Drivers can still claim their $100 payment from a $1.2 billion auto parts settlement, even though the deadline to file claims has passed.
Many vehicle owners have recently received emails notifying them of eligibility for the $100 payment from the auto parts settlement. While receiving an email like this may raise concerns about potential scams, 11Alive, an Atlanta-based news outlet, confirmed that the emails are legitimate. Motorists have been encouraged to claim their rightful payment.
The email reads: “Pursuant to the Court-approved Round 4 Plan of Allocation and Round 5 Plan of Allocation in the matter entitled In Re: Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation, Lead Case No. 12-md-02311, you are eligible to receive a payment of $100.00.”
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This settlement stems from a series of class action lawsuits against auto parts manufacturers, who were accused of raising the prices of vehicle components through anticompetitive practices. Although the manufacturers denied wrongdoing, they agreed to settle the case.
Even though the deadline to file a claim has passed, those who purchased or leased a qualifying new vehicle in the U.S. (not for resale) or paid to replace qualifying vehicle parts between 2002 and 2018 are still eligible, according to the settlement website.
Robins Kaplan, LLP, one of the co-lead counsel in the settlement, noted that the litigation has lasted over 12 years and is tied to the largest criminal antitrust investigation in U.S. history, which involved more than 160 defendants and over 40 separate actions concerning various auto parts and alleged anticompetitive agreements.
The current payments being distributed are part of the fourth and fifth rounds of the settlement. Round four settlements were approved in September 2020, while round five settlements received approval in February 2023.
In other news, New York residents impacted by the recent trip fee for rideshare services can now receive free credit to offset the charge. Starting January 5, most vehicles entering the Manhattan zone below 60th Street and near Central Park will be charged a $9 fee. Rideshare passengers, including those using Uber and Lyft, will also face an additional $1.50 surcharge per ride. However, Lyft has introduced a new program that credits users $1.50 for every ride with the congestion fee in January, which can be applied toward future trips, either with Lyft or Citi Bike.
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Meanwhile, Minnesota’s “blackout” license plates have become a hot commodity, despite the extra annual fee for use. Launched on January 1, 2024, the plates feature white lettering on a black background and have already been snapped up by over a quarter of a million vehicle owners in the state. In the first year of availability, 256,387 of these plates were sold—far surpassing the Minnesota DMV’s initial expectation of 160,000.
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