Electronic Title Processing in Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles has offered different types of electronic transactions for lenders even before beginning their Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) program in 2012. 

Since July 1, 2010 the WI DMV requires lenders to electronically process lien add transactions. There are exemptions for individuals and lenders who normally file very few liens. Lenders who are not exempt and do not file electronically are assessed an additional $25 transaction fee. For details about exemptions and fees please see the WI DMV Financial Institutions page. DDI works with the WI e-MV Agent program to integrate electronic lien filing into Premier eTitleLien®.

Two changes were made to the title / lien program in 2012.  They became, in their words, a "title to lienholder state" and an "electronic title state". Previously, Wisconsin sent titles with liens to the vehicle owner once the lien had been recorded. (States with such programs are sometimes referred to as title holding states.) Most other states have lienholders store the vehicle title until the loan is satisfied.

Wisconsin also began offering electronic titles to lienholders through their Electronic Lien and Title Program (ELT). The program is currently optional: "lien holders are encouraged to receive titles electronically via electronic service provider." The Wisconsin DMV has discussed requiring participation but are not currently planning to do so.  Since launching the ELT program, WI has made steady improvements, adding additional ELT program transactions.

The combination of the electronic transactions offered through the e-MV Agent program and the ELT program brings together a number of valuable services for lenders:

• Vehicle Title Information and lien verification
• Immediate lien notation
• Immediate lien release
• Paperless lien transactions

For more information about Premier eTitleLien®, please visit www.etitlelien.com.  For more information about the Wisconsin ELT program, check out www.WIELT.com.

Image above is 350 Kayak Formation Wisconsin, USA. "Huge 350 made by kayakers on the water in Washburn, Wisconsin in June, 2009."

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NY, OH, and WI lenders can electronically notate liens

If you are a lender in New York, Ohio, or Wisconsin, you have the opportunity to electronically notate liens, saving time and paper-associated costs.

While most states require title application forms to be submitted in a hard-copy, paper format, Ohio, Wisconsin, and New York allow lenders the opportunity to add liens electronically. DDI completely supports this process in Premier eTitleLien™.

To learn more about Premier eTitleLien™, visit etitlelien.com.

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DDI and ELT in 2012: Year in Review

 

2012 was full of positive growth and change for ELT states and Decision Dynamics, Inc.

With DDI’s support, California, Florida, and Georgia, spent the year preparing for mandatory ELT. (In 2013, these states will require lienholders, with the exception of smaller Georgia lienholders, to participate in an ELT program.)

Wisconsinbegan expanding its ELT programs in July, and in October, South Dakotaimplemented its own ELT system. As an approved ELT provider for South Dakota, DDI worked closely with the state’s Department of Revenue as they developed their system.

In September, DDI’s 2,000^th customer signed up for ELT services, and the following month the Georgia Banker’s Association renewed its partnership with the company.

What will 2013 bring for ELT? Check back before the New Year to learn more.

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Wisconsin Expanding ELT

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will be expanding their ELT program beginning July 1, 2012. The ELT program builds on the mandatory electronic lien filing program put in place July 1, 2010. We have been working with Wisconsin providing them input and feedback as they develop the specifications for their new goals.

From the Wisconsin DOT site:

Title to lien holder
Effective July 1, 2012, Wisconsin will become a title to lien holder state. Any title with a lien will be sent to the lien holder rather than the owner. Lien holders can choose to have either paper titles or electronic titles.

If a vehicle has multiple liens, the liens will be listed on titles in date order. The title will be delivered to the lien holder whose loan was listed first; however, each lender will have equal repossession rights to the vehicle. Each lender will continue to receive a Confirmation of Security Interest (Lien) Perfection notice.

Electronic titles
On July 1, 2012, Wisconsin will also become an electronic title state. When a lien is listed against a vehicle, lien holders are encouraged to receive titles electronically via electronic service provider. The advantage to electronic delivery is that, in these cases, Wisconsin would not be issuing a paper title to the lender/financial institution or owner of the vehicle until the lien is satisfied. WisDOT is currently developing methods for the delivery of titles electronically. Please check back within the coming weeks or sign up for our lender mailing list for continuing updates.

Our ELT solution, Premier eTitleLien™, already works well with the WI ELT program. These upcoming changes will help further improve Wisconsin Electronic Lien and Titles.

Image above is 2006 New Beetle cabrio convertible by Nathan Wells.

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States Compelling Participation in ELT

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, States Compelling Participation in ELT (this post), and States Planning to Compel Participation in ELT.

Which states compel participation in their ELT program?

