Diesel emission claims

What are these claims about?

Claims progress – England and Wales

New. October 2025: High Court trial begins for some

This directly impacts: Citroen, Ford, Mercedes, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault – but it will likely have a knock-on effect on others

The claims against these six car brands are now being tested at the High Court in a huge, months-long trial that started on 13 October 2025. This trial will determine whether vehicles sold by these manufacturers contained technology designed to cheat official emissions tests.

The proceedings will run until mid-December 2025, with the court hearing evidence from the law firms behind the claims, expert witnesses and the carmakers themselves. A judgment is expected in summer 2026.

However, even if this case against the carmakers succeeds, any potential payouts are likely still years away. That's because there will be a separate, follow-on trial next year to decide what, if any, compensation drivers are owed.

This is provisionally scheduled for autumn 2026, so a judgement wouldn't be expected until 2027 at the earliest (assuming there are no appeals, which could delay the process even more).

New. October 2025: Many other claims are STILL on hold

The scale of the diesel emissions group legal action is unprecedented – some 22 law firms are working on claims for 1.6 million motorists.

As a result, the courts picked the six car brands above (Citroen, Ford, Mercedes, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault) as "lead defendants". This means their trial is being heard ahead of all others to save time and reduce costs. Crucially, the cases against other manufacturers will be bound by the judgment in the lead case.

This has two implications: if that lead case succeeds, it could mean quicker compensation for everyone. If it fails, it could kibosh all the diesel emissions claims in one go. We should know for sure one way or the other when the key judgment is handed down next summer.

May 2022: Some manufacturers settle of of court

This impacts: Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW with EA189 engines

In May 2018, the High Court granted a 'group litigation order' to lawyers from Leigh Day, Pogust Goodhead (formerly PGMBM), and Slater and Gordon, which were representing over 90,000 VW Group – which owns the Audi, Seat, Skoda and VW brands – vehicle owners in England and Wales.

Following an initial hearing in December 2019, the High Court ruled in April 2020 that VW had installed a 'defeat device' into a certain type of VW diesel engine – EA189.

The case was settled out of court in May 2022 for £193 million, with VW Group also making a separate undisclosed contribution to claimants' legal costs. It's not clear how much individual claimants got after all fees and costs were deducted – the law firms involved say this is confidential due to the terms of the settlement.

VW had previously denied anyone lost out financially and continues to insist that the settlement does not amount to any admission in respect of "liability, causation or loss" but was simply "the most prudent course of action commercially".

The VW Group EA189 settlement has no direct bearing on any other cases (whether against VW Group or other manufacturers) since it reached a conclusion out of court – which means it therefore set no legal precedent. It could have an indirect impact on other similar claims, but it's impossible to say with any certainty.

It's now too late to join for most in England & Wales

Following a series of hearings between December 2023 and March 2024, the High Court set formal cut-off dates for new claimants joining the diesel emission lawsuits in England and Wales. The last of these deadlines passed in December 2024, which means you can no longer sign up in the vast majority of cases.

There is one exception. One of the leading firms in this area, Leigh Day, is still accepting new claims for some Volvo vehicles. It says this is because the circumstances are slightly different for Volvo versus other manufacturers – for example, due to the way Volvo cars were allegedly advertised as more environmentally friendly.

The firm is therefore looking into running a separate group legal claim on behalf of Volvo drivers. You can check if yours is eligible using its online tool – though do read our pros and cons first.

What about Scotland?

October 2025: Law firms are still accepting claims

In Scotland, the legal mechanism making group actions possible only came into effect in 2020 – so while cases are progressing, they haven't gotten as far as those in England and Wales.

There are several firms currently still accepting registrations in relation to diesel vehicles from various manufacturers (do read the pros and cons of joining first):

• Lefevres – covering BMW, Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Vauxhall and Volvo.

• Slater and Gordon – covering Citroën, Fiat, Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Vauxhall and Volvo.

• Thompsons – covering BMW, Citroën, Fiat, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Vauxhall and Volvo, as well as some Audi, Seat, Skoda and VW vehicles with non-EA189 engines.

Important: Law firms are tricky to compare. Our focus here is on the overall claims process rather than analysis of individual law firms – which is not our strength or expertise. So the firms listed above are just the ones we're aware of that are working on these claims – but we aren't recommending which to use.

The firm you choose won't necessarily affect the outcome of your case

Provided more than one firm launches proceedings against a given manufacturer (which seems likely), the claims against that manufacturer will be grouped together when they reach court.

This means that if the claims get to trial, your chances of winning won't rest solely on the firm you signed up with, but on all of the law firms working together.

However, the firm you choose will affect how much of any compensation awarded by the court you actually get to keep if the claim succeeds (or is settled out of court) – which is worth bearing in mind.

December 2022: Some manufacturers settle of of court

This impacts: Audi, Seat, Skoda & VW with EA189 engines

In December 2022, an initial case against VW Group concerning vehicles fitted with EA189 engines was settled out of court for £11.9 million.

