Selling a junk car in Mundelein

When a car counts as inoperable

The village's property maintenance amendments in Section 16.07.030 give the working definition. This reaches a car where, "for a period of at least seven days," the engine, wheels or other parts "have been removed," or one that is so "altered, damaged or otherwise so treated" that it "is incapable of being driven under its own motor power." A car that is off the road for a short repair does not count. The same section also reaches any car "that has not been moved or used for seven (7) consecutive days or more and is apparently abandoned."

How the notice reaches you

Section 10.53.015 declares inoperable cars "whether on public or private property and in view of the general public" a nuisance. The village may tow them and fine anyone who ignores a notice to dispose of one. How the notice is served depends on where the car sits:

• Vacant land: posted on the car and mailed to the owner on the tax assessor's rolls.
• A lot with a house or other building: posted on the building, posted on the car, and mailed to that owner.
• A registered car: the registered owner gets a copy by mail too, if that is a different person.

If the notice is on your door, our guide to a notice to remove a car walks through the choices.

Impound, auction and downtown tows

Section 10.52.050 covers a car the village has towed. You can recover it by paying "all costs incident to the removal and impounding." If you do not, age decides what happens. The village keeps a car "more than seven years of age" for "a minimum of ten days" and tries to contact the owner and lienholder. At that point it "may be disposed of as junk or salvage." If a Mundelein car is "seven years of age or newer," it's auctioned 30 days after notice, and the tow operator, a scrap processor, a rebuilder or a licensed parts recycler can bid.

Parking can start that chain. Section 10.32.200 makes a car that blocks snow plowing a nuisance that police can tow. In the downtown area, Section 10.32.240 forbids parking from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. on named streets like Park Street and North Chicago Avenue, where signs say "Tow-Away Zone." Also, under Section 2.101.150, if you owe five or more parking or compliance tickets, any car in your name can be booted or impounded.

Title and plates for a Lake County seller

Lake County does not issue Illinois titles. The Secretary of State does, and you can send the application to Springfield or bring it to a state facility. To sell:

1. Complete the assignment block on the title with signatures, printed names, the date and the odometer. A notary does not appear among Illinois's seller steps.
2. Keep the plates with you.
3. Your Mundelein bill of sale should carry the date, the price, and who bought it with their address.
4. After a Mundelein sale, mail the Notice of Sale soon to the Secretary of State at the Springfield address shown on the form. Tear it off the title or print it as VSD 703. After that the car is no longer on you. A Mundelein buyer has 20 days to get it retitled.

A missing title needs a $50 duplicate on form VSD 190. A car going to scrap can move on a junking certificate, assignable to anyone. Lake County is in the state emissions area.

Getting an offer

For a Mundelein car, call (877) 421-6008 or start the offer form. Pickup comes to the car, be it in a garage, a driveway or behind a shop. Nearby: Libertyville, Vernon Hills and Grayslake. Statewide rules: Illinois.