Limited seller spots available
-- Buyers RSVP'd

Public Used Car
Buy and Sell Event

Private sellers with clean-title vehicles and 100s of ready buyers from the community meet in one weekend, on one lot.

Next Event
Aug 22–23, 2026·9 AM – 7 PM
Harper College, Palatine
not affiliated with the college
See reviews
Sellers: Get started Buyers: Always Free
Private Party Sellers
VIN-Verified · Clean Titles
Real Buyers · No Marketplace Flakes
See how fast cars sell here
Simple Process

How It Works

Whether you're selling or shopping, the whole thing is designed to be effortless.

Register online
Step 01
Register Your Car in 3 Minutes

Fill out the quick registration form. We only display clean-title, everyday cars, so buyers know it's worth showing up for. Pay the one flat $129 fee — no commissions, ever — and you're confirmed, with event-day instructions sent straight to your inbox.

Drop off car
Step 02
Drop Off and Walk Away

Pull into our secured Harper College lot Saturday, hand us your keys, and go enjoy your weekend. You never meet a buyer or give out your address — our staff accompanies every showing, and your car stays locked the rest of the time.

Get calls from buyers
Step 03
Get Calls From Real Buyers

We spend thousands marketing every event to local buyers who are actively shopping for their next car — so 500+ walk the lot, see your window sticker, and call you directly. You set the price, you negotiate, you keep every dollar. No middlemen, no dealer cut.

Just show up
Step 01
Just Show Up — Free

Walk a full lot of privately-owned cars in one place — no appointments, no salespeople, no pressure. Show up anytime during our next event weekend, between 9 AM – 7 PM. Admission and parking are always free.

Browse cars
Step 02
Browse 40+ Private-Party Cars

Every vehicle has a window sticker with the price, mileage, and the owner's contact info. Walk the lot at your own pace. Compare options side by side. Zero salespeople, zero pressure.

Deal directly
Step 03
Deal Directly With Owners

Call or text the seller, negotiate face-to-face, and skip the dealer markup. No middleman, no commission. Buyers typically save $2,000–$5,000 compared to dealer prices.

Learn more about selling
From Our Last Event

Here's What Showed Up Last Time

List Your Car — $129
A Better Way to Sell Your Car

Why It Works So Well

Every year, Chicagoland sellers lose millions leaving cars at dealer wholesale prices. CAF changes that math.

$2–4K
More Than a Dealer Trade-In
Dealers offer you wholesale. Private buyers pay retail. The gap on a typical used car is $2,000 to $4,000 — money that belongs in your pocket, not the dealership's margin.
Based on KBB private-party vs. trade-in average gap, 2024 national data.
500+
Serious, In-Person Buyers in One Weekend
No lowballers. No no-shows. No scam texts. Everyone who walks this lot came specifically to buy a car. They're pre-qualified by the simple act of showing up.
Zero
Strangers at Your Home
Stop inviting people you've never met to your driveway. CAF is held in a public, secure setting in Palatine with professional security on-site. You sell in public, protected, on your own terms.
∞
Hours You Get Back This Weekend
Drop off your car Saturday morning, hand us the keys, and go enjoy your weekend. Our staff handles every buyer interaction. Just keep your phone nearby when it rings.
Register to Sell

Save time.
Skip the hassle.
Get more for your car.

Selling your used car the traditional way can be a headache. So we made it simpler. Pick the plan that fits — pay once, display your car, and let serious local buyers come to you.

Standard
$129
Flat fee — your reserved spot for one full weekend.
Limited spots available 58 of 75 claimed
  • Reserved parking for your vehicle displayed in front of hundreds of ready buyers
  • Standardized for-sale window sign with your details
  • Buyer marketing — social media, email & paid ads
  • Vehicle preview in online gallery pre-event
  • Complete Seller Toolkit — pricing worksheet, bill of sale, title-transfer checklist & safe-sale kit
  • Support staff, security & police patrols on-site — vehicle never left unattended
Register for $129
★ Best value
Second Weekend Free
$149
Display again free if it doesn't sell.
Didn't sell the first weekend? Come back free. Most cars sell in 1–2 weekends.
  • Everything in the Standard plan
  • A free re-display at the next event if your car doesn't sell
  • Keep your spot priority as a returning seller
  • Peace of mind — no extra fee to show it again
Register for $149
Avg. seller nets $3,200 more than trade-in — based on KBB private-party vs. trade-in gap data.

Looking to buy?Free admission, no signup needed →

Trust & Safety

Safe. Verified. Organized.

Every mechanism in this event is designed to protect both buyers and sellers from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.

Large Public Lot
Established campus in Palatine with built-in security, clear access, and free parking for all attendees.
Seller ID Verified at Check-In
Every seller presents a government-issued ID that matches the vehicle title before they get a spot. No title, no entry. Buyers know every car here is legally the seller's to sell.
Clean Title Required
Every vehicle is VIN-checked and title-verified before approval. No salvage titles, no rebuilt titles, no exceptions.
Your Car, Your Control
Your car stays locked while buyers browse. Our staff holds the keys and accompanies every buyer who wants to look inside. No one opens your car alone — ever.
Sale Paperwork On Site
Illinois bill of sale forms and a title transfer checklist available at the event — so you and the buyer leave with everything you need to finalize the sale.
CAF Staff On the Lot All Day
Our team isn't just at a check-in table. We're walking the lot from open to close — available to answer questions, step in if something feels off, and make sure everything runs smoothly.
FAQ

Common Questions

No. Drop off your car between 7–9 AM on Saturday, August 22nd, hand our staff the keys, and leave. Our staff holds the keys and accompanies every buyer who wants to look inside. No one opens your car alone — ever. Just be reachable by phone.
Pick up your car by 6 PM on the Sunday of the event — no pressure. You'll have had multiple interested buyers viewing your car over the weekend — not just one or two conversations online. If it doesn't sell, you'll be first to know about the next event and receive a discounted display fee as a returning seller. The $129 pre-registration fee is non-refundable. Our turnout guarantee only applies if fewer than 50 buyers attend.
Your vehicle (clean and ready to show), car keys, valid driver's license, and registration confirmation. We handle the rest — including all signage and display materials.
Yes — completely free. Just show up during event hours and walk the lot. No tickets, no hidden fees. Browse a full lot of privately owned vehicles in one place — no pressure, no dealership environment.
Buyers and sellers deal directly with each other — no CAF in between. Agree on a price, arrange payment, and complete the title transfer just like any private sale. We provide the marketplace; we don't handle payments or take a cut.
Yes. If you're interested in a vehicle, our staff will be there to open it and allow you to look inside and start it. Each car also includes a window sticker with the price, key details, and the seller's contact info — so you can call or text them directly when you're ready.

Have more questions?

View the full FAQ
Our next event · Aug 22–23, 2026

Our next event is August 22–23.
Lock in your spot.

600+ buyers walked the lot at our last event. 25+ cars sold by Sunday. Our next event opens to the same buyer base — claim your spot before it fills.

Register Your Car
for our next event
Buying a car? Admission is always free.
Plan your visit for our next event — date coming soon.