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Sell my junk car in Illinois.

Won’t start, wrecked, or can’t find the title? Get one firm written offer in minutes, free towing anywhere in Illinois, and your check in hand at pickup. We walk you through the Secretary of State paperwork first.

$0 towing across Illinois One firm written offer Paid by check at pickup

No obligation Free towing(323) 503-4171

Skip the repair bill

Whatever shape your car is in, we buy it as-is.

You don’t need to fix it, clean it, or pay a mechanic just to get it out of your driveway.

  1. Won’t start or dead engine

    Blown engine, bad transmission, electrical failure, or sitting with flat tires for months.

  2. Wrecked or totaled

    Collision damage, deployed airbags, or a car waiting at a body shop.

  3. Salt-rusted and worn out

    Rusted rockers and a car that has had enough Illinois winters.

  4. Expired registration

    A lapsed sticker doesn’t stop a sale. The title is what matters. Tell us and we’ll take it from there.

  5. Lost title or a loan

    Missing title or a lender on it? See exactly what Illinois requires before you book.

  6. Inherited or unwanted

    A relative’s car or one that has sat for years. Illinois has set routes for this, explained below.

Illinois paperwork

Selling a car in Illinois, in order.

These are the Illinois Secretary of State’s steps for selling a used vehicle. We walk you through them before pickup.

  1. 01

    Have your title ready

    You give the buyer a valid title when the car is handed over. If yours is lost, stolen or damaged, apply for a duplicate first (see below).

  2. 02

    Sign and date it at pickup

    The seller signs and dates the title when the sale is final. Never sign a blank title or hand one over before you’re paid.

  3. 03

    Take your plates off

    In Illinois, license plates belong to you, not the car. Remove them before the car leaves. You can only move them to another vehicle you own.

  4. 04

    Mail the Notice of Sale

    Complete and mail the Notice of Sale form attached to the bottom of your title to the Secretary of State’s office. If your title doesn’t have one, it can be downloaded from ilsos.gov.

  5. 05

    Keep a bill of sale

    Write a bill of sale with the date and the price paid, and keep a copy. Note the buyer’s name and address in case a title or registration question comes up later.

  6. 06

    Clear out the car

    Remove your registration and insurance cards and anything else with your name or address on it.

No title?

Can you junk a car in Illinois without a title?

Short answer: no. When a licensed scrap processor junks a car, Illinois requires them to file a Junk Vehicle Notification (form VSD 325), and that form must be accompanied by a properly assigned Certificate of Title, Salvage Certificate, Certificate of Purchase or similar out-of-state ownership document. Some websites say an old enough car or a registration card is enough. The state’s form says otherwise.

The fix is usually quick. If your title is lost, stolen or damaged, apply for a duplicate with the Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (VSD 190) and check “Duplicate Title.” The fee is $50. You can apply by mail or at a Secretary of State facility, and some locations offer expedited service. If there’s a loan on the car, the duplicate goes to the lender, so clear the lien first.

If the owner has died, you may not need a duplicate at all: Illinois uses an affidavit stating the title is lost as part of the estate paperwork (see the table below).

Title questions, answered

Your situation, what you need.

Illinois cares about ownership paperwork, not whether your car runs. Find your situation:

Your situationWhat it means in Illinois
I have the title in my nameYou’re set. Sign and date it at pickup, take your plates off, and mail the Notice of Sale from the bottom of the title.
I lost my titleApply for a duplicate title with form VSD 190 ($50) by mail or at a Secretary of State facility. Duplicates aren’t issued within 15 days of an original title.
There’s a loan or lien on itA duplicate title is mailed to the lienholder. To remove the lien, Illinois accepts a lien release letter from the lender, a contract showing it’s paid in full, or a court order.
The owner died and the estate is in probateThe estate’s legal representative signs the title over, with certified letters of office.
The owner died, no probate, estate of $100,000 or lessIllinois uses a Small Estate Affidavit with a copy of the death certificate. The title doesn’t need to be signed over.
The car was jointly ownedThe surviving joint owner owns the car by law and can sign the title over to a buyer.

Source: Illinois Secretary of State (ilsos.gov): “Buying or Selling a Vehicle in Illinois,” Junk Vehicle Notification Form (VSD 325), “Duplicate Titles” and “Corrected Title – Deceased.” Questions: 800-252-8980. Rules and fees can change, so confirm with the Secretary of State before you file.

Know before you sell

How to tell a real offer from a bait-and-switch.

The biggest worry sellers have is a high quote that shrinks when the tow truck arrives. These are the common tricks and what JunkStar does instead.

