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 finally settled or decided by a court. It is not extra money on top of your eventual compensation; it comes out of the final figure once the claim ends. Think of it as an advance, not a bonus.
Why this comes up at all
A claim can take time to reach a final number, especially while treatment is still ongoing. If a real cost cannot wait that long, an interim payment is the option built for exactly 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 directly with the insurer, or through whoever is handling your claim, and bring documents that show the specific cost involved. Staying quiet about a genuine need rarely helps, since this is not offered automatically.
Does asking weaken my claim
No. A clear, documented request is a normal part of managing a claim that is taking longer than expected, not a sign of weakness. Once your treatment is complete, before you accept a settlement offer covers the final stage in full, with the interim amount simply carried into that figure.
For the fuller detail on when this option genuinely fits, see interim payments during a claim.
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)