On the Far South Side a lot of the vehicles we’re called about aren’t sedans. They’re the pickup that hauled tools for a small contractor until the transmission went, the minivan that took kids to school for a decade, the cargo van from a business that closed. They take up a parking spot, and some of them haven’t moved since a city sticker last expired.
Why bigger vehicles often price better
A junk vehicle’s floor value comes from its weight in metal, and trucks, vans and SUVs are heavy. A body-on-frame pickup or a full-size van carries far more steel than a compact car. Add an engine and transmission that buyers want for parts, and a dead truck can be worth more than people expect. We’ll still ask about the condition, because a rusted-through frame or a missing engine changes the number. Our page on what sets a junk car offer explains each factor.
Vehicles we haul
- Pickups, two-wheel or four-wheel drive, with or without a cap or a plow mount.
- Cargo and passenger vans, including high-roof work vans, as long as the truck can reach them.
- Minivans with sliding doors that no longer slide.
- SUVs, from small crossovers to full-size body-on-frame models.
Moving a long or heavy vehicle off the block
Size matters for the pickup itself. A long van parked in a gangway or a lifted truck in a low garage may need extra room. Before the truck comes:
- Empty the cargo area. Tools, shelving and stored junk add weight and can shift on the bed.
- Check the clearance. Low branches over an alley or a tight gate are worth mentioning on the call.
- Take out anything personal, including garage door remotes and toll transponders. Our pickup checklist has the full list.
In winter
A dead truck parked on a Chicago snow route is a ticket and a tow waiting to happen. From December 1 to April 1, the city enforces an overnight parking ban on certain arterials from 3 a.m. to 7 a.m., snow or no snow. If yours is on one of them, see our guide to a dead car on a winter ban street and call us before the city’s tow does.
You’re paid at pickup, the tow is free, and the offer holds as long as you need. Tell us about the vehicle.
