Terms of Service

Introduction & Acceptance

Chicagoland Auto Fair ("CAF," "we," "us," or "our") is a privately organized, in-person vehicle marketplace event held in the northwest Chicago suburbs. CAF is not a dealership, broker, auctioneer, or financial institution. We are an independently operated event company.

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your participation in any CAF event, including the founding event scheduled for Saturday–Sunday, May 30–31, 2026, at Harper College, 1200 W Algonquin Rd, Palatine, IL 60067.

By completing a seller registration, submitting payment, or entering the event premises as a buyer, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you may not participate in the event.

Description of Services

CAF provides a curated, in-person venue that brings together private-party vehicle buyers and sellers in a supervised, organized environment. Our services include:

• A designated display area for registered seller vehicles
• Basic vehicle screening (VIN check) prior to the event
• On-site staff supervision during buyer viewings
• Security personnel throughout event hours
• Illinois RUT-50 use tax forms and title transfer instructions available on-site
• Event logistics, marketing, and coordination

CAF does not buy, sell, finance, broker, appraise, or guarantee any vehicle. CAF is not a party to any transaction between a buyer and seller. We provide the marketplace — we do not touch the deal.

Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years of age to register as a seller or to purchase a vehicle at the event.
• Sellers must hold a valid, transferable title to any vehicle they register — the vehicle must be titled in the seller's name at the time of registration and the event.
• Both Illinois residents and out-of-state participants are welcome. Illinois use tax obligations still apply to buyers regardless of residency.
• CAF reserves the right to deny registration or entry to anyone at its sole discretion.

Seller Terms

Registration & Fees

• A $50 display fee is required at the time of registration. Your spot is not confirmed until payment is received and processed.
• The founding event (Event #1, May 30–31, 2026) has a maximum of 50 seller spots. Registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
• CAF will send a confirmation email with all event-day instructions upon payment.

Refund Policy

• Full refund if you withdraw your registration 7 or more days before the event date.
• No refund for cancellations made within 7 days of the event date.
• Money-Back Guarantee: If fewer than 50 verified buyers attend the event, all registered sellers receive a full refund — no questions asked.
• No refund if your vehicle simply does not sell during the event. The money-back guarantee applies only to insufficient buyer attendance, not to unsold vehicles.

Vehicle Requirements

• Your vehicle must have a clean, transferable title currently in your name. Salvage, rebuilt, bonded, or lien-encumbered titles are not permitted — no exceptions.
• A VIN check is performed on every registered vehicle prior to the event as a basic screening measure.
• If a non-compliant vehicle (including any salvage or rebuilt title vehicle) is discovered on-site, it will be removed from the event immediately. No display fee refund will be issued in this circumstance.
• CAF reserves the right to decline or remove any vehicle that does not meet these requirements at any time.

Event Day Obligations

• Vehicle drop-off window is 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM on event day. Vehicles arriving after 9:00 AM may not be admitted.
• Sellers must depart the premises by 9:00 AM. Sellers may choose to leave their keys with CAF staff — this is recommended but not required.
• Unsold vehicles must be picked up by 7:00 PM on the final event day (Sunday, May 31, 2026). Vehicles not retrieved by this deadline may be subject to towing at the owner's expense.
• Sellers are responsible for the condition of their vehicle at drop-off and pick-up. CAF recommends removing all personal valuables before drop-off.

Seller Conduct & Representations

• Sellers must not misrepresent mileage, mechanical condition, accident history, title status, or any other material fact about their vehicle.
• Misrepresentation of any kind is grounds for immediate removal from the event with no refund and may expose the seller to civil liability under Illinois law.
• Sellers agree to handle all negotiations, payment, and title transfer directly with the buyer. CAF does not participate in or mediate these transactions.

Buyer Terms

Admission

• Buyer admission to Chicagoland Auto Fair is free.
• Buyers may attend during published event hours (9:00 AM – 7:00 PM, Saturday–Sunday, May 30–31, 2026).

