Two questions come up on almost every call, in this order: how much, and when do I actually get it. Here are both answers without the runaround.
How Much
The honest range is $500 to $15,000, and it is that wide because “junk car” covers a 2001 Cavalier with a seized engine and a 2019 Silverado with collision damage in the same phrase.
| 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 |
| Work van | $800 – $3,000 |
| Hybrid, battery pack intact | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Late-model, rebuildable damage | $2,500 – $15,000 |
Three things move your number more than anything else: whether the catalytic converter is still attached, whether the vehicle is complete (engine, transmission and wheels present), and what scrap steel is doing that week.
How You Get Paid
Cash, in your hand, before the car is loaded. Not a cheque to clear. Not a transfer that lands Tuesday. Not “we’ll send it once it’s processed.”
The sequence at pickup runs like this:
- The driver looks the vehicle over to confirm it matches what you described.
- You complete the paperwork together — he explains it before you sign.
- He counts the cash into your hand.
- Only then does the car go up onto the flatbed.
That order is deliberate, and it is worth understanding why. In the version where the car goes on the truck first, you have handed over your only leverage. We do it the other way round so you never have to trust us on that point.
Nothing Gets Deducted
The number you are quoted on the phone is the number you receive. There is no towing fee, no paperwork fee, and no processing charge taken off at the kerb.
The only circumstance in which the figure changes is if the vehicle is materially different from how it was described — a missing engine, or a catalytic converter you told us was still attached. If our revised number does not suit you, you decline and we leave. No charge for the trip either way.
That single practice is most of what separates a straightforward sale from the stories people tell about this industry.
Why Some Cars Pay So Much More
It comes down to weight and recoverable parts.
A full-size pickup carries several times the metal of a compact sedan, and its engine, transmission, transfer case and axles all have active resale demand. That is why a truck with a dead engine often outpays a running sedan.
It is also why a hybrid with a degraded battery pack is worth more than people assume — the pack itself has recovery value, and the rest of the drivetrain sells as parts.
Get Your Number
Call (773) 939-3333 with the year, make, model and roughly what is wrong. You will get a firm figure on the same call.
Licensed ILICC #224719 · 4.4 stars across 543 Google reviews · free towing throughout Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana, 6 AM to 9 PM, seven days.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money can I get for a junk car in Chicago?
Between $500 and $15,000. A complete mid-2000s sedan usually lands between $500 and $1,400. Trucks, SUVs and hybrids with intact battery packs go higher, and a late-model vehicle with rebuildable damage reaches the top of the range.
How do you pay — cash, cheque or transfer?
Cash, counted into your hand, before the vehicle goes onto the truck. No cheque to clear, no payment app, no waiting.
When exactly do I get the money?
At pickup, before the car is loaded. The driver inspects the vehicle, completes the paperwork with you, hands you the cash, and only then winches the car up. That order is deliberate — you are never in the position of having given up the vehicle and waiting on payment.
Are there any fees taken out?
None. No towing fee, no paperwork fee, no processing charge. The figure quoted on the phone is the figure you are handed.
Do you pay more for some vehicles than others?
Yes. Weight and recoverable parts drive it. A full-size pickup carries far more metal and more sellable components than a compact sedan, so it pays considerably more even in worse mechanical condition.