What to watch forHow JunkStar works
A high quote that drops at pickupYou get one firm written offer upfront. It stays firm at pickup as long as your description of the car is accurate.
Surprise towing, processing or “environmental” feesTowing is $0 in Illinois. The amount on your accepted offer is the amount you are paid.
Paid later, mailed, or after the car is gonePayment is handed to you at pickup, in exchange for your signed title and keys.
“No title? No problem” promisesIllinois junking paperwork needs an ownership document. A buyer who skips it can leave the car in your name. Get a duplicate title instead.
A buyer who won’t say who they areThe state’s junking form asks for the scrap processor’s license number. Ask any buyer for their business name, and get the payout in writing.

Comparing buyers? Ask each one: What exact amount do I receive at pickup? Is towing free, with no deductions? Will you put the quote in writing? How do you pay? What paperwork do you need from me?

What is it worth?

What affects your offer.

Your firm offer comes from your VIN and condition answers. For a rough idea first, here is the scrap-weight floor: vehicle weight times a scrap rate of $165–$185 per ton, the Illinois range used in published 2026 estimates. A car with sellable parts, or a truck, can be worth more than its weight.

Vehicle typeTypical weightScrap-weight estimate
Compact car2,500–3,300 lb$206–$305
Mid-size sedan3,200–3,800 lb$264–$352
Full-size sedan3,800–4,500 lb$314–$416
Crossover or small SUV3,300–4,000 lb$272–$370
Large SUV5,000–6,000 lb$413–$555
Pickup truck4,800–7,000 lb$396–$648

Estimates only, not a quote, and not specific to any city. Published Illinois figures vary widely by source and buyer, so ask for a written quote. What also moves your offer: whether the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still on the car, whether it runs, the make and model, and your title or lien status. Leave the battery, wheels and catalytic converter attached so your offer stays locked.

Statewide coverage

Free towing across Illinois.

Whether your car is on a Chicago street, a Rockford driveway or a farm road downstate, towing is always free.

  • Chicago
  • Aurora
  • Joliet
  • Naperville
  • Rockford
  • Springfield
  • Elgin
  • Peoria
  • Champaign
  • Waukegan
  • Cicero
  • Bloomington
  • Evanston
  • Schaumburg
  • Decatur
  • Des Plaines
  • Rock Island
  • Moline
  • Belleville
  • East St. Louis
  • Carbondale
  • Quincy

Don’t see your town? Enter any Illinois ZIP code above to confirm pickup at your address.

Common questions

Illinois seller questions

Can I junk a car in Illinois without a title?
No. Illinois requires the scrap processor to file a Junk Vehicle Notification (VSD 325) with a properly assigned title or other ownership document, such as a salvage certificate. If your title is lost, apply for a duplicate with form VSD 190; the fee is $50.
How much does a duplicate title cost in Illinois?
$50. Fill out the Application for Vehicle Transaction(s) (VSD 190), check “Duplicate Title,” and submit it by mail to the Secretary of State in Springfield or at a Secretary of State facility. Some locations offer expedited service. If there’s a lien, the title is mailed to the lienholder.
Do I keep my license plates when I sell my car in Illinois?
Yes. In Illinois, plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle, so remove them before the car leaves. You can’t give them to the buyer; you can only transfer them to another vehicle you own.
What do I file after I sell or junk my car in Illinois?
Complete and mail the Notice of Sale form attached to the bottom of your title to the Secretary of State’s office. If your title doesn’t have one, it can be downloaded from ilsos.gov. Keep a copy of your bill of sale with the date and price.
Can I sell a car that still has a loan on it?
Clear the lien first. Illinois removes a lienholder with a lien release letter from the lender, a contract showing the loan is paid in full, or a court order. Tell us about the loan when you request your offer.
Can I sell a car that belonged to someone who passed away?
Yes, through the estate. If it’s in probate, the legal representative signs. If not, and the personal estate is $100,000 or less, Illinois uses a Small Estate Affidavit. A surviving joint owner owns the car by law. If the title is lost in these cases, an affidavit is used instead of a duplicate title.
How much will you pay for my junk car in Illinois?
It depends on your car’s weight, make and model, condition, and whether the engine, transmission and catalytic converter are still on it. As a rough scrap-weight floor, common vehicle types work out to about $206–$648 at $165–$185 per ton; trucks and cars with sellable parts can bring more. Enter your VIN and ZIP code above for one firm written number in about two minutes.
Is JunkStar legit? How do I know the offer is real?
You see one firm written offer before you commit, towing is $0, and payment is handed to you at pickup. The price holds at pickup when your description of the car is accurate. If any buyer won’t put the exact payout in writing or adds fees at pickup, walk away.
Are there any towing or hookup fees in Illinois?
Never. Towing is 100% included across Illinois. The dollar amount on your accepted offer is the exact amount on the check handed to you at pickup.
How fast can you pick up my car, and do I need to be there?
From offer to payment typically takes a few days. Same-day pickup is sometimes possible depending on your location and driver availability, so don’t plan around it. Plan to be there: the title paperwork and payment happen at pickup. If you can’t be, arrange it with the driver in advance.

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