eSTART Coalition to Host 2026 Modernization Forum
The Electronic Secure Title and Registration Transformation (eSTART) Coalition is bringing together government agencies, automotive organizations, technology companies, trade associations, and other stakeholders for the 2026 eSTART Modernization Forum (eMF), scheduled for Oct. 20–21 at The Westin Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee.
The two-day forum will focus on the ongoing transformation of vehicle title and registration processes as government agencies and automotive businesses increasingly move away from paper-based transactions toward electronic systems. Now in its second year, the eSTART Modernization Forum is designed to provide a collaborative environment where public- and private-sector participants can examine the challenges, opportunities, and practical realities associated with digital title and registration modernization.
This year’s event will take place alongside the Electronic Signature & Records Association (ESRA) Annual Conference. The co-location will bring together two communities working on related aspects of digital transformation, including electronic signatures, digital records, identity authentication, document security, and electronically enabled transactions.
The combination of the two events is expected to broaden discussions around the technologies and regulatory frameworks needed to support more secure and efficient digital transactions throughout the automotive ecosystem.
Focus on Modernizing Vehicle Title and Registration
Vehicle title and registration transactions involve a wide range of participants, including state departments of motor vehicles, dealerships, vehicle auctions, title service providers, technology companies, financial institutions, insurers, salvage operators, and consumers.
Despite significant advances in digital technology, many title and registration processes continue to depend on physical documents, manual processing, and workflows that can vary considerably from one jurisdiction to another. Modernization efforts seek to address these challenges by introducing electronic titles, digital records, electronic signatures, identity verification technologies, and other tools designed to streamline transactions.
The eSTART Modernization Forum will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss how these changes are being implemented in practice and where additional work remains.
Tony Hall, Chair of the eSTART Advisory Board and Head of Policy, DMV and Industry Affairs at Carvana, emphasized the importance of cooperation between government agencies and industry organizations.
According to Hall, modernization of title and registration systems requires participation from stakeholders throughout the vehicle transaction ecosystem. The forum is intended to allow state leaders and industry professionals to share experiences, discuss successful approaches, and examine obstacles that continue to affect the adoption of digital processes.
The collaboration between eSTART and ESRA will also expand the conversation beyond electronic titles themselves to include broader issues surrounding digital records, signatures, authentication, and transaction security.
DMV Modernization and Electronic Titling
One of the key sessions at the 2026 eSTART Modernization Forum will examine the realities of DMV modernization and electronic titling.
The session, titled “Navigating the Digital Shift: DMV Modernization & E-Titling Realities,” will feature Tony Hall of Carvana and Philippe Guiot of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA).
The discussion will address the approaches states are taking as they modernize their motor vehicle administration systems and transition from traditional paper titles to electronic title systems.
Electronic titling can change how ownership information is created, transferred, stored, and accessed. Instead of relying exclusively on physical certificates, electronic systems can allow authorized participants to exchange and manage title information digitally.
However, modernization involves more than replacing paper with electronic files. State agencies must consider system integration, data security, identity verification, regulatory requirements, interoperability, and the ability of different participants to exchange information efficiently.
The session will provide an opportunity to examine these practical considerations and discuss how states and industry participants are navigating the transition.
Examining Dealer Title Transactions
Dealerships are another major part of the vehicle title ecosystem, making dealer operations an important component of modernization discussions.
The session “Dealer Transactions: How Titles Move Through Dealer Operations” will be moderated by Todd Phillips of the South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association.
The session will focus on the title processes associated with vehicle transactions at dealerships. Dealers regularly manage documentation related to vehicle purchases, sales, trade-ins, financing, ownership transfers, and registration.
Paper-based processes can create administrative requirements for dealerships and may require documents to move between multiple parties before a transaction can be completed. Digital systems have the potential to reduce manual steps and improve the movement of information.
At the same time, dealerships must work within state-specific rules and systems. Differences in processes between jurisdictions can create additional complexity for businesses operating across state lines.
The discussion is therefore expected to focus on how title transactions currently work within dealership operations and what modernization could mean for the businesses responsible for managing these transactions.
Digital Transformation in Vehicle Auctions
The movement of vehicle titles through salvage and wholesale auctions will also receive attention during the forum.
Kevin Park of IAA and Dustin Cruz of OPENLANE will participate in the session “Auctions: How Titles Move Through Salvage and Wholesale Operations.”
Vehicle auctions handle large volumes of transactions and documentation, making efficient title management an important operational consideration. Salvage and wholesale transactions can involve additional documentation and ownership considerations, depending on the condition and history of a vehicle.
Digital title systems can potentially support faster information exchange between auction operators, buyers, sellers, government agencies, and other participants.
The session will examine how titles move through these operations and the role modernization can play in improving digital workflows.
By bringing representatives from the auction sector into the discussion, the forum will address title modernization from an operational perspective and provide participants with insight into the challenges faced by organizations processing vehicle transactions at scale.
