Most of what makes a pickup go smoothly happens before the truck leaves. This is what our service actually handles, and what we need to know in advance.
We Come to the Vehicle
You should not have to get a non-running car to us. Some yards quote a price that quietly assumes you will deliver it — and if it does not run, that is a tow you pay for out of your own proceeds, often $100 to $200 off the top.
Our tow is included, with no distance surcharge, anywhere in our service area. The figure quoted on the phone is the cash handed to you.
The Situations We Handle Routinely
Flat tyres, seized brakes, no roll. We use a flatbed with a winch. A car that will not roll is normal, not a complication. Mention it and the driver brings skates or dollies if needed.
No keys. Not required. We do not need to start or steer a vehicle to winch it onto a flatbed. The only wrinkle is a steering lock at an awkward angle, and there are ways around that.
Alley garages. The default across Berwyn, Oak Park, Cicero and Maywood. Narrow alleys and single-width garages need a driver who has done it before, and ours have. Say “it’s in the garage and it won’t start” when you book.
Apartment and condo lots. Common in Schaumburg, Des Plaines and along the northwest corridor. We need the space number and clear access. If the management office wants notice first, tell us and we will work to their window.
Permit-parking streets. Oak Park and parts of the city restrict overnight street parking. Tell us the block and any restriction and we will schedule a time that does not earn you another ticket.
Behind a gate. Fine, as long as someone can open it when we arrive. This is the single most common reason a pickup has to be rescheduled.
What Slows a Pickup Down
Being direct about this, because it is nearly always avoidable:
- Nobody present who is authorised to sign
- A gate, garage or blocked driveway nobody can clear
- The vehicle turning out to be materially different from the description
- Personal belongings still in the car
That last one matters more than people expect. Once a vehicle is collected it enters processing and items cannot be retrieved. Check the glovebox, boot, under the seats and any roof or tow storage before the driver arrives.
Plates and Insurance — the Right Order
Remove your plates before the car leaves and return them to the Illinois Secretary of State. Cancel your insurance after collection, not before — a cancelled policy on a car still sitting on a public street exposes you to a citation.
What We Pay
| Vehicle type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Compact sedan, 2000–2010 | $500 – $900 |
| Midsize sedan, 2005–2015 | $600 – $1,400 |
| SUV or crossover | $700 – $2,200 |
| Full-size pickup | $900 – $3,500 |
| Late-model, rebuildable damage | $2,500 – $15,000 |
Call (773) 939-3333 with the year, make, model, where it sits and whether it rolls. See also same-day pickup and junk car removal in Chicago.
Licensed ILICC #224719 · 4.4 stars across 543 Google reviews · 6 AM to 9 PM, seven days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the pickup service really free?
Yes. Towing is included in every offer, anywhere in our Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana service area, with no distance surcharge. The quoted figure is the cash you receive.
Can you pick up a car with flat tires or seized brakes?
Yes. We use a flatbed with a winch, so a car that will not roll is routine. Tell us when you book so the driver brings skates or dollies if the situation calls for them.
What if I lost the keys?
Not a problem. We do not need keys to winch a vehicle onto a flatbed. It only matters if the steering is locked in a position that makes it hard to line up, and the driver has ways around that too.
Can you get a car out of an alley garage?
Yes, and we do it constantly in Berwyn, Oak Park, Cicero and Maywood, where alley garages are the norm. Tell us it is in a garage and will not start so the right truck comes out.
Can you pick up from an apartment complex parking lot?
Yes. We need the space number and clear access for the flatbed. If the management office requires advance notice, tell us and we will schedule around it.