Selling a dead car in Rolling Meadows

Three kinds of car, one clock

Section 38-102 covers more than broken cars. "Every abandoned vehicle, inoperable vehicle, and unlicensed vehicle is declared to be a nuisance if located on public or private property within the city and in view of the general public for a period exceeding seven calendar days." Expired registration alone can do it, even if the engine still turns over.

Section 38-103 lists the exceptions:

• a car kept "within a fully enclosed building when not in use"
• a car laid up for "ordinary service or repair operations for a period of not more than seven days," as long as it is not also abandoned or unlicensed
• a car parked at a business that wrecks or junks vehicles

How the notice reaches you

The city has several ways to serve it. A city officer can post it on the car or at the property. It can go by hand or mail to the last known owner tied to the plate or registration. On private land, it also goes to the property owner named in the Cook County clerk's property tax records, or to the occupant.

The notice must give at least seven days. In the code's words, abatement comes "no sooner than seven days after the date service of the notice." It also warns that the city may impound the car, and that impounded cars may face tow and storage fees and "their ultimate sale or destruction by the relocator."

Apartment lots and business lots

Rolling Meadows zoning keeps dead cars out of parking areas too. Section 122-155 says parking areas "shall be solely for the parking of vehicles in operating condition." That rules out an inoperable, unlicensed or abandoned car. Any approved storage of a non-running car has to be in a fully enclosed, screened area. Repair and dismantling are banned in parking areas, except for emergency service.

If the city already took it

Section 3-62 releases an impounded car to the registered owner or agent once the fines and penalties named in the notice are paid, plus towing and the daily impound charges. A hearing officer can also order it released after a hearing. Illinois law sends a Rolling Meadows car seven model years old or less to public auction if neither the owner nor a lienholder claims it within 30 days after notice. See towed or impounded for your choices.

Paperwork once it is sold

Unbolt your plates before the truck pulls away. Illinois treats them as the seller's, and nobody else may drive on them. Date and sign the title over when the car changes hands. After that, post VSD 703, or the tear-off strip on the title, to Springfield promptly. That paper closes out your liability; the signed title is what actually passes ownership.

Scrap-bound cars often finish their paper trail on a junking certificate, which state law says may be assigned to anyone. Salvage certificates are fenced in more tightly: rebuilders, parts recyclers and scrap processors with Illinois licenses, plus salvage buyers from other states. After junking, Illinois never titles that car again.

Next door

Arlington Heights is 2.7 miles off as the crow flies, Palatine 3.0, Schaumburg 4.4 and Mount Prospect 4.6. The Illinois page covers state rules, and selling a junk car walks through a whole-car sale.

Getting an offer

The offer form asks what we need to know about your Rolling Meadows car. The form works, or dial (877) 421-6008. Pickup can happen at your curb, inside a garage, or at whatever repair bay it limped into.