Industry Hot Topics and Emerging Issues
The forum will also include a “Community Hot Topics” session moderated by Beth Caro of the National Independent Vehicle Title Agents (NIVTA).
The panel will bring together industry leaders to discuss current issues affecting the vehicle title and registration community.
As modernization progresses, new questions continue to emerge around technology adoption, regulatory requirements, data management, security, interoperability, and consumer transactions. Industry panels such as this provide an opportunity for stakeholders to discuss developments that may not fit into a single area of the title and registration process.
The session is expected to provide a broader perspective on the issues currently influencing the industry and the priorities that organizations may need to address as digital systems become more widely adopted.
Discussion on the ESIGN Act
The intersection of electronic transactions and federal law will also be part of the 2026 program.
The session “Is It Time to Modernize the ESIGN Act?” will examine whether the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, commonly known as the ESIGN Act, should be updated.
The ESIGN Act established a federal legal framework supporting the use of electronic signatures and electronic records in commerce. As digital transactions have evolved, technology and industry practices have changed significantly, creating discussions about whether existing legal frameworks adequately address modern digital transactions.
ESRA is spearheading efforts to examine potential modernization of the ESIGN Act. The eSTART Modernization Forum will provide a platform for participants to discuss the issue and consider how federal electronic transaction policies intersect with emerging technologies and business practices.
The discussion is particularly relevant as electronic signatures and digital records become increasingly connected with identity authentication, automated transactions, artificial intelligence, and other technologies.
Expanded Access to ESRA Programming
Participants attending the eSTART Modernization Forum will also have access to ESRA programming during the event.
ESRA sessions will cover topics including digital document authentication, electronic signature laws, fraud and identity in the era of artificial intelligence, and the future of digital authentication.
These topics complement the eSTART program by addressing the infrastructure and legal considerations that underpin digital transactions.
For organizations involved in vehicle title and registration modernization, electronic signatures and authenticated digital records can form an important part of the broader transition away from paper-based workflows. Digital authentication technologies can help organizations establish confidence in electronic documents while supporting remote and automated transactions.
Fraud prevention will also remain an important consideration as more transactions move into digital environments. As artificial intelligence and other technologies evolve, organizations must continue to evaluate approaches to identity verification and document authentication.
Bringing Public and Private Stakeholders Together
A central objective of the 2026 eSTART Modernization Forum is to create a space where government and industry participants can exchange information directly.
State motor vehicle agencies play a critical role in implementing title and registration systems, while private-sector organizations depend on those systems to complete vehicle transactions. Technology providers, trade associations, dealers, auctions, title agents, and other stakeholders each interact with the process from different perspectives.
Collaboration between these groups can help identify areas where processes can be improved and provide stakeholders with a clearer understanding of implementation challenges.
The forum will also provide networking opportunities for attendees to connect with state officials, automotive industry leaders, technology providers, and digital transaction specialists from across the country.
The event will begin with a joint session highlighting the goals and accomplishments of eSTART and ESRA. Discussions throughout the two-day program will then explore current modernization initiatives, technology developments, legal considerations, and operational challenges.
The forum will conclude with discussions focused on priorities for 2027.
These forward-looking conversations will give participants an opportunity to identify areas requiring continued attention as the industry progresses toward more digitally integrated title and registration systems.
The transition from paper-based processes to electronic systems is a long-term undertaking involving technology, regulation, government administration, business operations, and consumer-facing services. Events such as the eSTART Modernization Forum provide stakeholders with an opportunity to evaluate progress while identifying practical issues that require additional collaboration.
A Platform for Continued Digital Transformation
The 2026 eSTART Modernization Forum comes at a time when digital transformation is affecting nearly every part of the automotive transaction process. From electronic titles and digital signatures to identity authentication and automated records management, technology is changing how ownership and registration information is created and exchanged.
The Nashville event will bring together organizations involved in these changes and provide a forum for discussions covering both established modernization initiatives and emerging issues.
By co-locating the event with the ESRA Annual Conference, eSTART is also expanding the conversation to include broader questions surrounding electronic records, authentication, signatures, fraud prevention, and federal policy.
For government agencies, automotive businesses, technology providers, and industry associations, the forum represents an opportunity to exchange experiences, understand developments in other jurisdictions, and explore potential approaches to modernizing vehicle title and registration processes.
The 2026 eSTART Modernization Forum will take place Oct. 20–21 at The Westin Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee. With sessions covering DMV modernization, electronic titling, dealer transactions, vehicle auctions, industry issues, electronic signatures, digital authentication, and federal policy, the event is expected to provide a broad look at the continuing transformation of vehicle title and registration systems.
As stakeholders prepare for the next phase of modernization, discussions at the forum will focus not only on the technologies already being implemented but also on the standards, policies, security measures, and collaboration required to support increasingly digital automotive transactions.
Source Link:https://www.businesswire.com/
