Skip to content
JunkStarNATIONWIDE JUNK CAR BUYER
(323) 503-4171Call usGet my offer

Cash for junk cars in Chicago.

Dead on the street, sitting in a back lot, or not worth fixing? Get one firm written offer in minutes, free towing anywhere in Chicago, and your check in hand at pickup — before the city tows it for you.

$0 towing across Chicago 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 off your block.

  1. Dead on the street

    Won’t start and parked on a city street? Chicago can treat that as abandoned. Sell it first.

  2. Expired plates or sticker

    No current registration on a street-parked car is another way it ends up at the pound.

  3. Wrecked or totaled

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

  4. Salt-rusted and worn out

    Rusted rockers, brake lines and frames from too many Chicago winters.

  5. Going car-free

    Moved downtown or closer to the L? Turn the car you no longer need into a check.

  6. Inherited or unwanted

    A relative’s car or one that has sat in a garage for years. Illinois has set paperwork routes for this.

Parked on a city street

Sell it before the city tows it.

The City of Chicago can classify a vehicle as abandoned if it meets any one of these: it’s on a public way in a state of disrepair that makes it impossible to drive as it is; it hasn’t been moved or used for more than seven consecutive days and looks deserted; or it has been left on the street without state registration or a temporary registration placard for two or more days.

Abandoned vehicles are reported through 311, towed, and impounded at the city’s pounds at 103rd and Doty Avenue or 701 N. Sacramento Avenue. If the owner doesn’t redeem it, the car is sold for scrap — and the city says the owner is still responsible for the fines and fees.

So a dead car on the street isn’t free to leave there. Selling it while it’s still yours puts the money in your pocket instead of the pound’s.

Do the math

What a city tow costs you, versus selling.

These are the City of Chicago’s published charges for getting a car out of the pound (vehicles under 8,000 lb).

If the city tows itIf you sell it to JunkStar
$250 towing fee$0 towing
$50 for every day in storageNo storage, pickup at your spot
All charges and fines paid in full before releaseOne firm written offer, no deductions
Proof of ownership and photo ID to claim itTitle signed at pickup, plates off
Unclaimed cars are sold for scrap; you can still owe the feesYour check in hand at pickup

Example: a car held one week costs $250 + 7 × $50 = $600 before any tickets. Source: City of Chicago, Department of Streets and Sanitation, “Common Towing Questions” and “Abandoned Vehicle” (chicago.gov). Fees are set by the Municipal Code (9-92-080), exceptions may apply, and they can change. Questions: Bureau of Traffic Services, 312-746-4954.

How it works in Chicago

From the curb to a check in hand.

Selling takes a few minutes online. The paperwork follows Illinois rules, which we walk you through first.

  1. 01

    Tell us the car and the spot

    Enter your VIN or year, make and model, and say where it’s parked: street, alley, garage or lot, and whether it rolls and steers.

  2. 02

    Get your firm offer

    One written number, based on your answers. It stays firm at pickup as long as your description is accurate.

  3. 03

    Schedule the pickup

    From offer to payment typically takes a few days; same-day is sometimes possible but not something to plan around. Be reachable so the driver can confirm the spot.

  4. 04

    Sign, hand over, get paid

    Sign and date the title at pickup, take your plates off, and get your check. Then mail the Notice of Sale from the bottom of your title — details on our Illinois page.

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 Chicago. 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. If your title is lost, get a duplicate ($50) instead.
“Pickup in one hour” guaranteesWe tell you the honest timing: typically a few days from offer to payment.

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 range used in published 2026 Illinois 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. Published Chicago 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.

Citywide and Cook County

Free towing across Chicagoland.

From the North Side to the South Side and the suburbs, towing is always free.

  • Rogers Park
  • Uptown
  • Lake View
  • Logan Square
  • Humboldt Park
  • Austin
  • Pilsen
  • Bridgeport
  • Hyde Park
  • Englewood
  • Chatham
  • South Shore
  • Cicero
  • Berwyn
  • Oak Park
  • Evanston
  • Skokie
  • Des Plaines
  • Oak Lawn
  • Chicago Heights
  • Calumet City
  • Schaumburg

Don’t see your neighborhood or suburb? Enter your ZIP code above to confirm pickup at your address.

Common questions

Chicago seller questions

How much will you pay for my junk car in Chicago?
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.
How long can a car that doesn’t run sit on a Chicago street?
Not safely at all. The City of Chicago can classify a vehicle as abandoned if it’s on a public way and can’t be driven in its present condition, if it hasn’t moved for more than seven consecutive days and looks deserted, or if it has no state registration or temporary placard for two or more days. Abandoned vehicles are towed and, if unclaimed, sold for scrap.
What does it cost to get a car out of the Chicago impound?
The city lists a $250 towing fee and $50 per day storage for vehicles under 8,000 lb, and all charges and fines must be paid in full before release. You also need photo ID and proof of ownership, such as a valid title, current registration card or a bill of sale not more than 30 days old. Fees can change; call 311 or 312-746-4954 to confirm.
What happens if I never pick up a towed car?
The city normally stores vehicles for about 21 days from the date it mails notice to the owner. Unclaimed vehicles may be disposed of or sold at auction, and the owner is still responsible for the fines and fees.
Can I sell my junk car in Chicago without a title?
Illinois junking paperwork requires a properly assigned title or other ownership document, so plan on having one. If yours is lost, apply for a duplicate with form VSD 190; the fee is $50. Our Illinois page explains the routes for estates and loans.
What do I do with my plates and paperwork after the sale?
Take your plates off — in Illinois they belong to you, not the car. Sign and date the title at pickup, keep a bill of sale, and mail the Notice of Sale attached to the bottom of your title to the Secretary of State.
Are there any towing or hookup fees in Chicago?
Never. Towing is 100% included across Chicago and Cook County. 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.

Keep reading