In recent years, the diesel emissions scandal has made headlines all over the world, with many diesel vehicle owners now looking to claim compensation for the harm caused to both the environment and their health by their car manufacturers’ negligence. In this blog post, we explain how to claim diesel compensation.

About the diesel emissions scandal?

The diesel emissions scandal, also known as ‘Dieselgate’, is a term used to describe a series of events that began in 2015 when it was discovered that Volkswagen (VW) had installed defeat devices in their diesel vehicles to cheat on emissions tests. This device would detect when the vehicle was being tested and would reduce its emissions output to comply with the regulations.

However, in real-world driving conditions, the vehicles would emit up to 40 times the legal limit of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The scandal quickly spread to other car manufacturers, with companies such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz also being found guilty of using these devices.

Overall, there are around 500,000 vehicles in the United Kingdom alone which are believed to be affected by the scandal, so there is a good chance that if you bought a diesel vehicle between 2007 and 2020, you could be owed a significant sum of money. Read on to find out more about how to claim for diesel emissions and get the compensation that you deserve.

Is it possible to claim diesel compensation on your own?

Yes, if you are the owner of a diesel vehicle affected by the Diesel Emissions scandal, you can claim compensation yourself. However, it’s important to note that the claims process can be expensive, long and complex, so it’s often more worthwhile joining a group claim on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis.

The process for diesel claims

The first step in the claims process is to determine whether you are eligible to claim. This will depend on a variety of factors, such as the make and model of your vehicle, the date of purchase or lease, and the country in which the vehicle was bought. It can also be beneficial to gather evidence to support your claim, such as documentation relating to the purchase of the vehicle and any repairs carried out to meet emissions standards. There are a number of free vehicle checkers online that you can use.

Once you have gathered all the necessary information, you can begin the claims process. This will usually involve submitting your claim to a law firm dealing with group cases. In most cases, you’ll need to start by providing some basic details about your car. The law firm will then get in touch with you if they believe you have a case.

Claiming for more than one vehicle

If you’ve owned more than one vehicle that has been affected by the emissions scandal, you can make a claim for each one. However, you’ll need to make a separate claim for each.

Time limits for bringing diesel claims

The exact time limit will depend on the reason for the claim. For example, a claim for deceit, misrepresentation or breach of statutory duty has to be brought within 6 years of you discovering your vehicle had a defeat device, while breach of contract claims must be brought within 6 years from the date of purchase. CPUT claims, meanwhile, have to be brought within 6 years from the date of you agreeing to buy the vehicle.

How much could I receive?

The amount of compensation that you could be entitled to will depend on a range of factors, including the type of vehicle and how much it cost you to buy or repair as a result of the defeat devices. Generally, you could expect to receive anything from £100 to £10,000, so it is definitely worth making a claim.

How long will a diesel claim take?

As a group claim, the process could take up to 5 years depending on the number of claimants involved and the amount of compensation being awarded. While this may seem like a long time, it’s important to be patient, as the reward could be worth it. The 91,000 people who made a group claim to VW were awarded £193 million between them!

To make the process easier for you, get in touch with our team at Claims Bible. Our experts can help you every step of the way, and take charge of your claim to make sure you get the best outcome possible.