Millions of motorists who own or lease popular car models such as Ford, BMW and Volkswagen could be owed compensation payouts of “£25 or more”, according to Money Saving Expert (MSE). The payouts stem from a group legal case concerning excessive shipping costs on vehicles shipped to the UK.
Legal challenge backs consumer claims
A legal claim alleges that consumers were indirectly charged excessive shipping costs, with the Competition Appeal Tribunal agreeing with the claim. According to MSE, over 25 million vehicles could be eligible for the small payouts, with some of the UK’s most popular manufacturers set to be impacted.
Brands understood to be impacted include Honda, Kia, MG and Peugeot. Motorists are understood to be eligible if they bought or leased a new car or van between October 2006 and September 2015. Road users could still be owed the compensation even if they have since sold or returned the vehicle.
Payout amounts and application window
A total of £55.87 million in compensation is set to be made available, with payouts starting from £25 for the first affected vehicle. An additional £5 will be awarded for the next two to six vehicles, with a further £2.50 awarded thereafter. However, payouts are likely to increase if fewer people than expected make a valid claim for the money.
Motorists who secured their model through the Motability Scheme are also likely to be able to claim. CarDeliveryCharges, the court-approved claim website, said that the window to apply for compensation will open in November 2026.
Businesses and next steps
Which? consumer spokesperson Mark McLaren encouraged road users to sign up for payouts to ensure they don’t miss out. He said: “Signing up now is the best way to be first in line for compensation. With everything now fully approved, the distribution of settlement monies can be distributed later this year.
“Those already signed up will be contacted as soon as the distribution is open and will be directed to our online claim form to get back the money you’re owed. We’ve done everything we can to make this process as easy as possible for those affected.”
Businesses are also expected to be awarded compensation, with many companies often bulk buying models to fill their fleets. The British Vehicle and Rental Leasing Association (BVRLA) said: “The claims process is expected to be particularly straightforward for businesses registered on the DVLA Fleet database. When making a claim, these businesses will automatically be presented with the total number of eligible vehicles identified through DVLA data and the associated compensation amount.”
