Insurers must "get their house in order" and end practices which encourage fraud and exaggeration in vehicle whiplash injury claims, a report by MPs said.

Ministers should consider reducing the limitation period for road accident insurance claims, and require whiplash claimants to produce more supporting evidence, said the report from the House of Commons Transport Committee.

But genuine claimants should not be demonised and the assertion that the UK is the "whiplash capital of the world" cannot be proved or disproved, the MPs said.

The report also warned that access to justice may be impaired by UK Government proposals to switch whiplash claims between £1000 and £5000 to the small claims court, particularly for people who do not feel confident to represent themselves against insurers who will use legal professionals to contest claims.

The use of the small claims track could also prove counterproductive in efforts to discourage fraudulent and exaggerated claims as expert evidence is not generally submitted.

The MPs said: "Insurers must immediately get their house in order and end practices which encourage fraud and exaggeration. If not, the Government should take steps to protect motorists."

The committee's chairman Louise Ellman said: "To help bring insurance premiums down the Government must tighten up the requirements for motor insurance claims and ensure insurers honour commitment to reduce premiums.

"The Government should consider requiring claimants to provide proof that they have either been seen by a doctor or attended A&E shortly after the accident."

Mrs Ellman added: "Many claims are genuine and relate to real injuries which affect people for months or years. Genuine claimants should not be demonised because their condition cannot be picked up on a scan."