Spain is currently in the midst of a large-scale compensation campaign for citizens who purchased new cars between February 2006 and August 2013. The reason is years of confidential information sharing between the country’s leading car manufacturers, which led to artificially inflated vehicle prices.
An investigation revealed that around 25 automotive brands coordinated their actions to limit competition and keep car prices high. These practices affected millions of buyers, causing the market to be distorted for nearly a decade.
In 2015, Spain’s antitrust authority (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia, CNMC) confirmed the existence of the so-called ‘Club de las Marcas’ (El Club de las Marcas) and fined the cartel members over 170 million euros. Later, the courts backed the regulator’s findings, paving the way for individual claims from affected buyers.
Buyers whose vehicles were affected by the cartel agreement can now claim compensation for part of the overpaid amount. To do this, you simply need to provide the make, model, and year of purchase on a dedicated platform created by the Association of Cartel Victims (Agrupación de Afectados por el Cártel de Coches, AACC). Once the details are verified, a case file is created, and if the purchase during the specified period is confirmed, document preparation for the claim begins.
A key stage is the economic assessment, during which experts calculate the potential amount of damages based on market data and the specifics of pricing under collusion. The final compensation amount can reach up to €9,000, depending on the make and value of the car.
It is important to note that not only current owners but also those who have already sold their cars can apply for compensation. To submit a claim, you will need to provide documents confirming the purchase and ownership of the vehicle during the relevant period: a contract, invoice, or another official document.
There is a deadline for filing a claim—the period ends in April 2026. Experts advise not to delay, so as not to miss out on your right to compensation. Taking part in a collective platform helps reduce legal costs: you only pay for specialist services if the claim is successful.
Bringing together those affected strengthens applicants’ positions in negotiations with car manufacturers and increases the chances of receiving fair compensation. With more than 90% of the market under cartel control, the opportunity to reclaim part of the money spent is now real for thousands of Spanish families.
