Small claims, fast track, intermediate track, multi-track: which track will your case follow?
When you start a civil claim in England and Wales, the courts don't treat every case the same way. A small disagreement over a plumber's invoice needs less court time than a complex business dispute worth hundreds of thousands. The Civil Procedure Rules sort claims into four tracks, each with different speeds, costs, and evidence rules.
This page explains what each track is, how you get allocated to one, and what to expect at every stage.
The short version
The four tracks are:
- Small claims: Up to GBP 10,000 (personal injury up to GBP 1,500)
- Fast track: GBP 10,000 to GBP 25,000
- Intermediate track: GBP 25,000 to GBP 100,000 (introduced October 2023)
- Multi-track: Over GBP 100,000 or unusually complex
The main difference: small claims are cheap and quick, but you lose the right to claim your legal costs back. Fast track and intermediate are in the middle. Multi-track is flexible, expensive, and lets you control the pace. The court's job is to allocate your case to the right track based on the money value and complexity.
At a glance
| Track | Claim value | Hearing length | Legal costs recovered | Expert evidence | Witness numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Up to GBP 10,000 | 1 day max | No (rare exception) | Limited to GBP 750 total | None cross-examined |
| Fast track | GBP 10,000-GBP 25,000 | 1 day fixed | Yes | One per party, usually | Limited, usually written |
| Intermediate | GBP 25,000-GBP 100,000 | 2-3 days | Yes | Agreed or court order | More flexibility than fast track |
| Multi-track | Over GBP 100,000 | 4+ days or varied | Yes | Usually multiple | Case management by judge |
How allocation works
Once you issue a claim, the defendant has 14 days to respond. If they contest it, you both fill in an allocation questionnaire (Form N180 or N181). This form asks about:
- The nature of the claim (breach of contract, personal injury, property damage)
- Whether expert evidence is needed
- Estimated costs
- How much the other side disputes
The judge reads both questionnaires and decides which track best suits your case. The decision is based on:
- The money value (the starting point)
- The complexity of the law or facts
- Whether expert evidence is essential
- The amount of time the case will need
You cannot ignore this process. If you do not file the questionnaire, the court can strike out your claim or enter judgment against you automatically.
Most small claims are allocated straight away. Fast track and intermediate cases go to an allocation hearing (usually by telephone or video) where the judge and both parties discuss the case before deciding. Multi-track cases usually have a case management conference instead.
Small claims track (up to GBP 10,000)
The small claims track is designed to be simple, fast, and accessible to people without lawyers.
Who uses it
Anyone making a claim under GBP 10,000. Some claims have lower limits:
- Personal injury claims: capped at GBP 1,500
- Housing disrepair claims: capped at GBP 1,000
- Disputes over deposits: capped at GBP 10,000
What happens
The court aims to issue a judgment within 6-9 months. Hearings usually last one day and are often held in court or online. You are expected to represent yourself or hire a lawyer (but you will not recover their costs). The judge decides on the balance of probabilities who wins.
Costs
This is the main trade-off: you do not recover legal costs, even if you win. You recover only:
- Court fees
- Your travel expenses to court (modest amount)
- Limited expert evidence (up to GBP 750 per party for a single expert report)
You pay these costs upfront. If you lose, you usually pay your own costs too.
Evidence
Witnesses do not come to court to be cross-examined. Instead:
- The judge reads written statements (called witness statements)
- The judge will ask questions via video link or phone if needed
- Expert evidence is limited to one expert per party, and the expert report costs are capped at GBP 750
This keeps hearings short and costs down.
Advantages
- Faster than other tracks
- No legal costs to recover means less fighting over money
- Informal, less intimidating
- Ideal for straightforward disputes
Disadvantages
- You cannot recover what you spent on lawyers
- Limited expert evidence means you may struggle to prove complex matters
- No appeal right unless the court made a serious error of law
Fast track (GBP 10,000 to GBP 25,000)
The fast track is the middle ground: faster than multi-track, but more formal than small claims.
Who uses it
Claims worth between GBP 10,000 and GBP 25,000 that are not too complex. Typical examples: breach of contract disputes, straightforward personal injury cases, property damage claims.
What happens
The court aims to get the case to trial within 30 weeks of allocation. The trial itself is fixed (the date will not move unless something goes seriously wrong). Hearings usually last one day. You can usually bring a lawyer, and you can recover your legal costs from the other side if you win.
Costs
You recover reasonable legal costs if you succeed. These are assessed by the court based on what is necessary and proportionate to the claim value.
The trial judge sets costs in the judgment and usually makes a costs order in favour of the winner. If the costs disagree, a special hearing happens afterwards to work out what is reasonable.
Evidence
Each side can have expert evidence, but usually only one expert per party, and only in one or two areas. If both sides want expert evidence on the same issue, the court often orders a single joint expert instead to save cost and time.
