Selling a junk car in Lisle

The street, in three rules

Besides the overnight ban, Lisle has two more street rules that catch a dead car.

• Wrecked or nonoperating. Section 9-6-2(D) says "no person shall leave any partially dismantled, nonoperating, wrecked or junked vehicle on any street or highway in the village." No clock applies.
• Snow. After "any snowfall resulting in an accumulation of one inch (1") or more," no parking is allowed for twenty-four hours, or longer if plowing needs it.
• Downtown. The Central Business District has a two-hour total limit, and Municipal Lot G has four. Moving the car from spot to spot does not reset the clock.

If a parked car gets in the way of traffic, sweeping or plowing, police may send it to an authorized garage. To get it back, the owner proves identity and ownership, signs a receipt and pays the fine and fee.

At home: buildings and zoning districts

Section 9-6-2(A) declares inoperable cars "on public or private property, and in view of the general public" a nuisance. The exemption is narrow. It covers a car "kept within a building when not in use," or one parked where a business wrecks or junks cars for a living.

Junked cars get a stricter rule in the residential zones. No one may keep one "on any property located within an R-1, R-2, R-3 or R-4 residential district of the village unless the property is licensed for such use or unless the vehicle is kept within an enclosed structure."

When does a car become inoperable here? Section 9-6-1 says it happens when parts have been removed, or the car damaged, so that it cannot run under its own power "for a period of at least seven (7) days."

When police take it

Section 9-6-4 lets the chief of police remove an "inoperable vehicle," as well as a car that looks lost, stolen, unclaimed or in violation of the chapter. The village holds them until an owner shows up, or until the state's abandoned-vehicle law (625 ILCS 5/4-201 onward) allows disposal.

The tow company, not the village, collects towing and storage charges from you (Section 9-9-6). Under the immobilization chapter, Section 10-10-7 has a notice go out by certified mail within ten days. It states that "if the car is not claimed within thirty (30) days from the date of the notice, the vehicle may be disposed of."

Signing it over in Illinois

In Illinois the title itself is the transfer document; there is no extra seller form. At handover, the Assignment of Title block gets every seller's and buyer's name, printed and signed, along with a certified odometer figure, as federal and state law demand. Nothing in the state's seller checklist calls for a notary.

From there the clock belongs to the buyer: 20 days to retitle, plus a $165 fee they pay. Your part is shorter. Mail the tear-off notice on the title, or VSD 703, to Springfield soon, so the state has a record that you sold the car. Unscrew the plates first, since Illinois forbids anyone driving on plates registered to someone else. For more, see car doesn't run and the Illinois page.

Towns near Lisle

Crow-flight distances from Lisle: Downers Grove 3.4 miles, Woodridge 4.4, Wheaton 4.6, Naperville 4.8.

Getting an offer

Use the form, or phone (877) 421-6008. Selling a car in Lisle? Fill in the short offer form to get started. Our truck can load at home or, once police release it, at the tow yard.