Due Diligence — Buyer's Sole Responsibility

• CAF performs a VIN check on every registered vehicle as a basic, good-faith screening step. This is a preliminary measure only.
• CAF does not and cannot guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or currency of any vehicle's history, title status, odometer reading, mechanical condition, or asking price.
• It is the buyer's sole responsibility to independently verify vehicle history (e.g., via Carfax or AutoCheck), review the physical title, and conduct a pre-purchase inspection before completing any purchase.
• CAF strongly encourages buyers to run a vehicle history report on any vehicle they are seriously considering purchasing.

As-Is Transactions

• All sales at CAF are private-party, as-is transactions.
• CAF provides no warranty, guarantee, or representation regarding any vehicle sold at the event.
• No warranty is provided by CAF or the seller unless explicitly negotiated in writing between the buyer and seller at the time of sale.
• By completing a purchase, the buyer acknowledges full acceptance of the vehicle in its current condition.

Test Drive Policy

• Test drives are permitted only if the seller is personally present throughout the entire drive.
• The buyer's valid driver's license must be recorded by CAF staff before any test drive takes place.
• The buyer assumes full responsibility for any traffic violations, accidents, damage to the vehicle, or incidents occurring during a test drive.

Payment & Title Transfer

• All payments are made directly between the buyer and seller. CAF does not handle, hold, process, or intermediate any funds.
• Cash or cashier's check is the recommended payment method. CAF does not verify or guarantee any payment method.
• Illinois RUT-50 use tax forms and step-by-step title transfer instructions are provided on-site. Illinois use tax on the purchase is the buyer's sole responsibility.
• The seller signs over the title directly to the buyer. CAF does not participate in this process.

Vehicle Liability Disclaimer

CAF provides security personnel on-site throughout event hours and requires all vehicles to remain locked when not actively being shown to a buyer. When a buyer views a vehicle, a CAF staff member is present to supervise the showing.

Notwithstanding these precautions, CAF makes no guarantee against theft, vandalism, weather damage, accidental damage, or any other harm to vehicles or personal property during the event. CAF's security measures are provided as a courtesy and do not create any duty of care or liability on the part of CAF, its organizers, staff, or agents.

Sellers are strongly advised to:

• Remove all personal valuables, electronics, and important documents from their vehicle before drop-off
• Consider whether their personal auto insurance policy covers their vehicle during an event of this nature
• Document the vehicle's condition with photographs before drop-off

Sellers and buyers participate in the event at their own risk.

Vehicle Verification Disclaimer

CAF conducts a VIN-based background check on every registered vehicle prior to the event. This check is intended to screen out salvage and rebuilt title vehicles and to flag obvious title issues. However:

• VIN checks pull from third-party databases that may be incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate.
• A clean VIN result does not guarantee that the vehicle has no undisclosed accidents, hidden damage, title issues, liens, or mechanical defects.
• Odometer readings, maintenance history, and vehicle condition are not verified by CAF.

CAF expressly disclaims any warranty or representation arising from the performance of a VIN check. The existence of a VIN check process does not shift any due diligence responsibility from the buyer to CAF. Buyers are solely responsible for conducting their own independent research prior to any purchase.

CAF is not liable for any loss, damage, or expense arising from a buyer's reliance on a VIN check result or any other information provided by CAF regarding a vehicle's history or condition.

Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, CAF's total liability to any party for any claim arising out of or related to the event, these Terms, or any transaction that takes place at the event shall not exceed the total amount paid by that party to CAF — that is, $50 for registered sellers and $0 for buyers.

CAF is not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, punitive, or exemplary damages of any kind, including but not limited to loss of profits, loss of data, personal injury, property damage, or economic loss.

This limitation of liability applies regardless of the legal theory under which a claim is brought — including contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or any other theory — and regardless of whether CAF has been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain categories of damages. In such jurisdictions, CAF's liability is limited to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Indemnification

As a condition of participation in the event, both sellers and buyers agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CAF, its organizers, officers, staff, volunteers, and agents from and against any and all claims, demands, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees) arising from or related to:

• Your participation in the event, whether as a seller or buyer
• Any vehicle transaction you enter into at the event
• Any misrepresentation you make about a vehicle or about yourself
• Any violation of these Terms
• Any injury, property damage, or loss caused by you or your vehicle during the event
• Any traffic violation, accident, or incident occurring during a test drive you conduct or authorize

Conduct & Safety

General Conduct

• All participants must conduct themselves in a respectful, lawful, and cooperative manner throughout the event.
• Aggressive, threatening, harassing, or disruptive behavior toward other participants, staff, or security personnel is grounds for immediate removal from the event without refund.
• All participants must comply with all venue rules, posted signage, and applicable Illinois law at all times.
• CAF reserves the right to remove any participant at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion.