Witnesses can attend court, and the other side can cross-examine them. This is more formal than small claims, but still straightforward.
Advantages
- You recover legal costs
- Predictable timetable (fixed trial date)
- More scope for evidence than small claims
- Faster than multi-track
Disadvantages
- Inflexible timetable (the trial date is set and rarely moves)
- Limited expert evidence
- If you breach case directions, the court will penalise you
- Costs can still add up
Intermediate track (GBP 25,000 to GBP 100,000)
The intermediate track was introduced in October 2023 to handle the gap between fast track and multi-track. Before that, cases in this range had to go to multi-track, which meant more cost and delay.
Who uses it
Claims worth between GBP 25,000 and GBP 100,000 that have some complexity. Typical examples: higher-value contract disputes, professional negligence claims, disputes over shares or intellectual property.
What happens
The court aims to get the case to trial within 6-9 months of allocation. Trials usually last 2-3 days. There is a case management conference (CMC) where the judge and both parties discuss how to run the case. Unlike fast track, the trial date is not absolutely fixed from the start, which gives more flexibility for complex issues to be resolved.
Costs
You recover legal costs if you win. The court will set these based on what is reasonably incurred. The costs process is more formal than fast track because the cases are bigger.
Evidence
Expert evidence is more flexible. You can usually have more than one expert per party if necessary, and the court will manage this through the CMC. Witness evidence is allowed and cross-examination is normal.
Advantages
- You recover legal costs
- More flexible than fast track for complex cases
- Faster than multi-track
- Allows multiple experts and witnesses
- Designed for cases that fall between GBP 25,000 and GBP 100,000
Disadvantages
- More expensive than fast track
- More formal than small claims
- Requires more detailed pleadings and evidence
- Costs can still escalate if the case becomes very complex
Multi-track (over GBP 100,000 or complex)
Multi-track is for the most complicated or valuable cases. There are no fixed timetables or limits on evidence. The judge controls the pace.
Who uses it
Claims over GBP 100,000, or claims under that amount that are unusually complex (for example, claims involving allegations of fraud, or professional negligence in medical or legal services where the law is evolving).
What happens
The court does not aim for a fixed timescale. Instead, the judge holds a case management conference (CMC) to work out a bespoke timetable for your case. This might include:
- Directions for disclosure (handing over documents)
- Expert evidence directions (who can have experts, and how many)
- Witness statement directions
- Trial date (which may be moved if circumstances change)
Cases can take 1-3 years or longer depending on complexity. Trials can last several weeks.
Costs
You recover legal costs, but they are usually much higher than in other tracks. Both sides often hire QCs (senior barristers) and multiple solicitors. Costs can easily reach hundreds of thousands of pounds. The court will assess costs at the end, but the bill is usually split into phases and worked out as you go along.
Evidence
There are no limits. You can have as many experts as you need, and witnesses are cross-examined in court. Complex documentary evidence (thousands of documents) is normal.
Advantages
- You control the pace (with the judge)
- No fixed limits on evidence
- Expert witnesses and QCs can handle very complex matters
- Bespoke management by the judge
Disadvantages
- Very expensive
- Takes a long time
- Costs escalate quickly
- Only worth pursuing if the claim value justifies the expense
Costs implications across tracks
Costs are not just about who wins. They are about what you spend on the case itself.
Small claims
You pay:
- Court fee (GBP 25-GBP 335 depending on claim value)
- Witness travel
- Limited expert cost (capped at GBP 750)
You do not recover lawyer costs, even if you win. This means many people represent themselves in small claims.
Fast track
You pay:
- Court fee (GBP 185-GBP 10,000+ depending on claim value)
- Solicitor and barrister fees (hourly rate or fixed fee)
- Expert evidence (usually one expert per party)
If you win, you recover reasonable costs from the other side. The judge sets these based on a guideline.
Intermediate track
Similar to fast track, but more expensive because cases are bigger and take longer. You recover costs if you win.
Multi-track
You pay thousands or hundreds of thousands on:
- Solicitor fees (hourly rate, often GBP 200-GBP 400+ per hour)
- Barrister fees (hourly or daily rate for trial)
- Expert evidence (often multiple experts)
- Disclosure (finding and copying thousands of documents)
You recover costs if you win, but the recovery may be partial. The court rarely awards all the costs you actually spent.
Hearing length and procedure
Small claims hearing
Usually 1 day in court or online. The judge reads the statements and asks questions. No formal evidence is given on oath (though statements are signed as true). The judge announces the decision at the end or sends a written judgment later.
Fast track trial
1 day. Both sides make opening speeches. Witness evidence is given and cross-examined. The judge then decides and announces the judgment (usually in writing).
Intermediate track trial
2-3 days. Similar procedure to fast track, but more time for complex evidence and legal argument.
