Belgian consumers affected by the Volkswagen “Dieselgate” emissions scandal will soon be able to start claiming compensation, marking a major step forward in a years-long legal battle.
The consumer organisation Testaankoop launched an online claims website on April 15 allowing eligible car owners to request reimbursement following a final court ruling against Volkswagen.
Testaankoop has estimated around 320,000 people in Belgium could be eligible.
The development followed the Brussels Court of First Instance’s July 2023 decision ordering Volkswagen to compensate Belgian consumers who purchased vehicles with the EA 189 diesel engine. In 2015, it was discovered that the company installed software on these engines to manipulate emissions test results, making them appear cleaner than they actually were.
Under the court ruling, consumers could receive up to 5 per cent of their vehicle’s purchase price — a potential €1,250 for a €25,000 car. Volkswagen chose not to appeal the decision, making the judgment final.
Claimants will have four months to file for compensation once the court ruling is officially published in the Belgian State Gazette — a step that has not yet occurred. The claims platform has gone live in anticipation.
To qualify, consumers must have purchased a Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda or Seat vehicle equipped with the EA 189 engine between September 1, 2014 and September 22, 2015.
Those who bought before that date would only be eligible if they had previously mandated Testaankoop to represent them. Importantly, vehicles that received a software update correcting the emissions issue have been excluded from compensation claims.
“This is a major milestone for Belgian consumers who were misled and have waited nearly a decade for justice,” said Laura Clays, spokesperson for Testaankoop. “We encourage everyone who believes they may be eligible to check the platform and submit their claim.”
The Dieselgate scandal erupted in 2015 when Volkswagen admitted to installing software designed to cheat emissions tests in 11 million diesel cars worldwide. The fallout led to lawsuits, recalls, and regulatory reforms across the globe.
In Belgium, the collective action spearheaded by Testaankoop began in 2016 and has become a landmark case in consumer protection and corporate accountability.
The European Consumer Organisation has praised the Belgian ruling as a “crucial step” toward fair treatment for all affected car buyers and called for an extension of compensation procedures where appropriate to others who purchased such vehicles across Europe.
Volkswagen’s net profit plummeted by more than 30 per cent in 2024 compared to the previous year. https://t.co/eW5psqYo9T
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) March 11, 2025
