VW Settlement
Welcome to the Official Volkswagen Diesel Emissions Settlement Website for South Africa
This website provides information and step-by-step instructions for people who may be eligible to participate in the VW Diesel Emissions (South Africa) class action, pre-certification settlement.
Spot Settlements has been court-approved to administer the class notice process in the VW EA189 Emissions Settlement.
At a Glance
- Owners/lessees of certain VW/Audi diesel vehicles (EA189), originally sold/leased in SA before 22 September 2015.
- Potential settlement benefit up to R10,000 per vehicle (subject to timely, valid claim).
- Submit online via My Claim or follow instructions to submit on paper.
- Submit claim and documents by 30 March 2026.
If you are visiting this website, you likely were identified, based on official government eNaTIS data, as a person who may be a member of the Class and eligible to participate in the Volkswagen South Africa Settlement. The Court overseeing this case authorised Spot Settlements to contact you and other potential class members to inform you about your rights and legal obligations under the class action Settlement.
In terms of the agreed settlement, anyone who purchased or leased certain Volkswagen or Audi diesel vehicles prior to 22 September 2015, and who submits a timely and valid claim, may be entitled to receive a settlement benefit of up to R10,000 (ten thousand Rand) per vehicle (“the Settlement”).
Who is included in the Settlement?
The Settlement includes certain owners and lessees of Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles equipped with EA189 engines originally sold or leased in South Africa before 22 September 2015.
The “Settlement Class” is specifically defined as all persons (including individuals and entities) who, prior to September 22, 2015, purchased (whether outright or by way of a third-party finance arrangement concluded with a Financial Institution) or leased a Class Vehicle.
The following entities and individuals are excluded from the Class:
- Officers, directors and employees of Volkswagen South Africa (“VWSA”);
- Affiliates and affiliates’ officers, directors and employees of VWSA;
- Distributors and distributors’ officers, directors and employees of VWSA;
- Judicial officers seized of the matter and their immediate family members, and associate court staff;
- Institutions or entities providing financing to class members; and
- All those otherwise in the Class who or which timely and properly exclude themselves from the Class as provided in the Class Settlement Agreement and as also set forth on this website.
How to use this website
This website is designed to guide you through the claims process in a step-by-step manner. Using the links at the top of this page, you can access the following:
- VW Settlement: Overview of the Settlement.
- FAQs: Answers to common questions about the Settlement and the associated class action lawsuit giving rise to the Settlement.
- Key Dates: Important dates and deadlines; check back regularly for adjustments.
- Important Documents: Publicly available court papers related to certification and the Settlement.
- Opt Out of the Settlement: Instructions if you wish to opt out.
- Protection of Personal Information: Instructions if you do not want to be contacted (may affect ability to institute a claim) and instructions if you do not want to submit documents via the My Claim page.
- Objection: Instructions if you want to object to the Settlement.
POPIA & Participation
If you do not want to receive future communications about the Settlement, please see the POPIA page for instructions to have your contact details removed from the Spot Settlements database.
Removing yourself from the communication list is not the same as objecting to or opting out of the Settlement. For those options, visit the Objection page or the Opt Out page. If you do not want to receive communications but wish to continue to participate in the claims process, the POPIA page explains how to proceed. Information that you upload or otherwise submit will still be kept and processed for the purposes of the claim.
Start My ClaimChatbot Use and Disclaimer
Our Chatbot is an automated communication tool designed to assist users with general information about the VW Emissions Settlement and how to use this website. You may interact with the Chatbot in your preferred language to obtain guidance on navigating the site, understanding the claims process, or accessing relevant documents.
This Chatbot and any responses it provides are for general informational purposes only. The Chatbot does not provide legal advice, does not establish an attorney–client relationship, and should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent legal advice.
All communications through this Chatbot are automated and not reviewed by an attorney. Although the information aims to be accurate and helpful, it may not reflect the latest legal developments or apply to your individual circumstances.
If you require legal advice regarding your rights, eligibility, or participation in the Settlement, please submit your request to legal@spotsettlements.co.za with a short description of your request. All such requests will be forwarded to the Class Attorneys (RH Attorneys Incorporated) on a weekly basis, after which they will contact you directly. You may also seek advice from an independent legal practitioner of your choice.
Information you provide through this Chatbot will be processed in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Personal data is collected only for purposes of facilitating communication about your claim and assisting with administrative processes. By using the Chatbot, you consent to the processing of your data for these limited purposes.
For further details, please refer to our Privacy Policy.
The operators of this Chatbot, including Spot Settlements (Pty) Ltd, make no representations or warranties, express or implied, about the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information provided by the Chatbot. The ChatBot may occasionally provide incomplete or outdated information. Users rely on such information entirely at their own risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by South African law, Spot Settlements (Pty) Ltd, its partners, and the Class Attorneys shall not be liable for any loss or damage, direct or indirect, arising from or in connection with the use of the Chatbot or reliance on its content.