Take the sticker off first
Winnetka’s code spells out what happens to the village sticker when a car is sold. The seller has to remove the license sticker or plate right away, and the license no longer covers that car. If you’re replacing the vehicle, the village can transfer the license to the new one for a fee, with any difference in class paid on top.
So on pickup day, the order is simple: scrape off the village sticker, unscrew the plates, clear out the glovebox and trunk, then hand over the keys. The Chicago-area junking checklist walks through the rest, including the state’s notice-of-sale step.
Snow emergencies and curbside cars
Residential streets don’t need signs for this. Once the Director of Public Works finds that 2 inches fell in a day, or that 2 inches is still lying on the pavement, a snow emergency exists and no car may park on any street until that street is cleared. In the business districts of Hubbard Woods, Elm Street and Indian Hill, temporary signs mark the emergency.
Police can tow a car parked in violation, and the owner pays for it. A car with a dead battery left at the curb in January can’t be moved when the snow starts, so it risks a tow and a fine on top of being broken.
Pickup on Winnetka lots
Nearly nine in ten Winnetka homes are detached houses, so the car is usually in a driveway or garage. Tell us how far back it sits and whether it rolls. Alleys can’t be blocked under the village code, so if the car is reached from an alley, we load it quickly and clear the way.
Papers: if the title is lost, tell us what you still have, for example the registration card, insurance card or a bill of sale, and your ID. Illinois rules determine which of those can support a scrap sale, and we’ll confirm it on the phone.
Glencoe, Kenilworth and Northfield
Winnetka’s neighbors have their own rules on overnight parking and stickers. Read about Glencoe, Kenilworth or Northfield, or browse every town on our locations index.
Selling a car in Winnetka: common questions
Do I take the Winnetka sticker off before the junk car is towed?
Yes. Winnetka's code says the seller removes the village license sticker or plate as soon as the vehicle is sold, and the license then stops applying to it. You can ask the village about moving it to another car you own; there's a transfer fee set by the Village Council.
My house is on the Glencoe line. Which village's rules apply to the car?
Fifty-eight homes straddle the Winnetka and Glencoe boundary, and those owners deal with both villages. For the junk car itself it makes no difference to us: we tow free from either side. For stickers and parking rules, ask both village halls.