Selling an inoperable car in South Elgin

Two ways a car becomes inoperable

The definition in Section 93.01 has two parts, and either one is enough:

1. "Any motor vehicle for which no current license registration has been issued by the Illinois Secretary of State."
2. South Elgin's rule reaches any car that can't drive itself because someone pulled, changed or damaged its wheels, engine or other parts "of a period of seven days or more."

The first part is the one people miss. If the registration has lapsed, the car counts right away, even if it starts. The seven-day wait doesn't apply.

Section 93.04 then bans keeping such a car on public property, on residential lots and on any other lot where homes are allowed. Repair shops, body shops, towing services and salvage yards in zones that permit them are exempt.

Fines and repeat violations

Property violations go to a hearing officer under Section 32.64. For the first, second or third violation within 24 months, the fine is "no less than $50 and no more than $150." You can settle before the hearing by fixing the problem and paying the fine shown on the notice. A fourth violation within 24 months can send all unpaid fines on that property to the village attorney.

Abandoned, towed and snowed in

• Hours, not days, on a road. Under Section 93.01, a disabled car counts as abandoned once it has not moved for "eight hours if on a public highway," or three days on other property. That does not apply on the owner's own lot.
• Someone else's land. Section 93.03 lets the village police authorize removal of a car abandoned on private property "after a waiting period of seven days or more."
• Two inches of snow. Under South Elgin's Section 72.08, no car may stay parked on a street or public right-of-way "for a period of 24 hours following the accumulation of two or more inches of falling snow." A towed car's owner pays.
• Getting it back. Section 76.06 says you report to the police, prove your interest and pay the administrative fees. Then the Record Division sends you to the tow company to pay towing and storage. Section 76.07 sends an unclaimed car that is seven years old or newer to public auction 60 days after notice.

Signing over the title

Illinois titles are state-issued. South Elgin sellers deal with the Secretary of State, not Kane County. Your signature, the date, the printed names and the odometer statement all go in the title's Assignment of Title block. A notary is not among the state's seller steps. Hang on to your plates. Put the price and date on the South Elgin bill of sale, and soon after, send the "Notice of Sale" to Springfield. A South Elgin buyer gets 20 days to retitle and owes a $165 fee.

A salvage car cannot be registered in Illinois, and South Elgin owners can pass a salvage certificate to just four kinds of buyer: licensed rebuilders, licensed automotive parts recyclers, licensed scrap processors and salvage buyers from out of state. Anyone may take a junking certificate.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in South Elgin? For a South Elgin car, call (877) 421-6008 or send the offer form. Around South Elgin we also cover local repair shops, the State Street Bridge area, and Elgin, a 3.4-mile straight line away. See Illinois for the statewide rules.