If you purchased a diesel car between 2007 and 2018, you may be eligible for a diesel emission claim, depending on the brand of the vehicle.
In 2015, the so-called ‘dieselgate’ scandal revealed that a number of vehicle brands had used a ‘defeat device’ to cover up the amount of pollutants released from their vehicles, with some brands producing up to 35 times their legal limit.
Buyers of these vehicles may have the opportunity to make a claim for diesel emissions and receive compensation from these car brands. In the UK alone, this is thought to have impacted around 500,000 vehicles.
Some Stats About Diesel Emission Claims Entitlement
- Around 500,000 affected vehicles in the UK alone
- Diesel vehicles purchased between 2007 and 2018
- Average estimated compensation of £8,500 per claimant with a national total of £10.2 billion
- Eligible brands include Volkswagen, Seat, Audi, Skoda
Am I Eligible for a Diesel Emission Claim?
If you believe you have been affected by the Dieselgate scandal, you may be eligible to make a claim.
It is estimated that in the UK alone, half a million vehicles might be eligible to claim considerable amounts in compensation.
Although for some brands the deadline has already passed (including Seat, Skoda and Audi), you can still make a claim on some Mercedes vehicles. There are certain criteria you must meet in order to make a claim:
- Vehicle with a diesel engine
- Purchased between 2007 and 2018
- New or second-hand
- Purchased via lease or outright
- You do not still need to own the vehicle
- You can still claim if you had paid to have the vehicle fixed to comply with emissions standards
Additional eligibility criteria:
- You would not have purchased the car had you known about the flaw
- You paid more for the car than necessary
How Can I Make a Claim?
If you believe you are eligible, you can make a diesel emission claim in 3 steps.
- Firstly, click on ‘Start Your Claim’
- Submit your details via a free application who will then format your claim in the most effective possible way for the car manufacturer to respond
- Wait for a response from the car brand and receive possible compensation of up to £10,000
How Much Could I Get from Diesel Emission Claims?
The amount of compensation will depend largely on the type of vehicle and the size of your claim but you could be looking to receive anything from £100 to £10,000 per vehicle.
More expensive vehicles may be eligible for larger amounts. Similarly, any additional payments needed in order to fix the car to comply with emission standards will contribute to a larger compensation.
Other affecting factors may include the state of the car when you purchased it such as whether the car was second-hand or if you were aware of the emission flaws at point of purchase.
When is the Deadline for Making a Diesel Emissions Claim?
For some models, the deadline for making a claim has already passed.
Depending on the type of claim, there may be “limitation” deadlines. This means that if you join the claim slightly later, you might risk losing the ability to claim back some or all compensation.
References
Forces Compare - diesel emission claims