Class Action Settlements for Car Owners and Drivers
Cars generate more class actions than almost any other purchase: defects, insurance payouts that left out taxes and fees, and dealer add-ons nobody asked for. Here's what's open, and what you'll need to claim.
If you've owned, leased or insured a car in the last few years, there's a fair chance a settlement covers you. Vehicle cases are among the most common class actions in the US, and unlike data breach settlements, many of them pay real money: repair reimbursements in the hundreds of dollars, or a share of the taxes and fees an insurer kept.
The four kinds of car settlements
- 1Total-loss insurance underpayments. When an insurer totals your car, many states require it to pay sales tax, title and registration fees on top of the car's value. A run of settlements with State Farm, Star Casualty, Tennessee Farmers and others covers policyholders who were paid without them. Some pay automatically; others need a short claim form.
- 2Defects. Transmissions that slip or shudder (Ford PowerShift, Nissan CVT), airbag control units that may not deploy, window regulators that fail. These usually reimburse repairs you already paid for and sometimes extend the warranty.
- 3Theft-prone models. Hyundai and Kia models built without engine immobilizers were stolen in large numbers. The settlement pays for thefts and damage, and covers security upgrades.
- 4Dealer and financing practices. Add-on products sold without clear consent, or fees that weren't disclosed. These are often limited to one dealer group or one state.
Open settlements for drivers right now
Star Casualty Total Loss Settlement — Up to $279.85 for Florida Drivers
FL Star Casualty Total Loss Settlement — Up to $279.85 for Florida Drivers Unpaid title and tag transfer fees plus storage and towing deductions returned, with interest, for Florida drivers whose Star Casualty vehicle was totaled.
Progressive Auto Insurance $15.24M Class Action Settlement
Car owners who had a total loss vehicle claim with Progressive in Colorado may be eligible to claim a cash payment from a class action settlement.
Kia Window Regulator Defect Class Action Settlement
State Farm $8.8M Auto Insurance Class Action Settlement
$78.5 Million Toyota Airbag Class Action Settlement
Adams Toyota $4.25M Add-On Purchases Class Action Settlement
Customers who purchased a vehicle from Adams Toyota with ResistAll/EnviroGuard may qualify to claim a cash payment and gift card from a class action settlement.
Hyundai, Kia - Vehicle Theft Class Action Settlement
You may be included in this settlement if you owned or leased certain 2011-2022 Hyundai or Kia vehicles that were stolen or almost stolen on or after April 29, 2025.
$9M Kia Hyundai settlement offers cash and security upgrades to owners
Kia and Hyundai agreed to a $9 million multistate settlement to resolve claims that vehicles without engine immobilizers are at risk for theft.
Hyundai and Kia Defective Airbags Settlement
You are considered a class member if you owned or leased an eligible Hyundai or Kia vehicle in the United States or its territories on or before April 14, 2025.
Jeep steering wheel, front suspension recall class action settlement
The court granted this settlement final approval June 29, 2023.
Showing 10 of 19. Updated daily from the SettleScout catalogue. See every open settlement.
What you'll need to file
- ✓Your VIN. Defect settlements are defined by model, model year and sometimes build date. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the driver's side dashboard.
- ✓Repair receipts. Reimbursement claims almost always need proof of what you paid. Dealers can reprint service history if you've lost yours.
- ✓Your claim or policy number for total-loss settlements. If the payout is automatic, the administrator already has it; you only need to keep your address current.
A recall gets a defect fixed for free going forward. A settlement pays you for what already happened. The same defect can have both, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for free repairs and check the settlements above for money.
If you've sold the car
Most vehicle settlements cover past owners and lessees too, as long as you owned the car during the class period and paid for the repair yourself. Selling the car doesn't cancel a claim you'd otherwise have.
SettleScout tracks these by brand. Add the car makes and insurers you've used in the app and it alerts you when a new settlement opens and before each deadline closes. You can also browse every product-defect settlement on the web.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to still own the car to claim a vehicle settlement?
Usually not. Most vehicle class actions cover anyone who owned or leased an affected car during the class period. If you paid for a covered repair before you sold it, you can generally still claim reimbursement.
Why would my insurer owe me money after a total loss?
Several states require insurers to include sales tax and title or registration fees in a total-loss payment. Settlements with insurers that left them out repay that difference, sometimes automatically.
How much do car defect settlements pay?
It depends on the case. Repair reimbursements commonly run from a few hundred dollars to the full cost of a covered repair. Each settlement's page lists its payout terms and deadline.
See every settlement you qualify for
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