Everything you need to know about Chicagoland Auto Fair — whether you're buying or selling.
Cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans with clean Illinois titles. All must be drivable and presentable. No salvage or rebuilt titles — no exceptions. A VIN check is performed on every registered vehicle. Financed vehicles are allowed — contact us for guidance before registering.
Register online, drop off your car any time between 7am and 9am on event day, and go enjoy your weekend. Our staff accompanies every buyer who wants to view your vehicle. You set the price, take calls, and negotiate on your terms.
No. Drop off your car at 8 AM, hand our staff the keys, and leave. Our team handles every buyer who wants to view your vehicle, accompanying them for every car open. You just need to be reachable by phone. Pick up your car by 3:30 PM.
Pick up your car by 3:30 PM. We'll keep you on our list and notify you as soon as the next event is announced — repeating sellers receive a discount on their next display fee. The $50 fee is non-refundable if your car simply doesn't sell — the money-back guarantee only applies if fewer than 50 buyers attend the event.
Cash or cashier's check is recommended. We provide Illinois RUT-50 forms and step-by-step title transfer instructions on-site. The buyer pays Illinois use tax based on sale price. You sign the title over to the buyer. We facilitate the environment — we don't intermediate the transaction.
Your vehicle (clean and washed), the clean Illinois title in your name, your registration confirmation email, your car keys, and a valid driver's license. We provide all for-sale signage — you don't need to bring anything for the display.
Yes. Many vehicles sold at CAF still have active loans. Contact your lender ahead of time to understand their specific payoff and title-release process — it's common and straightforward.
Anyone can drop off the vehicle. For pick-up, a valid ID is required and the person must be authorized by the registered owner. During registration, add the authorized person's name in the designated field — either the title holder or their authorized agent can be listed. Whoever picks up the vehicle must be able to confirm authorization on behalf of the title holder.
No. Salvage and rebuilt title vehicles are not permitted — no exceptions. A VIN check is performed on every registered vehicle. If a salvage title vehicle is found on-site, it will be removed immediately with no display fee refund.
No. Registration is general admission — specific spaces cannot be reserved. Spaces are assigned on arrival and our staff cannot accommodate special space requests. Data from years of events at other auto fairs confirms no space has a sales advantage over another; serious buyers walk the entire lot.
No. CAF earns revenue only from seller display fees — that's it. The sale itself is entirely between you and the buyer. You negotiate directly, agree on a price, handle payment, and sign over the title on your own terms. We provide the marketplace; we don't touch the deal.
Auto fairs like this — where hundreds of private sellers gather in one place — have a proven track record across the Midwest of drawing serious, motivated buyers. The convenience of seeing dozens of vehicles in one trip drives high foot traffic and strong sale rates. We're bringing that same model to the Chicago area for the first time.
When a buyer is actively viewing your vehicle, a CAF staff member supervises the showing. Otherwise, your vehicle remains locked at all times. That said, CAF cannot guarantee against damage and assumes no liability for vehicles during the event. We recommend removing any valuables before the event.
Yes. Each vehicle requires its own separate registration and display fee. You can register multiple vehicles and display them side by side (subject to space availability).
You're never obligated to sell. This is a private sale — you set your price, you negotiate on your terms, and you decide whether to accept any offer. If it doesn't sell, you take your car home.
Yes. The event venue is a smoke-free campus — this includes all outdoor spaces. Please refrain from smoking, vaping, or using e-cigarettes anywhere on the premises.
100% free. No entry fee, no buyer premium, no commission from any transaction. CAF earns revenue entirely from seller display fees. Parking is also free. Refreshments may be available on-site — details to be confirmed closer to the event.
Cars, trucks, SUVs, and vans. All vehicles must have a clean Illinois title and be drivable and presentable. No salvage or rebuilt titles are allowed. Every vehicle has been VIN-checked before approval. Sign up for email updates to see what's been registered ahead of the event.
We do our best to verify every vehicle: each registered car goes through a VIN check, and salvage or rebuilt title vehicles are not permitted. That said, CAF is a private marketplace. It is ultimately the buyer's responsibility to research the vehicle's history, maintenance records, and title status before making a purchase. We strongly encourage running a vehicle history report and reviewing the title carefully on any car you're serious about.
Yes. Our staff holds the keys to every vehicle. Flag down any team member and they will accompany you to open the car for a full walk-around and interior inspection. Vehicles remain locked at all other times.
Cash or cashier's check is recommended. Illinois RUT-50 forms and title transfer instructions are provided on-site. You'll pay the seller directly — CAF doesn't intermediate the transaction. Illinois use tax is based on the sale price and is the buyer's responsibility.
No. Every transaction is entirely between you and the seller. You negotiate the price, agree on payment, and handle the title transfer directly. CAF is the marketplace — we bring buyers and sellers together, but we're not a party to any sale and don't take a cut from buyers or sellers.
We post a sneak-peek of registered vehicles on our website — you can browse what's coming, though prices aren't listed. Keep in mind vehicles sell quickly throughout the day and new ones continue checking in, so the live inventory is always changing. Most buyers end up finding something they weren't originally looking for.
We're not able to take inventory calls on-site. Vehicles check in and sell continuously, so any answer we gave could be outdated within minutes. The event is built for in-person browsing — the sheer volume of inventory makes it worth the trip.
You're welcome to bring someone with you to help evaluate vehicles. Pre-purchase inspections at an off-site shop are between you and the seller to arrange — we don't coordinate those, but we encourage informed buying.
No. All sales at CAF are private-party, as-is transactions. There is no warranty from CAF or from the seller unless explicitly negotiated between you. Inspect carefully and ask questions before committing.
Yes. The event venue is a smoke-free campus — this includes all outdoor spaces. Please refrain from smoking, vaping, or using e-cigarettes anywhere on the premises.
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