Selling a dead car in Geneva

No junk-car section in what we read

Parking surfaces, snow and towing are what the Geneva sections we reviewed cover; none puts a deadline on an inoperable car. State law allows one. Under 65 ILCS 5/11-40-3, an Illinois municipality can pass an ordinance making visible inoperable cars a nuisance, levy fines, and send police to remove the car seven days after notice. To the statute, a car is inoperable when it can't drive itself for a week or longer because parts were removed, changed or damaged. Geneva may have rules we didn't find, so check with city hall before counting on any timeline.

Snow: three inches and twelve hours

Geneva's winter rule is the one most likely to catch a car that will not start. Section 7-3-5 makes it unlawful "to park any vehicle on any secondary public street in the city at any time within twelve (12) hours after a snowfall of three inches (3") or more." Blocks already plowed clear from curb to curb are excluded. On the posted snow emergency routes, the city's director can declare a separate parking ban.

Those routes include Anderson Boulevard from State Street to Gray Street, Harrison Street from State Street to Dodson Street, and Seventh Street from South Street to State Street. A car that stalls on a snow-covered route is the driver's problem right away. The code says to "take immediate action to have the vehicle towed or pushed off the roadway."

When the police tow

Section 7-3-9 allows towing of an illegally parked car that "creates or constitutes a traffic hazard, blocks the use of a fire hydrant," or gets in the way of traffic. The car goes to city property, a public garage or another lot the police choose. Geneva releases the car "after payment of the expenses incurred by the city in removing and storing such vehicle." When the Geneva owner can't be located or contacted and nobody claims it in three days, a written report is sent.

Kane County car, state title

Kane County is on the emissions-testing list, yet it hands out no titles. Springfield does, through the Secretary of State's mail office and local facilities. When you sell:

1. Sign the Assignment of Title area, print your name, and fill in the odometer reading. The SOS seller steps list no notary.
2. Unbolt the plates. They remain yours.
3. Write a short bill of sale: sale price, date, buyer's name and address.
4. Detach the title's Notice of Sale, or fill out a VSD 703, and mail it without waiting.

A lost, stolen or mutilated original can be replaced on form VSD 190 for $50. The state refuses duplicates requested within 15 days after an original was issued, or 30 days after another duplicate. Junk car with no title explains the order.

Getting an offer

In Geneva, ring (877) 421-6008 or send us the form for an offer. We pick up from side yards off State Street, garages near the historic district, and wherever else the car ended up. Next door are our pages for Batavia, St. Charles and West Chicago. Illinois has the statewide rules.