A judge says an agreement will give consumers who bought nearly 600,000 Volkswagen vehicles rigged to cheat on emissions tests the option of having the automaker buy back the cars or fix them.

Senior US District Judge Charles Breyer did not give details on how much car owners would be paid but said the deal between Volkswagen, the US government and private lawyers would include "substantial compensation."

Breyer says the agreement will include a fund for corrective efforts over the excess pollution and that VW will be required to commit other money to promote green automotive technology.

The owners and the US Department of Justice sued the company after it acknowledged in September that it intentionally defeated emissions tests and put dirty vehicles on the road.