Junk car removal questions, answered
Short answers from Cars Junk Man on junk car removal in Chicago. Towing is free, you're paid at pickup, same-day pickup is often possible, and with no title, you tell us which papers you've got and we tell you on the call whether Illinois rules let them work for a scrap sale. The rest is below.
Towing
Is towing free?
Yes. Cars Junk Man tows for free, and no towing charge is taken out of your offer. How towing is priced into a junk car offer explains why that's normal.
Can you get a car out of an alley or a garage?
Usually. Tell us whether the garage opens onto the alley, how wide the door is and whether the car rolls. Junk car towing covers street, alley and garage pickups.
The car has flat tires. Can it still be towed?
Yes. Tell us how many are flat and whether any are missing. See cars with no keys or flat tires.
What if another car is blocking mine?
Ask the owner to move it before pickup. The driver can't move someone else's car.
The car
Do you take cars that don't run?
Yes. The car is loaded without being driven. See non-running car removal.
Can I junk a car without the keys?
Yes. Tell us there are no keys when you ask for the offer, because locked steering or a car stuck in park changes how it's loaded.
Do you buy junk pickups, vans and SUVs?
Yes, in any condition: burned, flooded, wrecked, stripped or dead. Empty the bed, cab and cargo area first. See junk truck and van removal.
I have more than one junk car. Can one truck visit take them all?
Yes. Several cars can go in one pickup. List each one when we call so the right equipment comes.
Should I take parts off before you come?
No. Leave the battery, wheels and catalytic converter on unless the offer was made without them. Take out your belongings, plates and toll tag. The list is in what to take out before junking a car.
Paperwork and payment
Do I need a title?
A title is best. No title in hand? We can still help. Tell us which papers you've got, like a bill of sale, the registration or an insurance card. Illinois rules set which of them a scrap sale can use, and we'll tell you where you stand on the call.
When am I paid, and in what form?
When the car is collected, before the truck leaves your block: Zelle, Cash App, another digital payment, or cash.
Does the offer expire?
No. Our offer has no time limit, so you can take it whenever you're ready, as long as the car is still the one you described.
Can the offer change at pickup?
The offer is for the car you described, and the driver checks the car against that description. Describe it honestly, including missing parts, and the number holds. Nothing comes off for the tow.
When should I cancel my insurance?
After the car is gone and you're paid. Then call your insurer.
Where and when
Where do you pick up?
All of Chicago, with neighborhood pages for the South Side, plus the Chicagoland suburbs including Joliet and Aurora, and Northwest Indiana as far as Gary.
What are your hours?
From 6 in the morning until 9 at night, all seven days, on Chicago time. The form takes requests at any hour.
How soon can you come?
Same-day pickup is often possible. We give you a real time when we call.
Can you pick up from a repair shop or an apartment lot?
Yes. Repair-shop lots and apartment or HOA lots are fine. Let the shop or the building manager know a tow truck is coming, and sort out any gate or permission before pickup day.
My dead car is on the street. Will the city tow it?
It can. Chicago can classify a car as abandoned if it can't be driven, or hasn't moved for more than seven days and looks deserted, among other criteria. Read Chicago's abandoned car rules.
Didn't see your question? Send the form and ask it when we call. Or head back to junk car removal in Chicago.
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