Farmers, ranchers, and businesses that paid John Deere or its authorized dealers for repairs on tractors, combines, and other large agricultural equipment since January 2018 can claim a share of the $99 million fund.
What Is the John Deere Right-to-Repair Settlement?
Deere & Company announced on April 6, 2026 that it agreed to pay $99 million to resolve In re: Deere & Company Repair Services Antitrust Litigation, the consolidated multidistrict "right to repair" case pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (MDL No. 3030). The litigation grew out of class action lawsuits filed by farmers and farm operations starting in January 2022, which alleged that Deere monopolized the repair-services market for its large agricultural equipment by restricting access to the diagnostic software and digital tools needed to fix modern machines — effectively forcing owners to bring their equipment to authorized Deere dealerships and, the plaintiffs alleged, pay more for repairs than they would in a competitive market.Deere denies the allegations, and the settlement resolves the case with no finding or admission of wrongdoing. Judge Iain D. Johnston granted preliminary approval to the settlement on May 18, 2026, which set the claim, opt-out, and objection deadlines below and scheduled a final approval hearing for October 29, 2026 in Rockford, Illinois.
Who Qualifies for the John Deere Settlement?
The settlement class covers persons and entities that purchased repair services from Deere & Company or its authorized dealers for John Deere Large Agricultural Equipment in the United States between January 10, 2018 and May 18, 2026 (the date of preliminary approval)."Large Agricultural Equipment" under the settlement means Deere's medium- and large-sized agricultural machines, including:
- Medium and large tractors
- Combines
- Cotton pickers
- Sugarcane harvesters
- Planters
- Application equipment, such as sprayers
The settlement administrator, Angeion Group, is expected to begin contacting class members by mail and email around July 14, 2026, with additional notice through farm publications and the official settlement website. You do not need to receive a notice to be part of the class — if you paid a Deere dealership for repairs on covered equipment during the class period, you can watch for the claim form at the official settlement website listed below.
How Much Can You Get From the $99 Million Fund?
Class members who submit a timely, valid claim form with proof of repairs are eligible for a pro rata cash payment from the $99 million fund. Each class member's payment will be based on the total labor hours paid for repairs to covered large agricultural equipment during the class period — the more you spent on dealer repair labor, the larger your share. The fund also covers court-approved attorneys' fees, costs, and settlement administration.According to court filings reported in coverage of the settlement, the deal is estimated to recover roughly 26% to 53% of the alleged overcharge damages — well above the 5% to 15% range typical of antitrust class settlements. Actual payment amounts will depend on the volume of valid claims filed.
To prepare a claim, class members should start gathering dealer repair invoices, proof of payment, and equipment identification records (such as model and serial numbers) for repairs performed since January 10, 2018.
What Deere Agreed to Change
Beyond the cash fund, the settlement includes injunctive relief aimed at the heart of the right-to-repair dispute: Deere agreed to make the digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of its large agricultural equipment available to equipment owners and independent repair providers for a 10-year period. The court will retain jurisdiction during that period to enforce the settlement's terms. This is intended to let farmers and independent shops diagnose and fix Deere machines without being required to use an authorized Deere dealership.Some class members have publicly objected that the settlement does not go far enough, and the court will consider objections before deciding whether to grant final approval at the October 29, 2026 fairness hearing.
How to File a John Deere Settlement Claim — Key Dates
- Notice program begins: on or around July 14, 2026
- Opt-out and objection deadline: September 15, 2026
- Claim filing deadline: October 15, 2026
- Final approval (fairness) hearing: October 29, 2026, before Judge Iain D. Johnston in Rockford, Illinois
Claims will be filed through the official settlement website, DeereRepairSettlement.com, operated by the court-appointed administrator, Angeion Group. If the claim portal is not yet live when you visit, check back after the notice program begins in mid-July — and only submit your information through the official site. Payments would be distributed after the court grants final approval at the October 29, 2026 hearing and any appeals are resolved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is included in the John Deere right-to-repair settlement?
The settlement class covers persons and entities in the United States that purchased repair services from Deere & Company or its authorized dealers for John Deere large agricultural equipment — including medium and large tractors, combines, cotton pickers, sugarcane harvesters, planters, and application equipment such as sprayers — between January 10, 2018 and May 18, 2026, the date the court granted preliminary approval.
How much money can class members get from the $99 million fund?
Payments are pro rata, based on the repair labor hours you paid Deere or its authorized dealers for during the class period. Court filings estimate the settlement recovers roughly 26% to 53% of the alleged overcharge damages, so individual amounts will depend on how much you spent on covered repairs and how many class members file valid claims.
Do I need proof to file a John Deere settlement claim?
Yes. Class members must submit a timely, valid claim form with proof of repairs to their large agricultural equipment, such as dealer repair invoices, proof of payment, and equipment identification records. Gathering those records now will make filing easier once the claim portal opens on the official settlement website.
What is the deadline to file a claim in the John Deere settlement?
Claims are due by October 15, 2026. Class members who want to opt out of the settlement or object to it must do so by September 15, 2026, and the final approval hearing is set for October 29, 2026 before Judge Iain D. Johnston in Rockford, Illinois.
What does the settlement change about repairing John Deere equipment?
In addition to the $99 million fund, Deere agreed to make the digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of its large agricultural equipment available to owners and independent repair providers for a 10-year period, with the court keeping jurisdiction to enforce those terms. Deere settled with no finding or admission of wrongdoing.
How do I file a claim in the John Deere right-to-repair settlement?
Claims will be filed through the official settlement website, DeereRepairSettlement.com, operated by the court-appointed administrator, Angeion Group. The notice program begins around July 14, 2026 — if the claim portal is not yet live, check back after mid-July, and only submit your information through the official site. Claims are due by October 15, 2026.
When will John Deere settlement payments be sent out?
Payments would be distributed after the court grants final approval at the October 29, 2026 fairness hearing and any appeals are resolved. If final approval is granted and there are no appeals, payments to class members who filed valid claims would typically follow in the months after the hearing; the official settlement website will post the distribution timeline.
Sources
- Deere & Company press release — settlement announcement (April 6, 2026)
- Capital Press — judge grants preliminary approval (May 19, 2026)
- University of Maryland Agriculture Risk Management — preliminary settlement approval and class member rights
- Farm Policy News (University of Illinois) — settlement gets preliminary approval
- RFD-TV — claim deadline window and settlement administrator
- U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division — case page for In re: Deere & Company Repair Services Antitrust Litigation