This settlement only covers the approximately 7,800 claimants who were already part of the group legal action against VW in Scotland and who had signed up with one of the firms bringing the claim (Drummond Miller, Jones Whyte, Lefevres, Slater and Gordon, and Thompsons).

As the terms and conditions of the settlement are confidential, it's unclear how much each individual claimant got after all legal fees and costs were deducted.

The settlement has no direct bearing on any other claims in Scotland or elsewhere, and VW did not make any admissions in respect of liability, causation or loss as part of the settlement. In VW's view, settling was simply "the most prudent course of action commercially".

And how about Northern Ireland?

Currently, there are no firms we know of running diesel emissions group claims in Northern Ireland.

This could be because solicitors in Northern Ireland are not allowed to take cases on a 'no win, no fee' basis, which makes it trickier for claims to get off the ground. Or it could be that, because there are fewer potential claimants in the country, firms have less of an incentive to pursue a group claim – as the total value of this would be lower.

Either way, we are looking out for law firms launching claims and we'll update this guide if any emerge. In the meantime, if you come across one, please let us know.

Previously, a firm called Edwards & Co Solicitors was looking into claims against Audi, Mercedes, Seat, Skoda and VW, though it's no longer accepting new sign-ups and the status of the claims is unclear. Edwards & Co has so far not responded to our requests for an update, but if it does we'll add the info here.

Joined a claim? Keep in touch with your law firm

As the cases go through court, the law firm you signed up with should provide regular updates so you know what's going on.

It's important to continue to provide any information or documentation the law firm requests, so it can keep progressing your case.

Unhappy with your firm? Complain

If you're unhappy with how the firm is handling your case, you have some options.

In the first instance, contact the firm directly to see if it can resolve the problem. If that doesn't work, raise a formal complaint – you'll be able to find details of how to do this on the firm's website.

If you don't get a response to your complaint within eight weeks, or you're unhappy with the response you do get, you can take it to the free Legal Ombudsman, which can make binding decisions and has official powers to sort problems out.

Changed your mind? You may have to pay an exit fee to opt out

If you no longer want to go ahead with your claim, you may have to pay termination or cancellation fees – these will depend on the terms and conditions you agreed to when you signed up and how far your case has progressed.

However, any exit fee must be fair and reasonable, and must have been "clearly stated upfront in your agreement", according to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). If it wasn't, you'd have grounds for a complaint.

In addition, a law firm can "only bill reasonable charges for work they can show they have done on your case, and to which you agreed, in line with the agreement you have with them". If you can't see how the firm got to a specific figure, contact it and ask it for a detailed breakdown.

The SRA's guidance for law firms says that what's reasonable "will depend on a range of circumstances", including how much work the firm has done on your case, the market rates for that work, and to what extent you were informed of and consented to the charges.

Crucially, firms must be able to prove that their charges are reasonable if challenged – so the onus is on them.

Eight things to consider before joining a claim

While some law firms' marketing may make signing up look like a no-brainer, it's important to note that, as with all legal action, there are some serious pros and cons to weigh up. Here are the main points to consider...

1. It would be almost impossible for you to bring a claim like this on your own – so if you believe you're owed, this may be the only option

These are complex legal proceedings which require technical expert opinion to establish facts, and if you were to try to bring a claim yourself, the costs would likely dwarf any damages, plus you'd risk having to pay the other side's legal costs.

So while we'd normally urge you to steer clear of firms that will take a cut of any compensation, in this instance if you do want to make a claim, joining a group legal action may be the only viable option – though even then, there's no guarantee of winning.

Quick question

2. This is for vehicles first registered between around 2009 and 2020 – even if you no longer lease or own them

Different firms sometimes have different cut-offs but, in general, vehicles made from about 2009 to about 2020 by roughly 20 brands are included in the current legal actions.

You can sign up to claims for more than one vehicle (but don't register the same vehicle with more than one law firm). Law firms may well take you on if:

• You leased or bought the vehicle on finance.

• You bought it new or second-hand, regardless of who you bought it from.

• You no longer own the vehicle.

• You intend to claim for a company car, provided the contract was in your name.

But you WON'T be considered for a claim if you bought the vehicle outside of the UK.

Quick questions

3. It's quick and easy to check if you can join a claim

If you decide you want to sign up, you can check if a law firm is likely to take on your claim by using the simple, free tools on law firms' websites.

Once you're on the firm's website you might need to click through to the specific page on your vehicle's manufacturer to type in your car or van's registration number. You'll then be told instantly if it's one of the models potentially affected.

4. Signing up is free – but not risk-free

As these are 'no win, no fee' legal claims, you won't have to pay anything upfront to join any of them, though if you do join and the claim is successful, somewhere between a third and a half of the payout will go to the law firm.

If a claim ISN'T successful, you're unlikely to have to pay anything, but it's not impossible. If a court ruled in favour of the manufacturer you could technically be liable for its legal costs. In practice, this would likely be covered by the law firm's 'ATE' or 'after the event' insurance – but even if it has this cover in place, it will be capped, so it's not bulletproof.

