Help for selling a junk car in Chicago
What should I know before I sell a junk car?
Know what moves the offer, which papers you have, and whether a city rule like the winter overnight parking ban is about to cost you a tow. Chicago Junk Car Buyers wrote these guides from the questions Far South Side sellers ask us most, with links to the city pages behind every rule.
Done reading? Get a number
Step 1 of 2
Towing is free, and you're paid when the truck collects the car.
On the phone instead? (773) 200-7724
Choosing who to sell to
- Junkyard, scrap yard or junk car buyer: which one should you call?
Who tows, who handles the papers, and who pays for what, in one table.
- How much will a junk car buyer pay? The factors behind the number
Weight, parts, papers and condition. What moves a junk car offer up or down.
- How to check a junk car buyer in Chicago before you hand over the keys
The questions that separate a real buyer from one who changes the price at the curb.
- Should you part out your junk car or sell it whole?
Time, tools, space and what's left at the end. An honest side-by-side.
Chicago rules that catch dead cars
- A dead car on a winter parking ban street: what Far South Side owners should know
79th, 103rd and Cottage Grove are on the overnight ban. A car that can't move is a tow waiting to happen.
- Selling a car that has a Chicago boot on it
Why the boot comes off first, why the tickets don't go away, and when selling still makes sense.
- A car that's been sitting on your block: what the city does, and what owners can do
The city's four abandoned-vehicle tests, the 311 route for neighbors, and the faster route for owners.
Pickup-day prep
- What to do before your junk car is picked up in Chicago
City sticker, I-PASS, plates and insurance: the Chicago-specific steps people miss.
- Getting a junk car out of a garage, an alley or a backyard
Winch lines, wheel dollies and what to move out of the way before the truck backs in.
Something we missed?
Our FAQ covers the quick ones, and each vehicle page explains a specific kind of sale. Or ask us directly on the contact page.