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Illinois Compiled Statutes

Information maintained by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Updating the database of the Illinois Compiled Statutes (ILCS) is an ongoing process. Recent laws may not yet be included in the ILCS database, but they are found on this site as Public Acts soon after they become law. For information concerning the relationship between statutes and Public Acts, refer to the Guide.

Because the statute database is maintained primarily for legislative drafting purposes, statutory changes are sometimes included in the statute database before they take effect. If the source note at the end of a Section of the statutes includes a Public Act that has not yet taken effect, the version of the law that is currently in effect may have already been removed from the database and you should refer to that Public Act to see the changes made to the current law.

VEHICLES
(625 ILCS 5/) Illinois Vehicle Code.

625 ILCS 5/4-208

    (625 ILCS 5/4-208) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-208)
    Sec. 4-208. Disposal of unclaimed vehicles.
    (a) In cities having a population of more than 500,000, whenever an abandoned, lost, stolen or unclaimed vehicle, or vehicle determined to be a hazardous dilapidated motor vehicle pursuant to Section 11-40-3.1 of the Illinois Municipal Code, remains unclaimed by the registered owner, lienholder or other legally entitled person for a period of 18 days after notice has been given under Sections 4-205 and 4-206 of this Code, if during that 18 days the possessor of the vehicle has sent an additional notice by first class mail to the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled person, the vehicle shall be disposed, pursuant to the provisions of the "Municipal purchasing act for cities of 500,000 or more population", to a person licensed as an automotive parts recycler, rebuilder or scrap processor under Chapter 5 of this Code. With respect to any vehicle that has been booted, impounded, or both in accordance with subsection (c) of Section 11-208.3, a city with a population over 500,000 may establish a program whereby the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled person is entitled to any proceeds from the disposition of the vehicle, less any reasonable storage charges, administrative fees, booting fees, towing fees, and parking and compliance fines and penalties.
    (b) Except as provided in Section 4-208 for cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants, when an abandoned, lost, stolen or unclaimed vehicle 7 years of age or newer remains unclaimed by the registered owner, lienholder or other legally entitled persons for a period of 30 days after notice has been given as provided in Sections 4-205 and 4-206 of this Code, the law enforcement agency or towing service having possession of the vehicle shall cause it to be sold at public auction to a person licensed as an automotive parts recycler, rebuilder or scrap processor under Chapter 5 of this Code or the towing operator which towed the vehicle. Notice of the time and place of the sale shall be posted in a conspicuous place for at least 10 days prior to the sale on the premises where the vehicle has been impounded. At least 10 days prior to the sale, the law enforcement agency where the vehicle is impounded, or the towing service where the vehicle is impounded, shall cause a notice of the time and place of the sale to be sent by certified mail to the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled persons. Notice as provided in Sections 4-205 and 4-206 of this Code and as provided in this subsection (b) shall state the time and place of sale and shall contain a complete description of the vehicle to be sold and what steps must be taken by any legally entitled person to reclaim the vehicle.
    (c) If an abandoned, lost, stolen, or unclaimed vehicle displays dealer plates, notice under this Section and Section 4-209 of this Code shall be sent to both the dealer and the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled persons.
    (d) In those instances where the certified notification specified in Sections 4-205 and 4-206 of this Code has been returned by the postal authorities to the law enforcement agency or towing service, the sending of a second certified notice will not be required.
(Source: P.A. 94-650, eff. 1-1-06.)

625 ILCS 5/4-209

    (625 ILCS 5/4-209) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-209)
    Sec. 4-209. Disposal of unclaimed vehicles more than 7 years of age; disposal of abandoned or unclaimed vehicles without notice.
    (a) When the identity of the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled persons of an abandoned, lost, or unclaimed vehicle of 7 years of age or newer cannot be determined by any means provided for in this Chapter, the vehicle may be sold as provided in Section 4-208 without notice to any person whose identity cannot be determined.
    (b) When an abandoned vehicle of more than 7 years of age is impounded as specified by this Chapter, or when any such vehicle is towed at the request or with the consent of the owner or operator and is subsequently abandoned, it will be kept in custody or storage for a minimum of 10 days for the purpose of determining the identity of the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled persons and contacting the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled persons by the U. S. Mail, public service or in person for a determination of disposition; and, an examination of the Illinois State Police stolen vehicle files for theft and wanted information. At the expiration of the 10 day period, without the benefit of disposition information being received from the registered owner, lienholder, or other legally entitled persons, the vehicle may be disposed of in either of the following ways:
        (1) The law enforcement agency having jurisdiction
    
will authorize the disposal of the vehicle as junk or salvage.
        (2) The towing service may sell the vehicle in the
    
manner provided in Section 4-208 of this Code, provided that this paragraph (2) shall not apply to vehicles towed by order or authorization of a law enforcement agency.
    (c) A vehicle classified as an antique vehicle, expanded-use antique vehicle, custom vehicle, or street rod may however be sold to a person desiring to restore it.
(Source: P.A. 102-538, eff. 8-20-21.)

625 ILCS 5/4-209.1

    (625 ILCS 5/4-209.1) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 4-209.1)
    Sec. 4-209.1. Disposal of hazardous dilapidated motor vehicles. Any hazardous dilapidated motor vehicle impounded pursuant to the provisions of this Article and Section 11-40-3.1 of the Illinois Municipal Code, whether impounded at a public facility or on the property of private towing service, shall be kept in custody for a period of 10 days for the purpose of determining the identity of the registered owner or lienholder and contacting such owner or lienholder, if known, by regular U.S. Mail. At the expiration of the 10-day period, without benefit of disposition information being received from the registered owner or lienholder, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction will authorize the disposal of the vehicle as junk.
(Source: P.A. 86-460.)

625 ILCS 5/4-209.2

    (625 ILCS 5/4-209.2)
    Sec. 4-209.2. Collection of unpaid charges. In an action to collect towing, storage, and processing charges that remain unpaid after disposition of a vehicle towed or relocated under this Code, the towing service may recover reasonable collection costs.
(Source: P.A. 89-433, eff. 12-15-95.)