Selling a junk car in Roselle

Two ways a car turns abandoned

The same zoning definitions call a car abandoned if it is "in a state of disrepair rendering the vehicle incapable of being driven in its present condition," or if it "has not been moved or used for seven (7) consecutive days or more and is apparently deserted." They then say "abandoned vehicles shall be permitted only in authorized automobile wrecking yards or junk yards."

The traffic code uses nearly the same test for cars "standing or parked on a public way" (Section 10-18-101). It adds a third label, the "derelict vehicle." That is an inoperable, unregistered, discarded car left on the owner's own land without good reason.

Street tows: right away, or after 14 days

Section 10-18-104 gives police two speeds.

Right away, with no notice: an illegally parked car, a car in a posted tow-away zone or lot, a car parked against "a posted snow parking ban," and a car blocking a driveway or traffic lane. The list also includes a car "with missing doors, trunk lids or hoods" left near a children's park or playground.

After notice: any other abandoned car can be towed only after the chief of police has given notice to the owner and waited "14 days after service of that notice." Once towed, it stays impounded until the owner claims it and pays the village's costs.

Snow speeds things up. Section 10-19-110 bans parking on any street once snow and ice reach two inches. Police may also remove a car that "becomes stalled or inoperable" on a street when the owner does not move it.

Rented lots are not storage

Section 9-503 covers paid lots with four or more spaces. It makes it unlawful to store "any vehicle which is not in condition for ready use" there, or "to permit the parking of any abandoned, junked or partially dismantled vehicle." So a dead car cannot be stashed in a commercial lot while you decide what to do.

When the title is missing

Cars that sit for years in Roselle garages tend to lose their paperwork. The fix runs through the Secretary of State, since Illinois counties do not handle titles. Tick the Duplicate Title box on VSD 190, enclose $50, and either post it to Springfield or carry it into one of the state's facilities. Three catches apply. The state will replace a title only if it was lost, stolen or mutilated. A fresh original blocks a duplicate for 15 days, and a previous duplicate blocks another for 30. And when a buyer from another state ends up with a title-less Illinois car, only the Illinois owner can apply; the buyer has no standing. More on junk car with no title.

When the new title shows up, finishing is fast. Sign it over to your buyer, hold on to your plates, and post the Notice of Sale to Springfield. Because Roselle straddles Cook and DuPage, both halves of town fall inside the Chicago-area emissions program.

Nearby towns

Bloomingdale sits 2.0 miles off in a straight line; Hanover Park is 2.9, Schaumburg 3.4, Glendale Heights 4.3. See Illinois for statewide rules, or junkyard or scrap yard to learn where these cars go.

Getting an offer

Reach us at (877) 421-6008 or through the form. The offer form asks everything we need about your Roselle car. Pickup can come from a driveway, a garage, or a back corner of your lot.