeking legal representation. For general information, please use our guides and tools.