Understanding Your Rights as a Diesel Vehicle Owner

If you owned or leased a diesel vehicle that was manufactured between 2009 and 2020, you may be eligible to join the ongoing legal proceedings against vehicle manufacturers alleged to have fitted prohibited defeat devices.

Who May Be Eligible

You may be eligible to claim if:

• You owned or leased a diesel vehicle manufactured between 2009 and 2020
• The vehicle was owned or leased at any point from 2009 to the present day
• The vehicle was purchased or leased in the UK
• You have not previously settled a claim for the same vehicle

You can still claim if you bought the vehicle second-hand, or if you have since sold it or it is no longer in your possession.

Which Manufacturers Are Involved

Legal proceedings are currently underway against a number of manufacturers. The five lead defendants in the High Court trial that began in October 2025 are Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot/Citroën, Renault and Nissan. Additional manufacturers facing claims include Vauxhall/Opel, Volkswagen/Porsche, Jaguar/Land Rover, BMW, FCA/Suzuki, Volvo, Hyundai-Kia, Toyota and Mazda (Leigh Day).

The Claims Process

The process for joining the claim is straightforward:

1. Check your vehicle: Enter your registration number to see if your vehicle is within the affected range
2. Provide your details: Complete a short online form with your personal and vehicle ownership information
3. Review and sign: Read the relevant legal documents and confirm your participation with an electronic signature

Once submitted, the appointed legal team handles all aspects of the claim on your behalf. You will receive updates on the progress of the proceedings.

Important Context

All claims are handled by law firms regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). The legal proceedings are being co-led by Leigh Day and Pogust Goodhead (Leigh Day).

It is important to note that the manufacturers deny the allegations and the case is ongoing. A judgement on the current High Court trial is not expected until summer 2026 (BBC News).

Sources

• Leigh Day — Dieselgate: High Court document disclosure (July 2025)
• BBC News — Carmakers go on trial over emissions cheat claims (October 2025)