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Can I Claim Compensation For My Diesel Car?

You could be entitled to a diesel emission claim if:

  • You wouldn’t have bought your car if you had known about the true emissions.
  • You spent more than you would’ve e.g: spent more due to being under the impression it was more environmentally friendly.
  • You had to pay to get your car fixed so that it fit the emissions standard.

You have a strong case for a diesel claim if your vehicle was:

  • Bought new
  • Bought second hand
  • Was leased
  • If you had a company car and the contract was under your name

You also don’t need to still be the owner of this car. As long as you can prove you were once the registered owner and it is a diesel car of the appropriate time and manufacturer, then you should be able to claim.

Claim compensation for your diesel car today!

If you think you may be entitled to compensation through a diesel emissions claim, read our blog post about making a diesel emissions claim in the UK or contact us on WhatsApp at 07377 304 364 or by our email, info@claimsbible.com.

What is a diesel car claim?

The diesel claim refers to a legal compensation claim those with diesel cars made between 2007 and 2020 could be eligible for. This claim was introduced due to an incident that occurred in 2015 now commonly known as the “diesel gate”. Diesel gate refers to a scandal involving the VW group, in particular, the car manufacturers Audi and Volkswagen. In the US, they faced regulatory action over some of their diesel cars.

Choosing the right car manufacturer and model is very important to ensure you can stay safe whilst on the road. However, after the scandal known as ‘diesel gate’ occurred in 2015, choosing a car manufacturer isn’t as straightforward as it once was. People are now concerned that their diesel cars have been missold and that the manufacturers they once trusted are no longer seen as reliable. In this article, we will look at how you can claim compensation for your diesel car, what factors make a valid claim and how much you should expect to receive.

This is due to the alleged legal claims that these companies were using illegal ‘defeat devices’ in their diesel cars to cheat their regulated emissions tests. These are tests done by regulators to approve the cars’ emissions levels before being cleared as safe to sell. These carmakers were found to be cheating causing law firms to argue that affected cars and vans were producing more harmful nitrogen oxide than advertised meaning that customers were mis-sold their cars. This scandal grew and began to include other vehicle manufacturers.

Can I claim diesel emissions on a second-hand car?

When it comes to making a diesel emissions claim, there are criteria that must be met to be seen as eligible by a law firm. It doesn’t, however, matter if your car is second-hand or not, you can still claim. To be eligible to claim you must own or have owned a diesel car made between the years 2007 and 2020, that was manufactured by one of these car makers:

How to claim diesel compensation

When it comes to making a diesel claim there are different routes you could consider going down. The easiest one would be to join a claim. This is when a law firm is already working with numerous people seeking compensation for their diesel emissions. You may see this advertised or they will broadcast it clearly on their websites. To do this you usually join their ongoing claim to make a stronger case and start when you provide your details to ensure you are eligible.

Another way would be by waiting until there is a case against your specific manufacturer. At this point, you could then claim individually.

Seeking legal advice is always the best way to claim as they will be able to direct you appropriately and handle the majority of the process. This is why many people go with Claims Bible.

No matter the route you go down, make sure to always conduct due diligence research on the firm to ensure it is trustworthy, legitimate, of high quality and offers the best rates. Comparing a few as well as looking for testimonials is a great way to decipher which firms are there for you or not.

How much compensation could you get for diesel emissions claims?

Currently, there is no fixed rate you can receive as compensation as a claimant against diesel emissions. This is because the majority of claims against diesel car manufacturers are still ongoing and are currently under investigation. With that being said, the VW group, which owns Audi, Skoda, Seat and more, paid £193 million in 2022 to settle 91,000 claims across England and Wales — an average of around £2,100 per claimant.

The rate of compensation will also depend on how much they calculate that you are owed. For a claim to be successful, there must be evidence that you are out of pocket due to the diesel emissions deception.

Read Also

Common questions about diesel emission claims

How to claim diesel compensation

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Gavin Cooper

Gavin Cooper

Claims Expert, Claims Bible

Gavin writes and reviews Claims Bible's guidance on compensation claims. Claims Bible is a trading style of Forces Compare Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA for claims management activities (FRN 785329).

Published 28 February 2023 · Updated 5 August 2026 · Part of our Diesel Emissions guide