Smoke-Free Venue

The event venue is a smoke-free campus. Smoking, vaping, and the use of e-cigarettes are prohibited everywhere on the premises, including all outdoor areas. Participants who violate this policy may be asked to leave.

Children & Minor Safety

Children under the age of 18 must remain under the direct supervision of a parent or legal guardian at all times during the event. Unattended children running through or near the vehicle display area pose a serious safety hazard and are not permitted. CAF and its staff are not responsible for the supervision or safety of unattended minors.

Vehicles on the Premises

• Registered display vehicles must remain in their assigned display spot during event hours unless a test drive is authorized by the seller.
• Starting, revving, or moving display vehicles within the lot without express authorization from CAF staff is prohibited.
• Vehicles being driven to or from the event must comply with all traffic laws and parking instructions provided by CAF and venue staff.

Event Cancellation & Force Majeure

CAF reserves the right to cancel, postpone, or relocate the event due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to: severe weather, natural disaster, venue unavailability, public health emergency, government order or regulation, or other force majeure events.

In the event of a postponement or relocation, registered sellers will be offered a transfer of their registration to the rescheduled event or a full refund, at the seller's election.

CAF is not liable for any travel costs, lodging, lost wages, or other consequential expenses incurred by participants in connection with a cancellation, postponement, or relocation of the event. Participants are encouraged to make flexible travel arrangements where possible.

Venue Non-Endorsement

Chicagoland Auto Fair is an independently organized private event. Use of the Harper College campus as the event venue does not constitute or imply any endorsement, affiliation, sponsorship, or approval of Chicagoland Auto Fair by Harper College or any of its affiliates, trustees, faculty, staff, or administrators.

CAF's relationship with the venue is limited to a rental or licensing arrangement for use of the physical space. The venue bears no responsibility for the organization, conduct, or outcomes of the event.

Privacy & Data

CAF collects personal information from sellers at the time of registration, including name, email address, phone number, vehicle year/make/model/mileage, asking price, and vehicle photos. This information is used solely for event coordination, communication, and vehicle screening purposes.

• By registering as a seller, you consent to receiving event-related communications from CAF via the email address and phone number provided.
• CAF does not sell, rent, or otherwise transfer your personal information to unaffiliated third parties for marketing purposes.
• CAF may share your information with service providers who assist in event operations (e.g., payment processing, email delivery) under confidentiality obligations.
• Buyer contact information is not collected by CAF, as buyer admission is free and walk-in.

CAF's website may use analytics tools and tracking technologies to improve the user experience. By using the CAF website, you consent to such usage consistent with industry-standard practices.

Intellectual Property

The Chicagoland Auto Fair name, logo, website, marketing materials, and all associated content are proprietary to CAF and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

• Participants may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or commercially exploit any CAF branding, content, or materials without prior written permission from CAF.
• Photographs or video taken at the event that include CAF branding or signage may not be used for commercial purposes without written authorization.
• CAF reserves the right to photograph or video the event for marketing and promotional purposes. By attending the event, participants consent to potentially being photographed or filmed in a general capacity.

Changes to These Terms

CAF reserves the right to update, modify, or replace these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page and, where feasible, notify registered sellers via the email address on file.

Your continued participation in the event after any modification to these Terms constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. It is your responsibility to review these Terms periodically. If you do not agree to the updated Terms, you may request a refund of your registration fee in accordance with the Refund Policy in Section 4, provided you do so within the applicable refund window.

Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or your participation in any CAF event shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Cook County, Illinois. By participating in the event, you irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, each participant waives the right to participate in any class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration against CAF. All claims must be brought on an individual basis.

Before initiating any legal action, participants agree to contact CAF in good faith to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

Contact

If you have questions about these Terms of Service, or if you believe there is an error or omission that should be addressed, please contact us:

We will make every effort to respond to inquiries within 3 business days.