Rust usually decides it before the engine does
An older car can still start every morning and be close to the end. The trouble is usually underneath: brake lines, rocker panels, subframe mounts and exhaust hangers eaten through by years of salted winter roads. Once a mechanic says the frame or brake lines need major work, the repair bill on an older car can pass what the car is worth.
That is where Downers Grove’s code comes in. The village counts a car as inoperable after 10 straight days of not running under its own power, and an inoperable car parked outside counts as a nuisance. A rusted car parked “until spring” can turn into a code issue well before spring. Our guide on how road salt and rust end a car’s life covers the warning signs and the point where repair stops making sense.
Getting the tow truck to your car
Most Downers Grove homes are single-family houses, which makes pickup simple. About 27% of homes sit in complexes of five or more units, though. If your car is in an apartment or condo lot, tell us the building, the space and whether the lot has a gate or a height limit.
Overnight timing matters too. No one may park on a village street from 2:00 to 6:00 a.m. without police permission, so a car that dies at the curb should be pushed onto a driveway, or you should ask police to let it stay overnight. We pick up from either spot.
Before the driver gets there
Downers Grove sits where I-355 meets I-88, and both are tollways. If your car carries an I-PASS transponder on the windshield, take it off and remove the car from your tollway account, or the next toll it passes could land on your bill. Clear out the glovebox, the trunk and any garage door opener clipped to the visor.
Have the title and your photo ID ready. If a document is missing, tell us when you call rather than at the curb, so there are no surprises on pickup day.
Neighbouring towns
Downers Grove sits between several towns we serve. We also buy junk cars in Westmont to the east, Woodridge to the southwest and Lombard to the north. Browse the complete town list on our areas we serve page.
Selling a car in Downers Grove: common questions
My car has been dead in the driveway for two weeks. Is that a problem in Downers Grove?
It can be. The village counts a car that can't run under its own power for 10 consecutive days as inoperable, and keeping one outside a building is listed as a nuisance. Selling it before code enforcement gets involved is the simplest way out.
Can I just fix the car in my driveway?
Only small jobs. The zoning code limits work in residential parking areas to minor repairs on residents' own vehicles. Swapping an engine or transmission on the driveway is not what that rule allows, so a car with a major failure usually has to go to a shop or go for scrap.
What if a snow emergency hits while my dead car is on the street?
Once 3 or more inches fall in a 24-hour period, Downers Grove bans parking on every street and public lot overnight for the length of the emergency, and violators can be towed and impounded. Get the car onto a driveway, or call us before the storm arrives.