Selling a junk or dead car in Berwyn

Snow routes and who can tow

Section 480.05 sets two thresholds for designated snow routes, two inches in one subsection and six in another, and neither waits for a declaration. The Director of Public Works and the Superintendent of Police each have the power to have a violating car "towed away" and to charge towing and storage costs to the owner or operator. Berwyn covers just 3.904 square miles, and with that little room, curb space after a snowfall is tight.

Boots, tows and the 30-day clock

Berwyn boots cars, and a boot has a deadline. Under Section 424.12, if the restraint "has not been released as hereinabove provided, within 72 hours of its placement, the vehicle shall be towed and impounded." Section 424.13 then has the city send notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, within ten days after the impound. That notice says the owner may ask for a hearing and that a car "not claimed within 30 days from the date of the notice" may be sold or disposed of under the state Vehicle Code. If tickets are what started the boot, see tickets or a registration hold.

How Berwyn disposes of unclaimed cars

Section 468.09 sorts impounded cars by age:

• Seven years old or newer: if unclaimed 30 days after notice, the police department "shall cause the vehicle to be sold at public sale to the highest bidder." Notice of the sale is posted at the impound lot at least ten days ahead and sent by certified mail at least ten days ahead.
• More than seven years old: the car is held "for a minimum of ten days" while police try to find and contact the owner and check State Police stolen-vehicle files.

Towed or impounded covers how to get ahead of that.

A dead car on private property

The Berwyn sections we checked do not include a rule on inoperable cars parked on private property. Illinois leaves this to each city. A town can pass an ordinance calling inoperable vehicles in public view a nuisance, and police can tow one 7 days after the city gives notice. That law counts a car as inoperable once it has gone 7 days or more with parts removed or unable to move by itself. Cars laid up for routine repair don't count. Separately, a vehicle abandoned on someone else's private property in view of the public can be removed after 7 days or more. Berwyn could have local rules too, so ask the city.

Illinois title and plates

Illinois titles are a Secretary of State matter, not a Cook County one. When you sell, sign the Assignment of Title on the certificate. The buyer gets it, plus a bill of sale showing the date and the price. The state seller steps do not include a notary. Unscrew your plates before the car leaves; they stay with you. After that, get the Notice of Sale stub or form VSD 703 in the mail to Springfield without waiting.

A junk car takes a junking certificate, and that certificate can be assigned to anyone. A licensed junk vehicle can also move to a scrap processor on a junking manifest before the certificate arrives. Berwyn is inside Cook County's emissions testing area.

Next door to Berwyn

Cicero is 1.6 miles away as the crow flies, Oak Park 3.0 and Maywood 3.7. Chicago is 5.5. Statewide rules are on Illinois.

Getting an offer

Berwyn owners can start online or call (877) 421-6008 to get going. The truck can meet the car at the curb, in a garage off the alley, or at an impound lot once it is released.