A village surrounded by the city
Merrionette Park is about as small as a Chicago suburb gets: 0.38 square miles and 1,969 residents at the 2020 Census. Chicago’s Mount Greenwood and Morgan Park community areas wrap around nearly the whole boundary, while Alsip and Blue Island touch it only at a corner. Kedzie Avenue runs through the village, with 115th and 119th Streets as the main cross streets, and CTA bus Route 52A serves it.
That matters if your car is parked near the edge. Inside the village, Merrionette Park’s code applies; a block away, you’re under Chicago’s rules for abandoned and inoperable vehicles, which our Chicago abandoned-vehicle guide explains.
Out of sight, or out of the village
The local junk-vehicle rule is short and strict. Under Section 72.14, a damaged or junked car may not be kept anywhere the public can see it, open lot or not, and the rule sets no grace period. A car with a crumpled front end sitting on the driveway can draw attention the day it arrives.
Where any car can sit is limited too. Section 72.16 also keeps every car off unpaved private ground: only a garage, a carport, or a paved drive or lot will do. Residential streets must be empty when 2 inches or more of snow lies on them, and anything parked against Chapter 72 can be towed to the village pound.
Houses, mobile homes and the 115th Street plazas
About 59% of homes are detached houses and nearly a quarter are mobile homes. For a mobile home space, tell us the space number and how the car is parked. For a car stranded at Stonebrook Plaza or Handy Andy Plaza on 115th Street, note that the code sets parking rules for those lots by name, so call early.
Our tow truck works from the driveway, carport or lot, and the tow costs nothing.
Stickers, papers and payment
Merrionette Park requires a village vehicle license on residents’ cars used on village streets, bought by July 1. For the sale, find your Illinois title. If it’s missing, list the papers you have; whether they satisfy Illinois rules for scrapping is something we answer during the call. You’re paid at pickup.
Across the city line, we also buy cars in Chicago’s Mount Greenwood, and nearby in Alsip and Blue Island. Our locations page lists every other area.
Selling a car in Merrionette Park: common questions
Can I keep a wrecked car behind my house in Merrionette Park?
Only where nobody can see it. The village bars keeping a damaged or junked vehicle on any lot or premises visible to the public. A closed garage keeps it out of sight; anywhere visible from the street or a neighbor's yard risks a violation.
Do you buy junk cars parked at mobile homes in Merrionette Park?
Yes. Nearly a quarter of the village's homes are mobile homes, and we tow from those spaces just as we would from a driveway. Tell us the space number, how the car is parked and any community rules about tow trucks. No tow charge, and payment comes when the truck does.