If you have purchased, leased, or financed a diesel vehicle manufactured between 2009 and 2020, you could be owed thousands per vehicle.
*Our partner law firms work on a no-win, no-fee basis. You’ll only pay if your claim succeeds. Fees may apply if you cancel after the cooling-off period or breach your agreement. All terms are clearly explained before joining. Join the Claim isn’t a law firm, we help connect you with a regulated UK firm running this action.
Join the Claim Limited is a claims management company. This claim is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Join the Claim Limited is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN: 1053404) for regulated claims management activities only.
Overview
European regulators have found that several vehicle manufacturers used unlawful emissions control software, commonly known as defeat devices.
Lawyers acting for motorists argue that consumers were misled into believing their diesel vehicles were cleaner and more environmentally friendly than they actually were.
The claims allege that motorists paid more for vehicles that did not perform as advertised and may also have received less when selling them because of the Dieselgate scandal.
In the Volkswagen Dieselgate litigation, successful UK claimants received average compensation of around £2,120.
In July 2026, the High Court issued its first major ruling in the latest UK Dieselgate claims. The court found that certain manufacturers had used unlawful defeat devices, although it did not uphold all of the claims made against them.
The cases are continuing. Lawyers representing motorists are considering an appeal, and a further High Court hearing will decide what the ruling means for affected drivers, including whether compensation could be awarded.
The litigation is estimated to be worth around £6 billion and could affect up to 1.6 million UK drivers. Could you be one of them?
At a glance
Status
Previous settlement
£193m Paid Already
Previous payout
£2,120*
Total claim value
£6 billion (est.)
Drivers affected
1.6 million (est.)
*In similar claims against Volkswagen.
If you have purchased, leased, or financed a diesel vehicle manufactured between 2009 and 2020 – new or second-hand – then you should join the group action as you may be entitled to compensation worth thousands per vehicle.
If you have a claim, and you want to join the emissions group action, register your interest and we’ll connect you with a regulated UK law firm.
Answer a few quick questions to see if you could qualify to join the claim. It only takes a few minutes and helps confirm if you may be eligible.
We’ll show you which regulated UK law firm will handle your claim before any details are shared, so you can review their information and decide if you’d like to continue.
If you choose to proceed, you’ll complete your registration with the law firm. They’ll handle your claim on a no-win, no-fee basis and keep you updated every step of the way.*
July 2026
The High Court delivered its first major liability ruling in the UK Dieselgate litigation. While the court found that certain vehicles contained unlawful defeat devices, it rejected many of the wider allegations made against the manufacturers.
The ruling does not bring the claims to an end. Claimant lawyers say they are considering an appeal, arguing the court adopted a narrower interpretation of emissions laws than courts elsewhere in Europe.
The High Court is due to hold a further trial to consider the consequences of any unlawful defeat devices found, including liability, damages and any compensation that could be awarded to affected motorists.
March 2026
The trial reached its final phase, with closing arguments heard. A judgment is expected in summer 2026.
December 2025
The 10-week High Court hearings concluded.
October 2025
A major trial has begun at London’s High Court. Five leading carmakers — Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot/Citroën, Renault and Nissan — are accused of cheating on emissions tests.
August 2025
A Dutch court rules that diesel cars from Opel, Peugeot, Citroën and DS – now all part of Stellantis – contained software designed to cheat emissions tests.
July 2025
The Scottish Court of Session grants permission for Volvo diesel emissions group litigation to proceed. This decision places Scotland alongside England and Wales in greenlighting collective proceedings against Volvo.
26 May 2025
Four ex-VW bosses are found guilty of fraud in a German court. If it’s proven that other car bosses were involved too, it potentially strengthens the case for more UK drivers to get justice.
November 2024
The High Court ruled against Mercedes-Benz. The car manufacturer argued a German ruling should apply in England and Wales, shielding the company from litigation in the UK. The court disagreed with Mercedes-Benz.
June 2024
According to reports, ‘Dieselgate’ emissions claims reached at least £6 billion, with around 1.5 million claims issued against 13 car manufacturers.
May 2024
Seven more Group Litigation Orders (GLOs) were handed down by the Court. This meant claims against the following manufacturers could progress: Hyundai-Kia, Mazda, Peugeot-Citroën, Toyota, Vauxhall, The Volkswagen Group, and Volvo.
March 2024
The High Court ruled that Nissan Renault and Peugeot Citroën would join Mercedes and Ford and face trial over alleged emissions cheating. The trial against certain car manufacturers is likely to start in 2025.
