The honest answer about titles
Many junk cars have lost their titles. The car sat for years, the paperwork went missing in a move, or the title was never transferred after a family member passed the car on. Many people hope a junk car can go without any paperwork at all, and that isn’t how it works in Illinois.
With us, you tell us which papers you have. We check them against what Illinois accepts for a scrap sale. On the same call, before anyone drives out, we tell you whether we can take the car with those papers or what you’d need first. No guessing at the curb.
What to have in front of you when you call
Look for any of these and tell us which you found:
- the title itself, even if it’s damaged or has old signatures on it,
- a current or expired Illinois registration card,
- an insurance card or policy showing the car,
- a bill of sale from when you bought it,
- a lien release, if the car was financed,
- your driver’s license or state ID (always needed, so we know who’s selling).
The name on the papers matters as much as the papers themselves. If the car is registered to someone else, such as a former partner or a parent, say so.
When a replacement title is the better route
If the car is in your name and the title is just lost, a duplicate title from the Illinois Secretary of State is often the cleanest route. It takes some time, so if a village notice is giving you a deadline, tell us; it’s sometimes possible to plan the pickup around the paperwork.
Common title situations
The car was inherited. Ownership passes through the estate, so the person selling needs to be the one with the legal right to. Bring us whatever estate papers you have and we’ll tell you whether they’re enough.
You bought it and never transferred it. The bill of sale from that purchase is the first thing to find.
It was financed. If the loan was paid off, a lien release matters. If it wasn’t, the lender still has an interest in the car.
It’s an old car in a garage nobody remembers buying. Start with the registration or insurance history. If no paper exists at all, we’ll tell you plainly.
Once the papers are settled
The rest is the same as any pickup. The tow is free. The driver checks the car matches what you described, you sign what’s needed, and you’re paid by cash, Zelle or Cash App at the car. Our pickup day walk-through covers the visit, and the before the tow truck arrives checklist covers plates, belongings and the Seller’s Report of Sale.
Cars without titles are often non-running or scrap cars that have sat a long time, and the same goes for old pickups and vans. We pick up across our area, including Altgeld Gardens and Dixmoor.