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The Volkswagen settlement: What you need to know (2026)

shieldSnaggyCodes Editorial Team calendar_todayJun 28, 2016 updateUpdated Jun 16, 2026 schedule4 min read verifiedFact-checked
The Volkswagen settlement: What you need to know (2026)

Saving money on volkswagen settlement what need does not have to be complicated. We rounded up the essentials so you can spend less and skip the guesswork.

Key Takeaways

  • In one of the largest consumer settlements ever, Volkswagen has agreed to pay $14.7 billion because of the systemic cheating on emissions te...
  • Read more: Kia is new king of J.D.
  • Power’s Initial Quality Study Terms of the VW settlement Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); The settlement imp...

In one of the largest consumer settlements ever, Volkswagen has agreed to pay $14.7 billion because of the systemic cheating on emissions tests that was revealed last year.

Read more: Kia is new king of J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Study

Terms of the VW settlement

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The settlement impacts 475,000 VW owners of 2-liter diesels who have one of the following vehicles:

  • 2013-2015 VW Beetle
  • 2010-2015 VW Golf
  • 2009-2015 VW Jetta
  • 2012-2015 VW Passat
  • 2010-2013 and 2015 Audi A3

If you owned an affected model as of Sept. 18, 2015 or later acquired one, there are two basic routes you can go with the settlement.

You can either choose to have VW purchase your car back or attempt to fix it to bring it into compliance with EPA emissions standards.

No matter which way you go, you will receive a cash payment of between $5,100 and $10,000 from the German automaker.

“We take our commitment to make things right very seriously and believe these agreements are a significant step forward,” Matthias Müller, CEO of Volkswagen, said in a statement.

“We know that we still have a excellent deal of work to do to earn back the trust of the American people. We are focused on resolving the outstanding issues and building a better company that can shape the future of integrated, sustainable mobility for our shoppers.”

Largest Auto Industry Wrongdoing Settlements | FindTheCompany

Buyback option

If you choose the buyback option, you’ll receive anywhere from $12,500 to a maximum of $44,000, depending on age, condition and mileage of your vehicle. This money is in addition to the between $5,100 and $10,000 that the German automaker is paying all owners of the vehicles listed above.

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Resale value of VWs fell off a cliff when news of the scandal first broke last year. So Volkswagen has agreed to purchase back cars at the pre-scandal prices.

(If you leased the car, your lease will be terminated in full with no cost to you and no penalties.)

Modification of car

If you choose the modification option, your future is a bit cloudier. VW will have to fix the car by modifying the software that allowed it to beat emissions tests in the first place. But the exact method by which that will be done is as yet unknown.

VW will begin proposing fixes by November, so hang tight. Any and all fixes will have to be approved by the EPA and CARB (California Air Resources Board).

This much is sure: You too will get the between $5,100 and $10,000 that the German automaker is paying all owners of the vehicles even though you’ll get to keep you car after it’s fixed.

What’s next?

The terms of the settlement are preliminary, pending final approval from U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in California.

If they are accepted as they currently stand, VW will be required to have 85% of the cars either fixed or off the road by July 2019.

If you have one of VW’s 3-liter diesel vehicles, this settlement does not yet impact you. Wait for news of further settlement terms to be released in the coming days.

For more info and the latest on this developing story, visit VWCourtSettlement.com.

Read more: Review , Is the 2016 Toyota Prius the perfect car to replace a diesel VW?

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Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on volkswagen settlement what need goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at clark.com.

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SnaggyCodes Editorial Team

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