Selling a junk car in Bolingbrook

Five days, under two sections

Section 34-140 makes it a nuisance to leave "any licensed or unlicensed junk vehicle or part thereof upon any private property or public property within the village for a period in excess of five days." Section 34-148 spells out who that catches: any vehicle that "is unlicensed, has an expired state motor vehicle license, has an expired municipal motor vehicle license, is abandoned, is wrecked, is dismantled or is in an inoperative condition."

Two exceptions:

• the car is inside a building "so that it is not visible from the street or other public or private properties"
• the Bolingbrook car is kept by a licensed dealer, licensed dismantler or junkyard as part of its business

The same article also bans an abandoned car that "may invite vandalism or vermin" or adds to blight.

Yards, trailers and covers

Section 50-44 closes the obvious workarounds. Residential yards, front, side or back, and any grass are off limits for parking or storage; only the driveway is allowed. A dead, wrecked or unlicensed car may not be stored outdoors on an open trailer or under "a nondesignated car cover." Cars under a designated cover "are limited to two per property."

If the police take it

Section 34-143 lets the police chief or a designee enter private property "at all reasonable hours" to inspect a car, post notice on it, and remove it. After the tow, the clocks depend on the car's age:

• Seven years old or newer: after 30 days unclaimed following notice, it goes to a public sale, with the sale date mailed first class ten days or more ahead.
• Four years old or newer, owner unknown: it may be sold without notice to the owner.

The emissions test as the last straw

Will and DuPage, Bolingbrook's two counties, are both covered by the state's emissions program. Gas cars from 1996 or newer begin testing at age four. Even model years go in even years and odd ones in odd years. The month follows your plate renewal. If one keeps failing, a waiver opens up only once $1,176 has gone into emissions repairs, and labor to diagnose doesn't count toward it. For many older cars, that is the point to sell. See failed emissions.

Paperwork for a scrap-bound car

A Bolingbrook car's title is issued by the Illinois Secretary of State, not by Will or DuPage County. When a car is headed for the crusher, its title gets swapped for a junking certificate. The owner gets 15 days to apply. That car can never be titled again. Before the certificate arrives, a licensed Bolingbrook junk car can leave on a junking manifest bound for a scrap processor. That manifest may go only to a licensed scrap processor. See junkyard or scrap yard.

For a regular sale, sign the Assignment of Title and remove your plates, which the buyer has no right to use. Then post the title's Notice of Sale stub, or VSD 703, to Springfield promptly so the car stops being your responsibility.

Nearby

Romeoville is 4.1 miles from Bolingbrook as the crow flies, Woodridge 4.7, Naperville 5.1, and Lisle 7.3. State rules are on the Illinois page.

Getting an offer

Bolingbrook owners can phone (877) 421-6008 or start with our short online form. Say so if it is one of your two covered cars or the five days are already up. Around Bolingbrook the truck can take it from a garage, a home driveway, or behind a repair shop.