Drop your car off at Harper College at 8 AM and walk away. Our staff handles every showing, every question, every buyer. You take the calls. You set the price.
Harper College · Palatine, IL
·
Saturday–Sunday, May 30–31, 2026
·
Drop-Off from 8 AM
Every year, Chicagoland sellers leave thousands on the table by defaulting to dealer trade-ins. 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.
100+
Serious, In-Person Buyers in One Day
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 at Harper College with campus security on-site. You sell in public, protected, on your own terms.
Simple Process
Three Steps. One Saturday.
Register online, drop off your car at 8 AM, and go enjoy your day. That's it.
Step 01
Register Online in 3 Minutes
Complete our JotForm, pay the $50 founding rate, and your spot is confirmed instantly. We'll send a confirmation with everything you need for event day.
Step 02
Drop Off at 8 AM — Then Leave
Pull into Harper College, hand our staff your keys, and go have brunch. Our team manages every buyer who wants to view your vehicle, accompanying them for every car open. Your car stays locked at all other times.
Step 03
Take Calls. Set Your Price. Keep Every Dollar.
100+ local buyers walk the lot and see your for-sale sign with your phone number. You take the calls. You negotiate. There's no commission, no middleman, and no fees beyond your $50 spot.
Register to Sell
Lock In Your Spot
Only 50 seller spots available for Event #1. The $50 founding rate ends after this event — future events will be higher.
Money-Back Guarantee: If fewer than 50 buyers attend across May 30–31, you receive a full refund — no questions asked.
Refund Policy: Full refund if you withdraw 7+ days before the event. No refunds for cancellations within 7 days of the event.
Founding Event Rate
$75$50
One-time · May 30–31 · Founding Event Rate
4 of 50 spots claimed — filling fast
Reserved parking spot for your vehicle
Standardized for-sale window sign with your details
Every mechanism in this event is designed to protect you from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.
Harper College Venue
Established campus in Palatine with built-in security, clear access, and free parking for all attendees.
Campus Security On-Site
Harper College campus security monitors the lot all day. Your vehicle is never left unattended or unlocked.
Staff-Supervised Showings
A staff member accompanies every buyer who views a vehicle. Cars remain locked at all other times. Your keys never leave our staff.
Title Transfer Paperwork
Illinois RUT-50 forms and step-by-step title transfer instructions provided on-site. No guesswork after the sale.
Common Questions
Seller FAQ
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.
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.
Only 50 Seller Spots Available
Your Car Deserves More Than a Trade-In.
Get in front of 100+ serious, local buyers May 30–31. Two days. One flat fee. Every dollar goes to you.