Dealers Get instant buy figures on your inventory — free, no commitment
Chicagoland's friendliest car buyer

Sell your car in Chicago. Get paid today.

Get a real offer in 30 minutes — not days. Free pickup anywhere in the Chicago metro for eligible vehicles, same-day payment, and we handle every piece of paperwork including loan payoffs and lien releases.

Free pickupFor eligible vehicles
Same-day paymentCashier's check or ACH
We handle paperworkLoans, liens, titles
Step 1 of 2 · Vehicle basics

Tell us about your car

Get a real offer in 30 minutes or less.

Step 2 of 2 · Condition & history

A few quick details

These help us give you the most accurate offer.

30min
Average time to a real offer from a real human
Sameday
Free pickup & payment across the Chicago metro
$0
Hidden fees, prep charges, or paperwork charges
7day
Offer validity — take your time, no pressure
Sedans Trucks SUVs Classics EVs Exotics Daily Drivers Project Cars Luxury Sedans Trucks SUVs Classics EVs Exotics Daily Drivers Project Cars Luxury
How it works

Three steps. Zero headaches.

Selling a car shouldn't take a weekend. With Car-Tender, most Chicagoland sellers are done in a single afternoon.

01

We make the offer

Submit your VIN and a few photos. Within 30 minutes, a real human (not a bot) sends you a fair, no-obligation offer based on live wholesale market data.

02

Free pickup or drop-off

Eligible vehicles get free pickup anywhere in our service area. Others come to one of our 8 inspection partners across Illinois, Georgia, and Florida.

03

Get paid & done

Walk away with payment the same day. We handle title transfer, loan payoffs, and lien releases — you just sign and smile.

Pickup policy

Two ways to close. Both fair.

For safety, transparency, and an honest offer, our process depends on your vehicle's condition and warranty status.

✓ Pickup eligible

Free pickup, anywhere

If your vehicle is under factory warranty and has no more than minor cosmetic damage, we come to you. Anywhere in our Chicagoland, Georgia, or Florida service areas — your driveway, your office, your storage unit.

  • Under factory warranty
  • No accident history
  • No active mechanical issues
  • Free pickup, same-day payment
→ Inspection center

Quick inspection first

If your vehicle is out of warranty, has more than a minor accident, or has known damage, we inspect at one of our 8 partner locations before completing the purchase. Same fair offer process — we just need to verify condition in person.

  • Out of factory warranty, or
  • Has accident history beyond cosmetic, or
  • Airbag deployed / severe damage
  • Inspection takes 15-20 minutes, payment same day
Why Car-Tender

The friendlier way to sell.

We started Car-Tender because selling a car in Chicago shouldn't feel like an interrogation. Every car has value to someone — our job is to find it and pay you fairly.

  • Any car, any condition

    New, used, classic, exotic, high-mileage, salvage — if it has wheels, we want to talk.

  • We handle the paperwork

    Loan payoffs, lien releases, title transfers. Share your lender info — we take it from there.

  • Real offers from real humans

    No lowball algorithms. Our team prices your car against live market data and explains every number.

  • Built by a dealer group

    Mercury USA, VC Auto III, Maserati of Naperville — we move thousands of cars a year. We know what yours is worth.

Outside our service area

Not in IL, GA, or FL? We may still buy.

Car-Tender is based in Chicagoland, with inspection partners across Illinois, Georgia, and Florida — that's our standard service area for free pickup and drop-off. For vehicles outside those three states, we'll still consider buying when the car meets a few criteria.

  • Still under factory warranty
  • Free of major accident history (cosmetic or minor is fine)
  • Clean or branded title — we'll review either
  • Logistics worked out case-by-case once we send your offer
Check if we'll buy yours
What we buy

Everything with a VIN. Seriously.

Other car-buying services cherry-pick the easy ones. We're built for the whole garage.

Common questions

Quick answers.

Got more? Our full FAQ covers everything from negative equity to lost titles to out-of-state pickup.

See all FAQs
  • Do you really buy any car in Chicago?

    Yes. Any year, make, model, or condition — from a $2,000 commuter to a $500,000 collector car. We service the entire Chicagoland metro and most of Illinois.

  • When do I need an inspection vs. free pickup?

    If your car is under factory warranty with no accident history beyond minor cosmetic, we pick up free anywhere in our service area. Out of warranty or with accident history beyond minor, a quick inspection at one of our 8 partner locations is required.

  • What if I still owe money on my car?

    We handle the payoff directly with your lender. You share the loan info — we take care of the rest, including the lien release.

  • How fast do I get paid?

    Most sellers are paid the same day their car is picked up or dropped off. No bank drafts that take a week to clear.

  • Do you buy cars outside Illinois?

    We buy any car in IL, GA, and FL — those are our standard service states with free pickup and inspection partners. Outside those three states, we'll still consider buying if your vehicle is under factory warranty with no major accident history. Logistics worked out case-by-case once we send your offer.

Where we buy

Serving every corner of Chicagoland.

From the Loop to the suburbs — Naperville to Schaumburg, Oak Park to Evanston, Aurora to Highland Park. Free pickup for eligible vehicles anywhere in the Chicago metro.

See all locations

Ready to sell?

Get a no-obligation offer in 30 minutes. We'll handle the rest.

Get my offer now