Selling a dead or junk car in Granite City

Five days in a residential district

Section 10.25.020 makes it unlawful to keep a junked car on public property, or on any lot in a residential district, "for a period of time in excess of five consecutive days." The code calls that a public nuisance. One clear way out: the car sits "wholly within a garage or other permanent structure and away from public view."

From a posted notice to a salvage yard

Granite City's process has more steps than most, and each step has its own clock.

1. Notice on the car. The city inspector or police chief can post a violation notice on the car itself.
2. Five days, then a summons. After "no less than five days," a summons is issued to whoever is registered as owner and to any lienholder, delivered personally or mailed.
3. Removal. After a default, a guilty plea or a court ruling, an inspector or officer can have the car taken "to a licensed junk or salvage yard" at the owner's or lienholder's expense.
4. A report and a letter. Police record where the car went and tell the owner which yard has it.
5. Ten days later. The car "may be sold for salvage and destroyed." The money covers removal, storage and fines first. Only the remainder, if any, reaches the owner or lienholder.

Boots, snow routes and impound

A car immobilized with a boot that is not released "within seventy-two hours of its placement" is towed and impounded (Section 2.86.150). On a snow emergency route, Section 10.44.090 lets the city tow and impound a car, or just shift it to the closest open spot on the first side street off the route. The snow coordinator announces declarations on broadcast stations and may also post them on the city website.

Getting an impounded car back takes proof of ownership, plus the administrative fee or an equal bond, plus the towing fees (Section 10.50.050). An inoperable car left unclaimed 30 days after notice goes to public sale under Section 8.42.080.

Madison County emissions and the title

Madison County is in the Metro-East test area, so most gasoline cars from 1996 on face a test once they are four years old. Selling the whole car as it sits is not held up by a test.

Titles are a state job in Illinois, run by the Secretary of State. A Granite City seller dates and signs the title's assignment section, pulls off the plates, and posts the Notice of Sale without delay to "Secretary of State, Vehicle Services Department, Record Inquiry Division, 501 S. Second St., Room 629, Springfield, IL 62756." Notarizing is not among the state's seller steps. For a car headed to scrap, a junking certificate works, and it "may be assigned to anyone." A salvage certificate is different. In Granite City, it can go only to a scrap processor, an out-of-state salvage buyer, a licensed rebuilder or a parts recycler.

Nearby

By straight-line distance, Collinsville is 7.3 miles from Granite City, Edwardsville 8.5 and Alton 12.1. For state rules, see Illinois.

Getting an offer

Begin online or dial (877) 421-6008. Share the Granite City car's details through the offer form. If a violation notice has been posted, tell us that first. Pickup can be from a driveway, an alley behind the house, or a lot near City Hall.