Millions of UK motorists and businesses are set to receive compensation after the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) officially approved a groundbreaking £55.9m distribution plan.

The ruling marks the final chapter in a six-year legal battle against a global car and van shipping cartel that secretly fixed delivery prices for nearly a decade.

Consumer champion Mark McLaren, who led the legal case, has now issued an official call for individual drivers and businesses to sign up now to be first in line for compensation, with funds set to be released in the coming months.

The legal action followed the European Commission’s decision in 2018 to fine the shipping companies – MOL, K Line, NYK, WWL/EUKOR and CSAV – €395m (£339.7m) for fixing prices for the transport of vehicles. The Commission found that the shippers had coordinated rates, allocated tenders, coordinated reductions of capacity in the market and exchanged commercially sensitive information to maintain or increase the price of intercontinental shipping of new vehicles.

In the UK, the shipping giants overcharged for transporting new vehicles for almost 10 years. This ended up hiking the prices for what millions paid for their vehicles. As 80% of all new vehicles in the UK are shipped in from abroad, an estimated 17.8 million vehicles in the UK were affected by the overcharge between 2006 and 2015.

A total of 37 major automotive brands were impacted, including market leaders such as Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Peugeot, BMW, Mercedes, Nissan, Toyota, Citroen, Renault, Honda, Hyundai and Kia.

In January 2026, the CAT approved a historic settlement with the two remaining defendants, which is now being distributed to affected motorists. It marks the first UK class-action case where both consumers and businesses will receive compensation for losses caused by anti-competitive conduct.

Mark McLaren said: “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. They now deserve to get that money back.”

Under the newly approved scheme, individual consumers and businesses will be eligible for payouts starting from £25 for their first affected vehicle. Those who owned or leased multiple vehicles will receive an additional £5 for vehicles two to six, and at least £2.50 for every eligible vehicle thereafter. These figures could increase depending on the final number of claims submitted.

For those claiming for six or fewer affected vehicles, most individuals will only need to supply details of the brand of their vehicle or vehicles and sign a legal Statement of Truth confirming they owned or rented the vehicles. Compensation payments will be made on a rolling basis, as soon as their compensation claims have been accepted.

Fleet operators are also eligible, including car rental, delivery, construction, maintenance and fleet management companies.

Furthermore, public sector fleets are also owed compensation, with tens of thousands of vehicles purchased or leased by government organisations and local authorities in the relevant period. For companies registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Fleet database, claimants will be automatically presented with their total number of eligible vehicles and associated compensation amount.

The now-approved plan will allow consumers to choose from a variety of payment options, including Nectar points, donations to charities and direct banking – the scheme is the first of its kind and was hailed as “ambitious” by the court.

Motorists and fleets are being encouraged to sign up now so they are front of the queue for compensation.

McLaren explained: “With everything now fully approved, the distribution of settlement monies can begin later this year. Those already signed up will be contacted as soon as the distribution is open and will be directed to our online claim form to get back the money you’re owed. We’ve done everything we can to make this process as easy as possible for those affected.”

Anyone who purchased or leased a new vehicle in the UK between 18 October 2006 and 6 September 2015 is urged to sign up here.