• Arizona
• California
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Nebraska
• Pennsylvania
• Wisconsin

This is one of the most complicated questions to answer, and the wording for the question was chosen carefully to accurately include all the states above. We intentionally did not phrase the question "What are the Mandatory ELT states?" or even "Which states never print titles with liens?"

There are four basic methods that States are currently using to "compel" participation:

• Mandatory ELT: by law lenders must participate in the program. This applies to PA, LA, CA, and AZ. Each state allows for certain exemptions, particularly for individuals listed as lienholders. Arizona required immediate participation and would not process lien applications without enrolling in the program. Pennsylvania (the first state to make ELT mandatory) used a gradual enforcement process. Louisiana, while always maintaining that ELT participation is required, is also gradually enforcing their law. California's law went into place in 1/1/2012 but the law allowed them to determine schedule and exemptions. At this point we are expecting them to implement the ELT participation mandate in September 2012 as Arizona did, requiring participation to even file a lien.
• Phase out the paper title: Florida is the author and authority of this method which basically involves changing policies to make vehicle transactions easier without a paper title - the paper title just becomes obsolete. Florida is not on our list above because they do not require participation in ELT nor do they restrict the printing of paper titles. They do intend to require participation in the near future.
• Fees for non-electronic processing: Wisconsin charges lenders fees for not participating. There is always an extra $5 processing fee for manual transactions. In addition, "if a financial institution is not exempt, it will be assessed a $20 surcharge for each application submitted to DMV for processing that can be completed electronically...."
• No paper titles with liens: Nebraska and Kansas both leave it to the lender's preference about participating in their ELT programs, but do not print and mail titles with liens as part of their normal process.

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 titled "Constitution and Playing Rules of the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs. Official 1876.".

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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 (this post), Upcoming Electronic Title States, States Compelling Participation in ELT, and States Planning to Compel Participation in ELT.

Which states currently have an Electronic Lien and Title (ELT) program?

• Arizona
• California
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Nebraska
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• Wisconsin

Please note the following:

• The Kansas Electronic Lien and Title program does not currently accommodate direct interaction with service providers like DDI.
• In New York, the program is known as the Electronic Lien Transfer (ELT) Program, since there is no electronic title. Even with liens, owners retain titles in New York state.
• The Utah E-Liens (Electronic Lien Transfers) program does not currently accommodate direct interaction with service providers like DDI.
• The Wisconsin program does not currently meet our definition for a full ELT program, since as in New York, owners retain the paper title and the state does not electronically notify lenders when the lien has been recorded. However, they do require lenders to participate in their lien recording program, e-MV Agent. Wisconsin DOT expects to change to a full ELT program in the Summer of 2012. ("On July 1, 2012, Wisconsin will become an electronic title state.")

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 United States Map Bookshelf.

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Wisconsin Will Become an Electronic Title State

The Wisconsin DOT recently posted this update on their Financial Institutions page:

What's new for Wisconsin lenders
On July 1, 2012, Wisconsin will become an electronic title state. When a lien is listed against a vehicle, Wisconsin will not be issuing a paper title to the lender/financial institution or owner of the vehicle until the lien is satisfied.
WisDOT is currently developing methods for the delivery of titles electronically. Please check back within the coming months or sign up for our lender mailing list for continuing updates.

Wisconsin has required lenders to participate in their electronic process since July 1, 2010 or face additional fees. They have indicated to DDI that this is a step toward no longer printing titles with liens. Lienholders who process more than 48 liens in a year will be required to participate in the electronic delivery. All lienholders are eligible. DDI currently supports lenders filing and releasing liens in Wisconsin within Premier eTitleLien™. We're looking forward to these changes - it will simplify the process for lenders and reduce costs for the DOT.

Image above is Xanadu in Wisconsin Dells, WI.

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California: DMV Offices Experience Network Outage

As reported by the AP, all the DMV office branches in California were unable to connect to the central computer system, preventing them from processing paperwork. A report by CNET clarified that computers were down for about two hours due to a router glitch.

The CA DMV did the sensible thing and continued to process work from customers by hand until access to the system could be restored.

California's budget struggles have resulted in reduced hours at all DMV offices and the closure of several others. The DMV is encouraging use of their online services and providing the option to schedule appointments up the 45 days ahead of time. Penalties are currently being waived until the next business day for due dates that fall on an "offices closed" Friday.

Other state DMVs are also feeling budget-related strain. Wisconsin has reduced hours at most DMV locations and has scheduled office closings for employee furlough. Louisiana is also considering ways to implement mandatory budget cuts without reducing office locations or hours.

Image: from Portola Redwoods State Park

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