625 ILCS 5/3-117.3 — Illinois Code / Chapter 625 / Act 5 / Section 3-117.3
Section 3-117.3
Status: in_force

(625 ILCS 5/3-117.3) Sec. 3-117.3. Junking or salvage certificates; insurance company; salvage dealer. (a) For purposes of this Section, "salvage dealer" means a licensed dealer who primarily sells salvage vehicles on behalf of insurance companies and obtains a "salvage dealer" designation through the used dealer application process under Section 5-102 of this Code. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, an insurance company or salvage dealer may, after completing a record search for any owner of a vehicle or a lienholder of record, obtain free of any lien a junking certificate or salvage certificate in the insurance company's name by submitting an application for a junking certificate or salvage certificate to the Secretary of State. The application shall include proof of full payment, in whole or in part, to the vehicle owner or, if applicable, any lienholder of record and proof of notice to the vehicle owner and any lienholder via certified mail or other proof of service that a transfer of title shall occur no earlier than 30 days after the date the notice is sent. Upon approval of the application, the Secretary shall issue to the insurance company a junking certificate or salvage certificate free of any lien in the insurance company's name. For the purposes of this subsection, "proof of full payment" means either a photocopy of a deposited insurance claim check or, for an electronic claims payment, a screen shot from the insurer's proprietary claim system that shows the payee, the amount paid, and the date of payment. No other additional requirements shall be required of the insurer. An insurance company or salvage dealer shall not sell a salvage vehicle with a title obtained under this subsection (b) to anyone not authorized to buy salvage vehicles under this Code. This subsection (b) shall apply only to a motor vehicle titled in this State that has been through an insurance claims process and the owner of the vehicle or lienholder, if applicable, has received compensation in exchange for relinquishing the ownership rights of the vehicle to an insurance company licensed under the Illinois Insurance Code and the insurance company is unable to obtain an endorsed certificate of title within 30 days of payment to the owner or lienholder. (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a salvage dealer may, after completing a record search for any owner of a vehicle or a lienholder of record, obtain free of any lien a junking certificate or salvage certificate in his or her name by submitting an application for a junking certificate or a salvage certificate to the Secretary of State which shall include, but is not limited to, proof of notice via certified mail or other proof of service to the vehicle owner or any lienholder that a transfer of title shall occur no earlier than 30 days after the date the notice is sent. The notice shall inform the vehicle owner or lienholder that upon payment of any applicable charges, the vehicle may be removed from the salvage dealer's facility. Upon approval of the application, the Secretary shall issue to the salvage dealer a junking certificate or salvage certificate free of any lien in the salvage dealer's name. A salvage dealer shall not sell a salvage vehicle with a title obtained under this subsection (c) to anyone not authorized to buy salvage vehicles under this Code. This subsection (c) shall apply only to a motor vehicle titled in this State and in possession of a salvage dealer by request of an insurance company licensed under the Illinois Insurance Code to take possession of the motor vehicle subject to an insurance claim and the insurance company denies coverage of the vehicle or does not take ownership of the vehicle within 45 days of possession by the salvage dealer. (d) A vehicle owner or lienholder may send notice of dispute of the transfer of title under this Section within 30 days after the required notice is sent by the insurance company or salvage dealer. If a dispute between a vehicle owner or lienholder and an insurance company or salvage dealer cannot be resolved within 45 days after the required notice to the vehicle owner or lienholder is sent, the vehicle owner or lienholder, within 90 days after sending notice of dispute, shall petition a court of competent jurisdiction for an order to determine ownership of the vehicle and shall notify the Secretary of State of the filing of the petition. If a vehicle owner or lienholder does not file a petition within the 90-day period, the title to the vehicle shall be issued to the insurance company or salvage dealer under this Section. (e) Any person who without authority acquires, sells, exchanges, gives away, transfers, or destroys or offers to acquire, sell, exchange, give away, transfer, or destroy the certificate of title to any vehicle which is a junk or salvage vehicle shall be guilty of a Class 3 felony. (f) Any person who knowingly fails to surrender to the Secretary of State a certificate of title, salvage certificate, or certificate of purchase is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for a second and subsequent offense. (g) Any vehicle which is salvage or junk may not be driven or operated on roads and highways within this State. A violation of this subsection (g) is a Class A misdemeanor. A salvage vehicle displaying valid special plates issued under subsection (b) of Section 3-601 of this Code, which is being driven to or from an inspection conducted under Section 3-308 of this Code, is exempt from the provisions of this subsection (g). A salvage vehicle for which a short term permit has been issued under Section 3-307 of this Code is exempt from the provisions of this subsection (g) for the duration of the permit. (h) The Secretary of State may adopt any rules necessary to implement this Section. (Source: P.A. 103-202, eff. 1-1-24.)