UK drivers may claim millions from car delivery charge settlement
Drivers who bought new cars between 2006 and 2015 could receive payouts after a £55.87m scheme is approved, while thefts of keyless cars rise.
Millions of motorists who bought or leased a new car or van between 2006 and 2015 could soon receive a payout after the Competition Appeal Tribunal gave the green light to a £55.87 million compensation scheme.
The scheme stems from a 2018 European Commission decision that fined six major shipping firms – MOL, K Line, NYK, WWL/EUKOR, CSAV and a seventh partner – a combined €395 million for colluding to fix vehicle‑delivery charges across Europe.
With the tribunal’s approval, the settlement fund is now ready to be distributed to eligible UK consumers and businesses who may have overpaid for new‑vehicle deliveries during the nine‑year window.
Mark McLaren, a former consumer expert with Which?, urged anyone who bought a new car or van in the period to register without delay.
“Signing up now is the best way to be first in line for compensation,” he said.
He added that those already on the register would be contacted as soon as the claims portal opens, and directed to an online form to claim the money they are owed.
McLaren said the process has been designed to be as straightforward as possible, offering direct bank transfers, Nectar points or charitable donations as options for receiving the payout.
“This settlement has been secured on behalf of consumers and businesses who were overcharged for new vehicles, because of hidden agreements between companies they’d never heard of, which secretly cost them money.”
The compensation covers purchases from the major manufacturers listed in the settlement, as well as 24 other brands, meaning a wide swathe of the market could be affected.
Claims can be lodged through the Car Delivery Charges website, where a simple eligibility check will confirm whether a driver qualifies for a share of the fund.
Industry observers note that the case highlights the often‑opaque nature of logistics costs embedded in the price of a new vehicle, costs that most buyers never see on the invoice.
While the payout scheme moves forward, another story has emerged from the DVLA’s latest theft statistics, pointing to a surge in vehicle thefts involving modern keyless‑entry models.
Analysis by Tempcover, an insurance specialist, shows the Nissan Juke Tekna CVT was the most frequently stolen car in the UK during the first half of 2026, with 197 incidents recorded.
The Toyota C‑HR Dynamic HEV CVT came second, with 160 thefts, underscoring a broader trend affecting high‑spec crossovers.
Jake Lambert, a temporary insurance expert at Tempcover, explained the appeal of the Juke Tekna to thieves.
“High‑volume crossovers like the Juke Tekna sit right at the intersection of widespread road presence and accessible technology,” he said.
Lambert warned that the vulnerability is not unique to the Juke, noting that many modern vehicles equipped with keyless entry systems face similar risks.
Police forces across the country have reported a rise in relay‑attack incidents, prompting calls for manufacturers to review the security of keyless technologies.
Both stories underline how hidden costs and hidden risks can affect drivers long after they leave the showroom.
For motorists who suspect they may have been overcharged on delivery, the deadline to register for the compensation scheme is approaching, and the claim portal is expected to go live within weeks.
Meanwhile, owners of keyless‑entry vehicles are being urged to adopt simple safeguards, such as storing fobs in signal‑blocking pouches, to reduce the chance of relay attacks.
As the settlement fund prepares to make its first payments, the dual focus on financial redress and vehicle security reflects a broader push for greater transparency and consumer protection in the automotive market.