320,000 Belgians can claim compensations from VW for ‘dieselgate’

About 320,000 Belgians who bought a car with ‘fraud software’ from the VW Group can finally claim indemnification. Nine years after the court case started, an agreement exists between the Belgian consumer organization TestAankoop/TestAchats and Volkswagen.

In those nine years, Volkswagen finally admitted that it had sold some 11 million diesel cars with engine type EA189 fitted with fraud software to perform better during emission tests. The whole scandal became known as ‘dieselgate’. The cars involved were VWs, Audis, Seats, and Skodas.

320,000 victims of the fraud

Some 320,000 diesel customers were involved in Belgium. In 2016, TestAaankoop/TestAchats started a court procedure. After a lengthy procedural battle, the car manufacturer was convicted in 2023 to compensate its duped customers.

Nine years after the trial started, both parties agreed on a practical solution to compensate the victims. “We are delighted to announce that the case is finally closed,” said Laura Clays, spokeswoman of TestAankoop/TestAchats in the newspaper De Tijd.

Someone who bought a VW Group product with the engine EA189 between 1 September 2014 and 22 September 2015 will automatically receive compensation. On 1 September 2014, a new law on class action came into force.

People who bought a car before this date only have a right to compensation if they have joined the jurisdictional procedure of TestAankoop/TestAchats. Cars bought after 22 September 2015 are omitted because Volkswagen announced on that particular day that they had used fraudulent software.

Five percent

The Brussels court judged that 5% of the car’s purchase price was fair compensation. Initially, the consumer organization asked for a full refund, but the judge disagreed.

People who have sold their cars will receive 5% of the difference between the original purchase price and the reselling value. The compensation can range from a few hundred to a few thousand euros, depending on the car model.

Duped customers can claim compensation via Testaankoop/TestAchats, which created a dedicated online platform (testaankoop.be/schadevergoeding). They have four months from the judgment’s publication in the Belgian Official Journal to do this. Volkswagen will bundle all files after this period and validate them. Only then can payments be expected.