No village hall, county rules
La Grange Highlands isn’t a village. It’s an unincorporated community of about one square mile, wedged between La Grange, Western Springs, Indian Head Park and Countryside, close to where I-294 and I-55 meet. It is almost all houses, with very few businesses, its own grade school district (LaGrange Highlands District 106), and a Pleasantview Fire Protection District firehouse.
Because there’s no village government, there’s no village code to look up. The rules that apply come from Cook County and the state. That changes a few things for anyone selling a junk car here.
What that means for a junk car
No local sticker. Neighbors in La Grange and Indian Head Park need village vehicle stickers; the Highlands have no village to sell one. Cook County did have a wheel tax for vehicles registered in unincorporated areas, but it ended on June 30, 2023. When you junk a car, there’s nothing local to cancel or transfer.
County parking rules. Cook County’s vehicle code bars parking on county roadways to display a car for sale or to repair it, beyond emergency fixes. It also keeps heavy trucks, trailers and commercial vehicles from parking within 200 feet of residential lots in unincorporated areas, except while loading or unloading. A tow truck loading your car is doing exactly that, and it leaves once the car is on.
Addresses. The Highlands share the 60525 ZIP code, so titles and mail may read “La Grange.” Give us the full street address and tell us you’re in the Highlands.
None of this means a dead car can sit on the street indefinitely: county officers can remove unattended vehicles that obstruct traffic. A driveway is the place for it to wait.
The sale, step by step
Have the title, your ID, and the plates handy. If the title is missing, list what you do have (registration, a bill of sale, an insurance card), and we’ll confirm what Illinois rules accept for a scrap sale before anything is scheduled. Our guide to junking a car in the Chicago area walks through plates, the notice of sale and insurance.
The tow is free; you are paid when the car is collected. We cover the villages that surround the Highlands too, including La Grange and Western Springs. Our list of towns shows everywhere else.
Selling a car in La Grange Highlands: common questions
My mail says La Grange. Do you still pick up in La Grange Highlands?
Yes. La Grange Highlands shares the 60525 ZIP code, so your title, registration or mail may show a La Grange address. Give us the street address and mention that you're in the Highlands so the driver goes to the right block.
Do I need to cancel a county vehicle sticker when I junk my car?
Not anymore. The Cook County wheel tax that covered vehicles registered in unincorporated areas ended on June 30, 2023, so there's no county sticker to deal with. You still need to handle your Illinois plates, registration and insurance.