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Cash for cars in Chicago, IL

We buy cars, trucks and SUVs in Chicago and across Cook County, in any condition. Get an offer online and we'll tow it for free.

Get your free cash offer

No obligation. Takes less than 2 minutes.

Vehicle info
Your contact info
  • Secure & private
  • Free towing
  • Same-day offer

By submitting, I agree that Car Emptor and the buyers, towing partners and service providers it works with to complete my sale may contact me about my vehicle by phone, email or text at the number I gave, including by automated means. Consent is not a condition of sale. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out.

Rather talk? Call (855) 497-1176Mon to Fri 8am to 8pm, Sat 9am to 5pm ET

Selling a car in Chicago

Between winter salt and tight street parking, a lot of Chicago sellers just want the car gone. We work around alley and street pickups.

Sellers in Pilsen, Bronzeville, Little Village and every other part of Chicago get the same free pickup. Pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours after you accept an offer.

Winter wear doesn't scare us off

Rust holes, seized brakes and exhaust that's hanging on by a clamp are normal for cars that have spent a lot of winters on salted roads. We price the whole car, including the parts that still have value, so rust lowers the offer without ending the conversation.

Areas we cover around Chicago

Outside the city limits, we cover Evanston, Cicero, Oak Park, Skokie, Berwyn and Des Plaines. The tow is just as free in the suburbs as it is downtown.

  • Evanston
  • Cicero
  • Oak Park
  • Skokie
  • Berwyn
  • Des Plaines

Local rules in Chicago

Title transfers and duplicate titles for Chicago residents are handled by the Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services Department.

Paperwork for Illinois sellers

  • Notarized title signature: Not required
  • License plates: Seller removes and keeps them
  • Report the sale: Notice of Sale (Seller's Report of Sale), form VSD 703
  • Duplicate title: Application for Vehicle Transaction(s), VSD 190; $50
  • Bill of sale: Recommended
  • Junk without a title: Allowed in some cases

The full list of Illinois rules is on our Illinois page. For duplicate titles and release of liability forms, contact the Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services.

Takes about two minutes.
No obligation.
Get my Chicago offer (855) 497-1176

How it works in Chicago

Tell us about the car online or call (855) 497-1176, and you'll get a cash offer that stays good for 7 days. Accept it, pick a time, and a driver comes to wherever the car is in Cook County. You get paid, sign the title, and the car is gone. The full process covers what to have ready.

  1. Get your offer

    Tell us the year, make, model and condition, or start with your VIN. Your cash offer is good for 7 days.

  2. Pick a pickup time

    Choose when and where. Towing is free anywhere in Chicago, and pickup is usually within 24 to 48 hours.

Questions from Chicago sellers

Do you buy cars in Pilsen and Portage Park?

Yes. We buy cars in Pilsen, Portage Park and every other neighborhood in Chicago, plus nearby areas like Evanston and Cicero. Pickup is free wherever the car is parked.

How fast can you pick up my car in Chicago?

Once you accept, we schedule the tow for a time that suits you, usually within 24 to 48 hours. That goes for Chicago itself and the surrounding suburbs.

Do you buy junk cars in Chicago?

Yes. We buy junk, wrecked and non-running cars in Chicago and tow them for free. Most are priced on their parts and metal, plus any value left in the model.

What paperwork do I need to sell a car in Chicago, IL?

The title and a photo ID that matches it. Illinois doesn't require the seller's signature on the title to be notarized. In Illinois, the plates belong to the seller, not the car. Plates belong to the owner, not the vehicle. They can only be moved to another vehicle the seller owns. File the Notice of Sale (Seller's Report of Sale), form VSD 703, with the state after the sale. It records that the car is no longer yours. For a duplicate title, Chicago residents can go to the Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services Department.

Can I sell a junk car without a title in Chicago?

Sometimes. Scrap processors need a title, salvage or junking certificate, or similar ownership proof, plus two IDs (625 ILCS 5/5-401.3). A lien-free owner of record can get a junking certificate without surrendering the title (5/3-117.1). Otherwise you'll need the title or a duplicate. To replace a lost Illinois title, apply to the Illinois Secretary of State, Vehicle Services with Application for Vehicle Transaction(s), VSD 190. The fee is $50.

Do you charge for towing in Chicago?

Never. There's no hook-up fee, mileage charge or deduction for the tow, whether the car is in Chicago or out in Des Plaines.

Sources

Checked against these sources on November 6, 2026.

Last updated November 6, 2026.

Get cash for your car in Chicago

A cash offer, free towing anywhere in the US, and payment at pickup. The offer is good for 7 days.

Get my cash offer (855) 497-1176