The new overnight rule and the car that won’t start
River Grove changed its overnight parking in 2025. Every street, alley and village parking area is now resident-permit-only from 2 to 6 a.m., and enforcement started on November 1, 2025. The permit is simply the village sticker, but there’s a catch that hits junk cars hard: the sticker only counts if the vehicle is registered with the Secretary of State at a River Grove address.
Think about the car that died last spring and never got renewed, or the one still registered to a relative in another town. Neither one has a valid permit at 2 a.m., and a car parked without a sticker or guest pass can be towed at the owner’s expense. If you’re not going to fix it, selling it ends the cycle of overnight risk.
Snow signs and the blue side
River Grove’s snow rule is sign-based. After snow falls, cars must leave the side of the street marked on the blue part of the street-maintenance sign, Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. A Sunday storm still means moving the car Monday morning. That’s simple with a running car and impossible with a dead one.
Pickup on tight River Grove blocks
The village is small, about 2.4 square miles and a single ZIP, 60171, and over half of its housing units are in multi-unit buildings. A junk car here might sit on a short driveway, in a garage or in an apartment lot. Tell us which, plus whether the car rolls and where the keys are, and we’ll plan the tow. It costs you nothing, and payment happens at pickup.
For paperwork, a title in your name is simplest. If you can’t find it, the state registration you needed for the overnight sticker may still be in your files. Tell us about it and any other papers, and we’ll check by phone whether Illinois rules let you scrap the car with them. Still on the fence about junking? Our guide comparing junking, selling and donating a car can help.
Around River Grove
Thatcher Avenue carries Route 171 up through the village toward Chicago’s Cumberland Avenue, and Grand Avenue runs east to west. We also cover Franklin Park to the west and Elmwood Park to the east, and our service area page lists the rest.
Selling a car in River Grove: common questions
My car's registration lapsed. Does my River Grove sticker still let me park it overnight?
Not under § 9-22-2. The sticker only counts as the 2 to 6 a.m. permit when the car is registered with the Secretary of State at a River Grove address. A car without that can be towed from a resident-only street, so get it onto private property or call us for a free tow.
Can you pick up a car parked near Triton College or the Metra station?
Yes, if it is your car and legally parked where a tow truck can reach it. Give us the exact spot, such as a street address or the lot and row, and let us know whether the wheels roll. You are paid when the car is picked up.
Is junking better than donating an old car in River Grove?
It depends on the car and on your taxes. A donation's deduction follows IRS rules, while a junk sale simply pays you at pickup with no forms to file for the deduction. Our comparison guide lays out both routes so you can decide.