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Twenty-plus years. Same street. Same handshake-first way of doing business. Outlaw Motor Company has been a fixture on Cicero Ave selling reliable used cars to drivers across Chicago since long before "car dealerships near me" was something you'd type into a phone. We're a family owned car lot, and that's not a marketing line; it's just how the place has always run. This is the story of how we got from a small used car lot to somewhere families across the city come back to for their next pre-owned vehicle.

Why write this at all? Because before people hand over their money, they usually want to know who they're dealing with. So below you'll find how we started, what's kept us on Cicero Ave this long, and what actually makes us different from the bigger lots.

What Is Outlaw Motor Company?

We're a family owned car lot on Cicero Ave in Chicago. Sedans for the daily commute, SUVs for growing families, trucks for people who need to haul something heavier than groceries. Big franchise dealerships chase new-car sales quotas. We don't have those. Our whole business comes down to one job: finding a solid pre-owned vehicle for someone who needs dependable transportation and doesn't want to overpay for it. And because we're family-owned, the person who greets you at the lot is the same person who's accountable if something's wrong with what you drove home.

More than 20 years ago, this was a handful of cars on a small lot. Now it's a rotating inventory built around what Chicago drivers actually deal with: brutal winters, long commutes, and mornings where the car just has to start. That's what shaped the business.

Our History on Cicero Ave

The idea when we opened as a family-owned car lot on Cicero Ave was simple, almost embarrassingly so: sell cars the way you'd want a friend to sell you one. No pressure. No games. No pretending a car is something it isn't. Twenty years later, the lot's bigger, the staff's bigger, the inventory's bigger. That idea hasn't moved an inch.

Early on, it was a small selection of vehicles and a lot of one-on-one conversations. Marketing was mostly word of mouth, and still kind of is. Someone buys a reliable sedan, tells a coworker about it. A family trades in an aging minivan for something safer, mentions it to the neighbors. Repeat that for two decades, and you get a pattern, and it's a big reason so many Chicago residents now search "car dealerships near me" and land on Cicero Ave.

Learn Why Cicero Ave is Chicago’s Used Car Row.

Why Longevity Matters When Choosing a Dealership

Surviving 20-plus years means you've been through recessions, gas price swings, and a couple of complete shifts in what buyers actually want. A few things tend to be true of a dealership that's lasted this long:

• Repeat customers and referrals carry more of the business than one-time sales do.

• Vehicle sourcing and inspection have been refined, not guessed at, over many years.

• Staff has seen enough buyers to know how to match a pre-owned vehicle to a real budget and real driving needs.

• The reputation lives in the neighborhood, not just in a star rating online.

Key Benefits of Buying From a Local, Experienced Dealership

Buying used from an established local dealership beats a private sale or some out-of-state online lot in a few concrete ways.

Vehicle history and inspection. Every reliable used car on our lot goes through a 120-point inspection before it's ever offered for sale. Engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, electrical- all of it. That's typical of an established dealership, and honestly, it's self-interested too. Our name is on the vehicle after you drive off.

Financing options. Dealerships that have been around a while tend to have relationships with several lenders, not just one. That matters if your credit situation isn't textbook.

Local accountability. Something comes up after the sale? You know exactly where to find us. Try saying that about a private seller you met once on a Tuesday.

Community trust. Twenty years in one spot means the track record isn't hidden. Ask a neighbor. Ask a coworker. It holds up.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Dealership

A handful of mistakes come up again and again when people search car dealerships near me and start comparing options.

1. Focusing only on price. A low sticker price doesn't mean much if the car needs major repairs six months in.

2. Skipping the test drive. Photos won't tell you how a car actually feels on the road. Nothing replaces driving it.

3. Ignoring maintenance history. A pre-owned vehicle with documented service records is almost always the safer bet.

4. Not asking about inspection standards. Ask what the dealership actually does before a car hits the lot. Every vehicle here passes a 120-point inspection first, so it's a fair question to ask anywhere you're shopping.

5. Rushing the financing conversation. Slow down and actually read the terms before you sign anything.

How to Choose the Right Vehicle

Picking the right pre-owned vehicle is mostly about matching the car to your actual life, not whatever looks best sitting on the lot.

Not sure where you land on that list? Come talk to us. We'll walk through your budget, your commute, your actual day-to-day, and point you toward a couple of realistic options instead of the whole lot.

Read our blog on the Guide to Buying a Used Car so you can make a calculated, smart decision.

Estimated Ownership Costs by Vehicle Type

Sticker price is just the start. Fuel, insurance, routine maintenance. All of that adds up differently depending on what you drive, so it's worth comparing before you commit to anything.

These are tendencies, not promises. Real costs come down to the make, model, mileage, and condition of a specific vehicle, which is exactly why we go through those details with every buyer before anyone signs anything.

Maintenance and Ownership Tips for a Pre-Owned Vehicle

Buying a reliable used car is step one. Keeping it reliable takes a little follow-through after that.

• Stay on the manufacturer's oil and fluid schedule, especially through Chicago winters; they're not gentle on engines.

• Rotate tires regularly and check tread depth before the first snow shows up.

• Keep records of every service visit. It helps resale value later, too.

• Small issues, a check engine light, a new noise. They get expensive fast.

• Get a seasonal inspection from a mechanic you trust, brakes and battery especially, before winter hits.

Safety Considerations

Before purchasing anything, even used equipment, it's always a good policy to check and make sure there are no major safety issues, such as improper tread on tires, worn brakes, outstanding recalls, or airbags and seatbelts that don't function as intended. Our 120-point inspection covers every one of these things before a car reaches our lot. If you would feel better, you may always request that an independent inspection be made by a qualified mechanic. Always ask for relevant paperwork to investigate the car's history. Whether it has been in accidents or how it has been maintained.

Why Chicago Drivers Choose Outlaw Motor Company

Chicago is rough on a vehicle. Potholes, road salt, long highway stretches in weather that doesn't cooperate. A car has to hold up to that, and that's the bar every vehicle on our lot has to clear before it's for sale. When someone searches car dealerships near me from a block off Cicero Ave, we want them to land somewhere that actually understands what driving in this city demands, not a lot that could just as easily be anywhere else.

Read our blog on what our 120-point inspection includes to learn how every vehicle gets selected on our lot.

Financing Options at a Glance

Every buyer's situation looks different, which is why we work with several lenders instead of pushing one path. Here's a general sense of how the common routes compare.

Our finance team can talk through which of these are suitable for your budget and if payments are easy for you to manage, before you commit to anything.

Visit Outlaw Motor Company on Cicero Ave

Twenty years on Cicero Ave taught us what Chicago drivers actually want: dependability, fair pricing, and a dealership that sticks around after the sale. That's the whole point of running a family-owned car lot. First time searching car dealerships near me, or coming back for round two? Either way, every car on this lot is reliable, already put through a 120-point inspection, and ready to drive. You can schedule a test drive on any vehicle you feel is the right choice for you.

View our current inventory, explore financing options, or stop by Cicero Ave and talk to our team in person. Got a trade-in? We handle those too, and we'll put that value toward your next pre-owned vehicle. Give us a call or just stop by today.

Frequently Asked Questions