Willow Springs is named for the springs along the Des Plaines River, and the village still sits right on the river and the Sanitary and Ship Canal, beside the Palos Forest Preserves. It dates from 1892 and counted 5,857 people in 2020. Most of it lies in Cook County, with a small piece in DuPage, and Junk My Car Inc collects junk cars on both sides of that county line.
Seven days, four ways to be abandoned
Chapter 11-7 of the village code is the one to read if a car has stopped running. Under 11-7-1, a vehicle on public or private property counts as abandoned once it has gone 7 days or more without moving and any one of these is true:
- it’s in disrepair and can’t be driven,
- it has no current plates,
- it’s parked on the public right of way, or
- it’s on private property but off the driveway or another paved surface.
Section 11-7-2 makes causing an abandoned vehicle unlawful. Before a tow, 11-7-6 has the village put a notice sticker on the window and send letters by certified and first-class mail, then wait at least 7 days unless the owner asks for a hearing. A car pushed onto the lawn beside the house, or one with expired plates, is already on that clock.
Off the street from 2 to 6 a.m.
Willow Springs bans parking on every street from 2 to 6 a.m., any day of the year, with an exception only for physicians on emergency calls (11-5D-3). After a snowfall of 2 inches or more, no car may park on a public street for 12 hours (11-5D-2). In alleys, 10 feet must stay clear and no driveway may be blocked. The village sticker doesn’t change any of this; the village states that a sticker is not permission to park on the street.
So a car that dies at the curb needs to be on the driveway before 2 a.m., and once it’s there, the 7-day count runs. Call early, since same-day pickup is often possible.
Driveways, condo lots and for-sale signs
About 85 percent of Willow Springs households own their home, and close to 79 percent of homes are single-unit buildings. Around 19 percent are in buildings of five or more units, so junk car buyers in Willow Springs see apartment and condo lots as well as driveways. We load from either, once the manager or association agrees.
If you meant to try a private sale first, note the sign rule in 11-5D-2: no car with a for-sale sign may park on a street, alley or right of way, and a home can show only one at a time on its own property.
Archer, La Grange Road and the towns next door
Archer Avenue (Route 171) has its junction with La Grange Road (US 12, 20 and 45, also called 96th Avenue) at Willow Springs; Archer is four lanes north of the village and two lanes south toward Joliet. The Tri-State’s 75th Street and Willow Springs Road exit is listed in neighboring Hodgkins. The Metra Heritage Corridor stops at the Willow Springs station, Pace route 390 serves the village, and Village Hall is at One Village Circle.
Send the car’s details and we’ll call back within 15 minutes. Our offer doesn’t expire, and the free tow and the payment happen together: cash, Zelle, Cash App or another app when the car is loaded. List the papers you hold, like a registration, bill of sale or insurance card. Illinois rules decide which of them work for a scrap sale, and we confirm that by phone. Curious what happens to the car afterward? See the scrap car parts that get recycled.
East up Archer we also buy junk cars in Justice. Southeast, on the same forest preserve edge, is Hickory Hills. Burr Ridge borders the village as well; see our Burr Ridge page. Northwest is Willowbrook, and the areas page covers the rest.