Sales FAQs · Elgin CDJR · Streamwood, IL

Sales FAQs: Buying a Car at Elgin CDJR

What to expect when you buy a new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram, or a used car of any make, at Elgin CDJR in Streamwood: test drives, current offers, Illinois taxes and fees, trade-ins, financing and leasing, paperwork, and certified pre-owned.

Ram 1500 on a rocky forest trail
Ram 1500
9 a.m.-9 p.m.Sales, Monday to Friday
9 a.m.-7 p.m.Sales, Saturday
4 brandsChrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram
OnlineCredit application and trade-in value
Habla españolSpanish-speaking staff

The short version

Pick a vehicle from our new or used inventory and confirm it is available, get a trade-in value and apply for financing online if you like, then come in for a test drive with your driver's license and proof of insurance. In Illinois, sales tax is charged on the price after your trade-in value is subtracted, and your buyer's order lists every tax and fee before you sign.

Shop by model

Visiting and test drives

What are your sales hours?

The sales showroom is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and closed Sunday. Holiday hours can differ; the hours on our Contact page are always current.

Do I need an appointment for a test drive?

No, but it helps. Vehicles sell and move between lots, so use the vehicle's page or contact us to confirm the one you want is here, and tell us when you plan to come in so it is ready.

What should I bring to a test drive?

A valid driver's license. If you may buy that day, also bring proof of insurance, your trade-in and its title or loan details, and your preferred payment or financing information.

Which brands do you sell?

New Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles, plus used cars, trucks and SUVs of most makes. See new inventory, used inventory and certified pre-owned.

Do you have Spanish-speaking staff?

Yes. See our Habla Español page.

Where are you located?

Elgin CDJR is at 1500 W. Lake St. (U.S. 20) in Streamwood, IL 60107, a short drive from Elgin, South Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates. Get directions.

Prices, offers, taxes and fees

Where can I see current offers?

On our sales specials page; the offers box on this page shows what is running now. Manufacturer offers change during the month, often end on set dates, and depend on eligibility and stock.

What is the difference between MSRP and your price?

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price. Each vehicle page shows our current price and the offers that apply to it; taxes, title, license and the documentary fee are added at purchase.

What taxes and fees should I expect in Illinois?

Illinois sales tax on the selling price, after the value of any trade-in is subtracted; title and registration fees set by the Illinois Secretary of State, which we collect and file for you; and a documentary fee. Illinois caps the documentary fee and raises the cap each year with inflation; the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association lists the 2026 maximum as $377.63. A documentary fee is not an official government fee. Your buyer's order lists every tax and fee before you sign.

Does a trade-in lower my sales tax in Illinois?

Yes. Illinois charges sales tax on the selling price minus the full value of your trade-in, with no cap. A $10,000 cap on the trade-in credit applied only from January 1, 2020 until January 1, 2022, when it was repealed.

Trade-ins

How do I find out what my trade is worth?

Get a value online with our trade-in form, then we confirm it in person when we see the vehicle. Condition, mileage, options and local demand all affect the number.

Can I trade in a vehicle I still owe money on?

Yes. We pay off the loan as part of the deal; if you owe more than the vehicle is worth, the difference has to be paid or added to the new loan. See how to trade in a car that is not paid off.

What should I bring for my trade-in?

The title if you own it outright, or the lender's name and your account number if there is a loan, the current registration, every key and remote, and any service records you have.

Financing and leasing

Can I apply for financing online?

Yes. The online credit application takes a few minutes, and our finance team compares lender offers for you. Approval and rate depend on your credit and the vehicle.

Can I buy a car with challenged credit or no money down?

Often, yes. See our challenged credit center and buying with no money down. A down payment lowers the payment and the interest you pay.

Should I lease or buy?

With a lease, your payments cover the vehicle's expected depreciation over the term plus a rent charge, which works like interest. At the end you return it, paying any end-of-lease charges, or buy it. Leases usually limit mileage, often to 10,000 to 15,000 miles a year, and charge for extra miles and excess wear. Buying usually costs more a month, but you own the vehicle and there is no mileage limit. See should I buy or lease.

Where can I learn more about car loans?

Our finance FAQs cover loan rates, cosigners, refinancing and buy vs. lease.

Paperwork, title and registration

What documents do I need to buy a car?

A valid driver's license and proof of insurance (Illinois requires at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident for bodily injury and $20,000 for property damage), your trade-in's title or loan payoff details if you have a trade, and your down payment or financing information. Lenders sometimes ask for proof of income or residence. Your sales consultant will confirm what to bring before you come in.

