City of Chicago Towing Settlement

In Santiago v. City of Chicago, plaintiffs argued the city hauled away vehicles it deemed abandoned without first mailing owners a warning whenever the registration on file was expired. The resulting $1,425,000 fund goes entirely to class members, because Chicago covers attorneys' fees, the named plaintiffs' service awards, and administration costs on top of it. Owners can file online or through the administrator by phone, with payments capped at $1,250 each. Claims close August 12, 2026, one week after the August 5, 2026 opt-out cutoff.

Vehicle owners whose cars the City of Chicago towed on or after June 11, 2017 under its abandoned-vehicle ordinance while the vehicle lacked current state registration, meaning the city never mailed them advance notice of the tow.

Reported by court notices and third-party sources, not yet confirmed on the official administrator site: Up to $1,250 per class member from a fund reserved entirely for claimants, since fees, service awards, and administration are paid separately by the city.

No payment amount is ever guaranteed. Pro rata payouts shrink as more valid claims come in, and every payment waits on final court approval and any appeals.

No documentation is required. You submit the claim form and attest to your eligibility; the administrator validates claims against available records.