Thirty days, then ten more
Frankfort’s code gives a broken car a defined runway. Under § 90.04, a car that’s partly dismantled, wrecked, junked or not running can stay on private property for 30 days. Inside an enclosed building, or on the lot of a business that lawfully needs it, there’s no limit. On village property, it’s 48 hours.
Past that, the police chief can post a written notice on the car and mail copies to its owner and to the property owner. Ten days later, the village may impound it. Fines apply per offense, and each day counts separately, so a car left through the notice period gets expensive in a hurry.
Streets are off the table from day one: § 90.03 bars leaving that kind of car on any village street or highway.
Where a dead car can’t wait
Even a working car can’t sit on a village street, alley or public way longer than 48 successive hours. At 2 inches of snow, village streets close to parking until removal is finished, and the code expects owners to move cars before that point. On the two main highways it’s simpler: no parking at all along US-30 from Wolf Road to Harlem Avenue, or along La Grange Road from Nebraska Street to Laraway Road.
A few streets also limit heavy traffic. Center Road and Locust Street are posted “No Thru Truck Traffic,” and Dralle Road bars semis. Tell us your cross street so the driver plans the approach.
If you thought about selling it yourself, note that § 72.08 bans displaying a vehicle for sale on a street. One vehicle may be shown for sale on the owner’s residential property.
Old Plank Road country, newer subdivisions
Frankfort grew up around a railroad station in the 1850s, and its historic downtown still has the Frankfort Grainery and Breidert Green along the Old Plank Road Trail. Most of the village now is single-family homes: about 81% of units are detached houses and nearly 95% are owner-occupied. If your car is somewhere other than a driveway or garage, say so when you call.
The village sticker is voluntary and never expires, so there’s nothing local to cancel. Paperwork is a state matter. Let us know what you’re holding, such as the title, registration, a bill of sale or your ID. Whether they’re enough for a scrap sale is a question of Illinois rules, which we’ll walk through on the call. If the title is gone, our guide on junking a car with no title in Illinois lays out the options.
You won’t pay for the tow, and payment to you happens at pickup. We also cover Mokena, New Lenox and Tinley Park; see every town on our service area list.
Selling a car in Frankfort: common questions
How long can a junked car sit at my Frankfort home?
Thirty days under § 90.04, unless it's kept in an enclosed building. Past that point the police chief can give 10 days' written notice under § 90.06, posted on the car and mailed to you, and then impound it. Each day of violation counts as a separate offense.
Can I park my dead car on Route 30 or La Grange Road until pickup?
No. Sections 72.09 and 72.10 ban parking along US-30 from Wolf Road to Harlem Avenue and along US-45 from Nebraska Street to Laraway Road. Keep it in the driveway or garage and tell us where it sits.
Does Frankfort's village sticker need to be cancelled?
The sticker is voluntary under § 73.01, and § 73.04 says it never expires, so there's nothing to cancel with the village. Take your Illinois plates off before the tow, and keep a copy of whatever sale paperwork you sign.