Do you handle the title and registration?

Yes. We prepare and file your title and registration application with the Illinois Secretary of State and collect the state fees when you sign. You drive home on a temporary registration permit while your plates and registration are processed.

How long is a temporary registration permit good for in Illinois?

An Illinois temporary registration permit (TRP) issued by a dealer is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued, which covers the time it takes to process your plates and registration.

Used and certified pre-owned

What is a certified pre-owned Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram?

Every Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram Certified Pre-Owned vehicle passes a 125-point inspection and comes with a CARFAX vehicle history report and 24-hour roadside assistance. There are three levels: CPOV adds a 7-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty plus 3 months/3,000 miles of comprehensive coverage; CPO Gold has 12 months/12,000 miles of comprehensive coverage; and CPO Go has 3 months/3,000 miles. Certified vehicles can be financed but not leased. Browse certified pre-owned inventory.

Should I buy new, used or certified?

It depends on budget, warranty and how long you will keep the vehicle. See new vs. used and certified pre-owned vs. used.

Do used vehicles come with a warranty?

Illinois law requires a limited 15-day/500-mile powertrain warranty on many used vehicles sold by dealers; some vehicles are exempt. Federal rules require a Buyers Guide in the window of every used vehicle a dealer offers; it says what warranty, if any, applies. Certified pre-owned vehicles add the Stellantis CPO coverage.

Can I get a vehicle history report?

Ask your sales consultant for the history report on any used vehicle you are considering, and check open recalls by VIN at NHTSA before you buy.

Warranty and protection

What warranty comes with a new Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep or Ram?

New Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles come with a 3-year/36,000-mile Basic Limited Warranty. The Powertrain Limited Warranty is 5 years/60,000 miles on Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep. For the 2026 model year, Ram trucks and vans carry a 10-year/100,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty for the original owner (retail purchases and leases; not fleet sales or battery-electric models). Roadside Assistance runs 5 years/60,000 miles on gas vehicles and 5 years/100,000 miles on diesels, and rust-through coverage on sheet metal panels is 3 years with unlimited miles. The warranty booklet for each vehicle is the final word, so ask us for the terms on a specific 2027 model.

What does the Illinois Lemon Law cover?

Illinois' New Vehicle Buyer Protection Act covers new vehicles for the first year or 12,000 miles after delivery, whichever comes first. A vehicle may qualify for a replacement or refund if a defect that substantially impairs its use, value or safety isn't fixed after 4 or more repair attempts, or if it is out of service for 30 or more business days in that period. You must first use the manufacturer's informal dispute-settlement program. The Illinois Attorney General explains the process. This is general information, not legal advice.

Do you sell extended protection plans?

Stellantis's factory-backed plans are sold through Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram dealers as FlexCare (formerly Mopar Vehicle Protection). The top plan, Extended Care Premium, covers more than 5,000 components, and plans are honored at authorized dealers across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They are optional; ask our finance team which plans fit the vehicle you are buying.

Sources

Hours and dealership details are from Elgin CDJR's own site as of October 21, 2026. Tax, title and lemon-law answers are from Illinois state sources, the documentary-fee cap and temporary-permit term from the Illinois Automobile Dealers Association, and warranty and certified pre-owned answers from Stellantis, all checked on October 21, 2026. Rules and programs change; your purchase documents are the final word.

  1. Traded-in property (86 Ill. Adm. Code 130.425), Illinois Department of Revenue rule, via ilga.gov
  2. New Illinois law removes trade-in tax credit cap (Jan. 3, 2022), Chicago Automobile Trade Association
  3. Significant dealer issues: documentary fee and temporary registration permits, Illinois Automobile Dealers Association
  4. Auto sales and repairs (lemon law, used-vehicle warranty, fees), Illinois Attorney General
  5. Auto insurance shopping guide (minimum liability coverage), Illinois Department of Insurance
  6. Certified Pre-Owned, Jeep (FCA US LLC / Stellantis)
  7. What is a lease?, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
  8. Keys to vehicle leasing: the rent charge, Federal Reserve Board
  9. View current model year warranty coverage, Mopar (FCA US LLC / Stellantis)
  10. Ram 10-year/100,000-mile Limited Powertrain Warranty, Ram Trucks
  11. FlexCare and Mopar Vehicle Protection, Mopar