Iowa ELT program progress

Iowa began testing their new ELT (Electronic Lien and Title) system in June 2013 with a single pilot lender. The pilot phase has not yet concluded but is progressing well, according to the Iowa Department of Transportation. DDI is ready whenever the pilot phase is opened to additional participants.

Some details about the program:

Who is affected by the ELT process?
"The ELT process implements a new avenue of communication between the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT), participating lenders, Iowa’s 99 county treasurers and vehicle owners. Vehicle owners should expect the same high standard of service from this process."

Why is ELT being implemented?
"Iowa Senate File 2273, 83rd General Assembly, approved on April 7, 2010 established a study committee regarding the implementation of electronic registration and titling of vehicles. This committee published the results of their findings on December 1, 2010, and recommended a phased approach to implementation of electronic transactions for titling and registration. Phase one consists of facilitating electronic communication between the DOT and lenders for lien notations and releases. The Iowa ELT program is anticipated to result in faster notification of lien notations and releases, reduce fraud, reduce costs for mailing of paper titles, improve data accuracy, and reduce administrative burdens for all."

Who is required to participate?
Participation in the program is optional, though encouraged.

When will the program be opened to lenders?
DDI will include Iowa ELTs in Premier eTitleLien™ as soon as we are allowed to do so. At this point, the state is estimating that the earliest possible date would be October 2013. DDI is expecting general enrollment to begin in January 2014.

Are there any costs from IA DOT for enrolling or participating in ELT?
Iowa charges no fee associated with signing up for ELT, and no additional fees for receiving an ELT instead of paper title or releasing a lien interest through the ELT system. Standard title application fees charged by the county treasurer's office will still apply.

How do I request a motor vehicle record?
Currently requests for vehicle title record information can be made in writing only. Requirements and Fees are on the IA DOT website.

For more information, visit our Iowa ELT site. As soon as it is available, we'll post enrollment information for lenders on www.etitlelien.com.

Quotes above are taken from the Iowa ELT Implementation Guide, which is still preliminary as of this writing.

Image above is 30s to 40s cars in DeMoines Iowa.

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Upcoming Electronic Title States

A series of questions in which our writer attempts to answer simple-sounding questions without saying things like "Well, yes, they do have ELT but..." Let the reader understand that these are simplified answers. ;)

See the other posts in this short series: Electronic Title States, Upcoming Electronic Title States (this post), States Compelling Participation in ELT, and States Planning to Compel Participation in ELT.

Which states are actively working on an ELT program?

• Iowa
• South Dakota

We expect both Iowa and South Dakota to implement their programs this year. DDI is working with both states as they implement their programs.

Which states have said they intend to develop an ELT program?

• Alabama
• Connecticut
• Indiana
• Mississippi
• Tennessee
• West Virginia

These states have all indicated to us (in person) that they have a goal to implement ELT. In most cases for these states, it is a matter of available resources to implement needed technical changes.

If you are a lender and would like a greater explanation of these differences, please contact DDI. If you are a state or would like more technical details, you may also visit our AllAboutTitles.com site.

Image above is from a blog post by Ben Phelps entitled "Beyond a Blueprint".

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ELT in Iowa in 2011

We pay close attention to states considering or working on an ELT program. Earlier this year Iowa released an excellent study for the Iowa Legislature of "how to implement a uniform statewide system to allow for electronic transactions for the registration and titling of motor vehicles." The study considers costs and benefits to Iowa DOT, Counties, Dealers, and Consumers. It also incorporates some feedback from other states including especially Kansas, Wisconsin, and Florida.

We published excerpts from the study on our site AllAboutTitles.com. AllAboutTitles.com is our go-to spot providing information to states about ELT programs. It incorporates best-practices, legislation, and other data (like which states are "title holding" states - the owner retains the title even when there is a lien on the vehicle).

We are looking forward to working with Iowa as they implement their ELT program. Estimates are that the program should go into affect this year (2011) perhaps as early as July.

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Heading to Iowa: Helping a New ELT State

The Iowa DOT Motor Vehicle Division has invited us to discuss their upcoming ELT program scheduled to be implemented in 2011. From Iowa Senate File 2273:

It is the intent of the general assembly to establish a uniform statewide system to allow electronic transactions for the initial registration and titling of motor vehicles, including electronic applications, electronic issuance of titles, electronic registration, electronic transfer of funds, electronic perfection of liens, and issuance of secure and individually identifiable temporary registration cards, by January 1, 2012.

As we did with Nebraska, on Monday, August 16th DDI's CIO Ann Gunning will make a presentation to the MVD about what we offer as an ELT service provider and our ELT solution, Premier eTitleLien&trade. We want to encourage the MVD to consider the input of Iowa lenders and dealers. We'll also share some of the best things about the way ELT has been implemented in other states.

Our expectation is that Iowa will complete their study of the electronic title and registration features by the end of 2010, including a plan for implementation in 2011.

Reference: Senate File 2273 at the Iowa Legislature site and our mirror.

Photo above is of an Iowa Interstate (IAIS) engine by Tom McNair.

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