Multi-track trial
4+ days, often weeks. Complex procedural rules apply. Witnesses are cross-examined in detail. Expert evidence is discussed in court. QCs may make lengthy opening and closing speeches.
Witnesses and expert evidence rules
Small claims
Witnesses do not come to court. Evidence is given in writing. The judge may ask questions on the phone or video. Cross-examination does not happen. This saves time and cost.
Expert evidence is capped at GBP 750 per party. Usually, one expert writes a report. The expert does not come to court.
Fast track
Witnesses usually provide written statements. Some witnesses may attend court for cross-examination, but the court tries to limit this to save time.
One expert per party, usually. If both sides need the same expert opinion, the court orders a joint expert instead.
Intermediate track
Similar to fast track, but more flexibility. The judge decides how many witnesses can attend court and how many experts can give evidence based on the case's complexity.
Multi-track
Witnesses attend court and are cross-examined in detail. Multiple experts can give evidence. Expert witnesses can be challenged and questioned closely. This takes time but allows deep examination of disputed facts.
Reallocation (changing tracks mid-case)
Sometimes a case starts in one track but needs to move to another.
This can happen if:
- The dispute value changes (for example, the other side admits liability for part of the claim, lowering the value)
- The case becomes more complex than expected
- New evidence or facts emerge
Either side can apply to the court to reallocate to a different track. The judge will consider the value and complexity and decide whether to move it.
Day to day: what a typical case looks like in each track
Small claims (contract dispute over GBP 8,000)
Day 1: Issue claim, state your case in 3 paragraphs. Day 7: Defendant files response denying liability. Day 14: You file allocation questionnaire. Day 21: Defendant files their questionnaire. Day 30-60: Judge allocates to small claims, sets hearing date. Day 90: Hearing in court or online. You both give statements, judge asks questions, decision given.
Total time: 3-4 months. Total cost: GBP 300-GBP 1,500.
Fast track (breach of contract GBP 18,000)
Day 1: Issue claim. Day 28: Defendant responds. Day 35: Both file allocation questionnaires. Day 42: Allocation hearing (telephone). Judge sets case directions: exchanging documents, expert evidence deadline, trial date (30 weeks away). Day 180: Both sides exchange expert reports. Day 210: Trial hearing (1 day), judgment given. Week 35: Costs judgment.
Total time: 8-9 months. Total cost: GBP 5,000-GBP 20,000.
Intermediate track (professional negligence GBP 60,000)
Similar to fast track, but CMC happens instead of allocation hearing. More time allowed for disclosure and expert evidence. Trial lasts 2-3 days. Case management happens over 9-15 months.
Total cost: GBP 15,000-GBP 50,000.
Multi-track (breach of contract GBP 250,000)
Day 1: Issue claim. Day 28: Defendant responds. Day 100: Case management conference with judge. Bespoke timetable set. Day 150-500: Disclosure phase (exchanging documents), expert evidence rounds, witness statements. Day 600-800: Trial (5-10 days). Weeks later: Costs assessment.
Total time: 18-36 months. Total cost: GBP 50,000-GBP 250,000+.
Common misconceptions
"I should aim for multi-track to have more control."
False. Multi-track is slower and far more expensive. Fast track is faster and cheaper. Use multi-track only if the value and complexity demand it.
"If I win in small claims, I can claim my lawyer costs back."
False. You cannot recover lawyer costs in small claims, even if you win outright. You can only recover court fees and GBP 750 of expert costs.
"Fast track trials always last one day."
Mostly true, but the court can extend if necessary. However, the trial date is fixed, so if your case needs more time, fast track may not suit you.
"Expert evidence is not allowed in small claims."
False. You can have expert evidence, but it is capped at GBP 750 per expert and usually limited to one expert per party.
"Multi-track cases always go to QC."
Not always. Many multi-track cases are handled by junior barristers or solicitor-advocates. QCs are used for very complex or high-value cases.
"Reallocation never happens."
False. It happens regularly. If your case turns out to be more complex than expected, or the value drops, either side can ask to reallocate.
Related concepts
- Civil Procedure Rules Part 26 (allocation to tracks)
- Disclosure: what documents must you hand over?
- Expert evidence: what the rules say
- Fixed costs in small claims and fast track
- Case management: controlling the pace
- Litigants in person: representing yourself
- Pre-action protocol: before you issue
- County Court and High Court: which court?
- Judicial review: when the court gets it wrong
- Alternative dispute resolution: mediation and arbitration
Sources
- UK Civil Procedure Rules Part 26: allocation and case management
- UK Civil Procedure Rules Part 27: small claims track
- Ministry of Justice: Allocation to tracks
Written by Peter Kolomiets, founder of CaseCalm. UK content reviewed 2026-05-28.
Disclaimer: This page provides general information about UK civil procedure. It is not legal advice. For advice on your specific case, consult a qualified solicitor or barrister.