Selling a dead or junk car in Waukegan

Section 15-12, the gas-tank rule

The code says: "It shall be unlawful to park, place or permit the parking or placing of any inoperable motor vehicle on any premises within the city unless the gasoline tank is removed therefrom." The police department gives "five days' notice by posting upon any such motor vehicle." When the five days end with the tank in place, the car "shall be deemed abandoned and shall be confiscated by the police department." That penalty is on top of any other the law allows.

The 72-hour limit on private land

A second rule covers the same driveway. Under Section 21-277, a car may sit on private property in Waukegan for no more than 72 hours if it is unlicensed, or if it is licensed but "junked, wrecked, partially dismantled, inoperative or abandoned." Parts count too.

After that, Section 21-278 has the community development department post a notice on the car. It says the car must go within seven days of the posting "or it will be removed and impounded by the city." If it is still there, the car goes to a city pound.

Street rules in Waukegan

• Eight hours on a roadway. Police or parking enforcement can order a tow once a car has been abandoned on a city roadway for eight hours or more.
• Right away, if it blocks traffic. A wrecked, burned or partly taken-apart car that is a traffic hazard can be removed at once.
• Snow routes. Once two inches have fallen, posted snow routes are off limits until police call the plowing finished. Expect a fine of $75 at minimum, and a possible tow.

Section 21-133 releases a pounded car only after its owner covers all towing and impound charges, on top of fines and court costs. For an aging car, that total can swallow whatever value it has left.

Scrapping it the Illinois way

Titles in Waukegan come from the Illinois Secretary of State; Lake County has no role. For a scrap-bound car, the state swaps the title for a junking certificate. The statute gives the owner 15 days to turn in the title with the application, and after junking, the car never gets a title again.

Two rules help a seller here. With no lender holding a lien, the title doesn't have to be turned in for the certificate. And anyone at all may take a junking certificate by assignment; a salvage certificate is reserved for licensed rebuilders, parts recyclers and scrap processors, plus out-of-state salvage buyers. Still paying off a loan? See lien still on the title.

In an ordinary Waukegan sale, you remove your plates and sign the Assignment of Title. Next, a Waukegan seller quickly mails Springfield the title's bottom stub, or VSD 703. That filing ends what you answer for.

Nearby

Gurnee is 3.4 miles from Waukegan as the crow flies, North Chicago 3.7, Zion 6.3, and Libertyville 7.6. State rules are on the Illinois page.

Getting an offer

Selling a car in Waukegan? Call (877) 421-6008 or fill in the offer form. If Waukegan has stuck a notice on it, say which: the five-day fuel-tank one or the seven-day impound one. Pickup is free anywhere in the US, and the truck can reach the car at a house near downtown, an apartment lot, or a garage bay.