2023
By granting Group Litigation Orders (GLOs), the UK High Court ruled that BMW and Ford would face legal action over their role in the emissions scandal. A GLO permits people who have experienced a common issue to have their cases managed collectively.
2021
The European Commission found that BMW and certain other car manufacturers had conspired to prevent the deployment of clean emissions technology. Together, BMW and Volkswagen were fined €875 million for breaking EU rules.
2020
Ford remained adamant that it did not use illegal defeat devices in its vehicles. However, Ford did use ‘thermal window’ software. To ensure the “safe operation of the vehicle”, such software switches off a car’s emissions purification system in extreme temperatures or altitudes.
In 2020, the European Court of Justice ruled that ‘thermal window’ software did constitute a defeat device and was only permissible when protecting against sudden and extraordinary damage.
Volkswagen Group agreed to a £193m settlement for dieselgate claimants. However, it did not admit liability. More than 90,000 VW drivers in England and Wales received a payout as a result of this settlement.
2019
BMW, Daimler, and The Volkswagen Group were charged for colluding to restrict the introduction of clean emissions technology.
2017
German authorities investigated BMW, Daimler (Mercedes-Benz) and The Volkswagen Group, over reports of diesel emissions collusion.
2015
The global ‘dieselgate’ scandal started when US investigators discovered Volkswagen Group had been selling cars with illegal emissions-cheating software. British researchers then found that other car manufacturers were emitting toxic fumes way above the legal limits.
We’ll provide more updates on this case as they happen.
Find out if you could join a no-win, no-fee emissions claim. It will only take a few minutes and there’s no obligation to proceed.
Dieselgate is the name given to the global emissions scandal involving millions of diesel cars and vans sold by a number of manufacturers.
The claims allege that some manufacturers fitted vehicles with unlawful emissions control software, known as defeat devices, which made the vehicles appear to meet emissions standards during laboratory testing while producing higher levels of harmful nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in normal driving conditions.
In the UK, Volkswagen agreed a £193 million settlement with around 91,000 motorists, with average compensation of more than £2,100. Legal claims against several other manufacturers are continuing.
In July 2026, the High Court found that certain manufacturers had used unlawful defeat devices, although it rejected many of the wider allegations. The litigation is ongoing, with further hearings planned and claimant lawyers considering an appeal.
If you owned or leased an affected diesel vehicle, you may still be able to bring a claim, depending on the manufacturer and your circumstances.
Legal claims have been brought against a number of major vehicle manufacturers over allegations that some diesel vehicles were fitted with unlawful emissions control software, often referred to as defeat devices.
The claims allege that these devices allowed vehicles to perform differently during emissions testing than they did in normal driving conditions, meaning some cars emitted higher levels of nitrogen oxide (NOx) than consumers were led to believe.
Lawyers acting for motorists argue that drivers paid more for vehicles that did not perform as advertised and may also have suffered financial losses when selling them.
In July 2026, the High Court found that certain manufacturers had used unlawful defeat devices, although many of the wider allegations remain disputed. The legal cases are continuing, with further hearings planned and claimant lawyers considering an appeal.
If you bought, financed or leased an affected diesel vehicle, you could still be eligible to bring a claim. Use our vehicle checker to find out whether your car could be included.
If you owned, financed or leased an affected diesel vehicle, you could be entitled to compensation if the claim succeeds.
Group claims allow people with similar claims to pursue legal action together. This can make it easier and more cost-effective to hold large organisations to account than bringing individual claims.
The Volkswagen Dieselgate settlement showed that compensation is possible, with successful UK claimants receiving average payouts of more than £2,100. While every claim is different and compensation cannot be guaranteed, legal claims against other manufacturers are continuing.
Use our vehicle checker to find out whether your car could be included.
Yes, in dieselgate cases involving Volkswagen, UK claimants received payouts averaging £2,120.
We won’t charge you a single penny. And we ensure any law firms we connect you with operate on a no-win-no-fee basis.
However, fees may apply if you cancel after the cooling-off period or breach your agreement.
If you win, the law firm will either take its fees from your compensation payment or recover them from the defendants.
All terms are clearly explained before joining.
A no-win, no-fee agreement means you don’t pay your solicitor’s legal fees if your claim is unsuccessful. This makes it easier and more affordable to take part in group litigation. However, T&Cs apply.
Want the full picture, including what to check before signing? Read our complete guide to no win, no fee agreements here.
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In the UK, if a group of people have experienced loss, or otherwise been harmed by an organisation’s law breaking, they can come together to fight for justice. Levelling the playing field when standing up to big businesses, group actions prove that there is strength in numbers. At Join the Claim, we bring consumers and law firms together to ensure these group actions are as powerful as possible.
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