A Licensed Chicago Junk Car Buyer

What We Actually Do

We are a recycler, not a broker. When you call us, you are speaking to the company that sends the truck, hands you the cash and processes the vehicle — not a call center that sells your details to whoever bids highest for the lead.

That distinction matters more than it sounds. A broker quotes you a number they have no ability to honor, then passes you to a local yard that re-inspects the car and re-prices it in the driveway. We quote our own money, so the figure we give on the phone is the figure in your hand.

How We Arrive at Your Number

Most buyers weigh the car and pay a scrap rate. We look at recoverable parts first and scrap second, which is usually why our offer lands above a straight weight quote. Three things drive the figure:

1. 1. Is the catalytic converter still on the car? It is one of the highest-value components we recover. A missing converter — stolen or already sold — typically reduces an offer by $150 to $500.
2. 2. Is the vehicle complete? Engine, transmission and wheels present matters a great deal. A missing bumper barely registers.
3. 3. What is scrap steel doing this week? Commodity pricing moves, sometimes weekly. It is why a quote from three months ago is not a quote today. See how scrap prices shape payouts.

Across those variables, the practical range is $500-$15,000. A complete mid-2000s sedan usually lands between $500 and $1,400. Trucks, SUVs, hybrids with intact battery packs and late-model vehicles with rebuildable damage reach the upper end.

Why the License Matters

Illinois requires vehicle recyclers to be licensed, and we are: ILICC #224719. It is worth checking, because a licensed recycler is obliged to record seller identification and report every purchase.

That protects you more than it protects us. When a licensed recycler takes your car, there is a documented chain of custody showing the vehicle left your ownership on a specific date. If the car later turns up abandoned or ticketed, that record is what settles it. An unlicensed buyer working out of a pickup truck leaves you with nothing but a handshake.

It is also why we can legally buy vehicles 10 or more model years old without a title under Illinois law — with your photo ID and a signed statement of ownership. Read the detail on selling without a title in Illinois.

What Our Rating Says

We are rated 4.4 out of 5 across 543 Google reviews. That is not a perfect score, and we publish it rather than rounding it up or quoting only the good ones.

In this trade, almost every complaint traces to one thing: a quote that changed at the curb. Our rule is simple — the number changes only if the vehicle is materially different from how it was described, and if our revised figure does not suit you, you decline and we leave. No charge, no tow fee, no argument.

You can read the reviews on Google, check us on Yelp, or see what customers have said in their own words.

Where We Work

Chicago proper plus roughly 76 surrounding towns across Cook, DuPage, Will and Lake counties in Illinois, and Lake and Porter counties in Northwest Indiana. We run 6AM - 9PM, Monday to Sunday, and same-day pickup is normal for calls before about 3 PM.

Check the full service area list, browse the makes we buy, or read the questions we get asked most.