5. Payouts might end up being £1,000s – but compensation is NOT guaranteed and some of the figures quoted are fiercely disputed

6. Claims could take up to five years – or even longer

When we were first writing this guide in 2021, one of the law firms involved told us cases of this type may take five years or longer to progress through court. Four years later and the first major trial has only just started, so that prediction has proven accurate.

Another example: in the original VW Group case, claims were first grouped together by the court in May 2018, but the case was only due to go to trial in January 2023, before a settlement was reached in May 2022. (And had it gone to court, proceedings might've stretched out even further through potential future appeals.)

7. If you get the paperwork but then get cold feet about joining the claim, you've 14 days to withdraw penalty-free – after that, you could have to pay legal costs

The major firms we spoke to will give you an initial 14 days to cancel an agreement without having to pay anything. You may want to use this time to review any paperwork sent after you signed up to the firm's services. Don't skip over this – make sure you understand the small print and you know what you've signed up for.

If you're unsure about any aspect of the agreement you've entered into, ask the law firm involved to clarify. And if you change your mind, just let the firm know you want to cancel in writing. As long as you do so within 14 days, you won't be charged a penny.

However, if you sign up to a claim and withdraw after the first 14 days, in some cases you may be liable for legal costs – depending on the firm's terms and conditions and how far your case has progressed.

It's impossible to put a precise figure on this, but it could potentially run into the hundreds or even thousands of pounds – it's likely to depend on how long after signing up you withdraw, and the amount of work the law firm's carried out on your behalf. So, to be on the safe side, only sign up if you're committed to seeing the case through.

Note that the firm you sign up with is likely to ask for more information or paperwork as the case progresses. You're very unlikely to have to attend court or even provide a full witness statement but you will have to provide copies of proof of ownership documents, such as your purchase/lease invoice or any finance agreement you took out.

8. Important – only sign up if you genuinely believe you have a case

This is likely to be linked to you suffering some kind of financial loss – for example, perhaps you paid more for the vehicle than you otherwise would have or you wouldn't have bought it at all had you known about the alleged emissions flaws. Or maybe you sold it on, but got less for it than you would have had it not been affected.

Some firms may ask you about this directly – for example, as part of its registration process, Pogust Goodhead had asked claimants to confirm, among other things, that: "You would not have acquired your vehicle, or would have paid less for it, if you had known that it was fitted with emissions cheating software."

If you're not sure, talk to the law firm directly. It's worth doing this before you sign up, since you'll need to co-operate with the firm handling your claim on an ongoing basis and may even have to pay costs if you drop out.

Ultimately though, if you've done all the checks and believe you were mis-sold, the downsides to joining a claim seem relatively limited. If you later drop out or change your mind, you may be liable for legal costs, as we say above. But the risk of losing money – while not impossible – is slim.

What do the manufacturers say?

Here's what the carmakers involved in the current High Court trial said:

• Ford: "We see no merit in these claims and are robustly defending against them. Our vehicles and engines meet all applicable emissions requirements."

• Mercedes: "We believe that the claims are without merit and will vigorously defend ourselves against them or any group action with the necessary legal means."

• Nissan: "Nissan is committed to compliance in all markets in which we operate. Emissions testing regimes and standards have evolved considerably over time and continue to do so to improve air quality and reduce emissions. Nissan is fully supportive of these changes."

• Renault: "Renault unequivocally denies any suggestion that its vehicles did not meet [regulatory] requirements. At the trial, Renault will defend itself robustly. It denies the allegations made against it and remains confident in its position."

• Stellantis, owner of Citroen and Peugeot, didn't respond to our latest request for a statement, but has previously said: "These claims are unfounded and we will defend ourselves against them."

And here's what other manufacturers have previously said:

• BMW Group, owner of the BMW and Mini brands: "BMW Group vehicles always comply with the necessary legal requirements and so the company categorically rejects any accusation that diesel emissions from their vehicles are manipulated in any way."

• Hyundai and Kia (Hyundai owns part of Kia): "All of the brand's vehicles sold in the UK and Europe comply with the emissions regulations in operation at the time of sale, and Hyundai and Kia have not infringed upon any European emissions testing rules."

• Jaguar Land Rover, owner of the Jaguar and Land Rover brands, said it "does not use emissions cheat devices or software in any of its products. We have not yet seen any technical evidence in relation to this matter and will strongly contest any claims made."

• Volvo said: "Volvo Cars has never used any illegal defeat devices in any of its cars."

• VW Group, owner of the Audi, Porsche, Seat, Skoda and VW brands: "The Volkswagen Group continues to hold the view that these claims are not justified and we regret that they have been made in the first place. We have instructed our solicitors to defend them robustly.
  
  "We take these allegations very seriously and make no acceptance of them or admission of liability, and nor do we accept that customers have suffered any financial loss in respect of the vehicles."