About us for Chicago Site -About Kelly Car Buyer - A Family Business Built on Helping People
Mike never intended to start a junk car business. Back in the 1990s, he was running an ad agency and flipping cars as a hobby. Back then, he would proudly tell you that he had never changed his oil. At first, it was a way to keep his kids driving without breaking the bank. When you've got a big Irish family, you need affordable wheels, and Mike had a knack for finding them.
Then the family moved to Florida for a few years. Mike kept flipping cars (it was in his blood by then) and something interesting started happening. Family and friends back in Illinois kept calling. Could he find them a Florida car? No rust. No road salt damage. Clean title. The kind of vehicle you just couldn't find in Chicago after a few Midwest winters.
Mike said yes. He'd find the car, sort out the logistics, get it to Illinois. It wasn't a business. It was just Mike being Mike; helping people out, making a connection, solving a problem.
But those calls kept coming.
From Hobby to Business - Twenty Years of Kelly Car Buyer
About twenty years ago, Mike made it official. He started Kelly Car Buyer, bringing the same approach he'd always had: keep it simple, be honest, and help people who need help. The business grew because Mike understood something fundamental; when someone needs to sell a junk car, they're not just selling metal and rubber. They're in a situation.
The transmission died and they can't afford to fix it. They lost their job and need cash now. The car's been sitting in the driveway for six months and the neighbors are complaining.
These people don't need a speech about scrap metal prices or catalytic converter values. They need someone who answers the phone, gives them a fair number, and shows up when they say they will.
That's what Kelly Car Buyer became. A family business that treats people the way Mike would want to be treated.
Second Generation, Same Values
Today, Mike's daughter and son-in-law manage the day-to-day operations (Michelle and Jim). Jim is the guy who Mike always asked about cars. In high school, Jim picked up his daughter in a muscle car that he and his brother built. These days, the third generation is starting to help out too, learning the business the same way; one car at a time, one customer at a time, keeping it simple and doing right by people.
The business has grown. We work with drivers and companies nationally now. We have networks for parts, scrap processing, auctions, exports; all the infrastructure that lets us pay fair prices because we know how to maximize value. We've done thousands of transactions and earned our A+ BBB rating by being consistent and professional.
But the core hasn't changed. We're still a family business. We still care about the difference between "free towing" and a few hundred bucks. We recognize that for many of the people calling us, that difference matters. A lot.
The Days We're Proud Of
A few months ago, a woman called us from the South Side; her car had died near Harlem and Archer. Total loss. Not salvageable. She knew it, but that wasn't what had her upset. She'd just paid off storage and towing fees for another vehicle that broke down, and she couldn't afford to let this one sit and rack up more charges. She needed it gone. Immediately.
We typically tell people one to two business days. We work with drivers and companies across the region and nationally, and we have to coordinate schedules. But this woman was genuinely distressed, and after asking a few basic questions, we understood why. This wasn't just inconvenient. This was going to cost her money she didn't have.
So we made some calls. Called in a favor with another small local company we'd worked with before. Got her car picked up that same day. Got her paid.
We can't always do that. But those are the days we're most proud of. The ones where we actually helped someone in a tight spot.
Why This Matters When You're Selling Your Junk Car
When you call Kelly Car Buyer at 877-345-3559, you're not calling a national chain or some guy with a tow truck. You're calling a family business that's been doing this for twenty years, built on the simple idea that treating people fairly is how you build something that lasts.
We'll give you a fair offer based on real market knowledge. We'll schedule pickup at your convenience. If you're in a genuinely urgent situation, we'll also see what we can do. Then we will keep our word.
That's what Mike started building twenty years ago. That's what his family continues today. And that's what you can expect when you work with us.
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