After a year of explosive growth, the eSTART Coalition is focused on expanding its reach in its mission to modernize the vehicle title and registration process.

The consortium of vendors, associations and other stakeholders representing all sectors of the auto industry celebrated its one-year anniversary with 129 member organizations in the fold, collaborating with policymakers and DMVs nationwide to accelerate the adoption of alternatives to traditional paper-based systems.

The coalition — whose name is an acronym for Electronic Secure Title and Registration Transformation — includes high-profile names like Carvana, CarMax, ACV, Cox Automotive, the National Automobile Dealers Association, the National Auto Auction Association, J.D. Power and OPENLANE, as well as the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, technology providers, state dealer associations, insurance companies, retailers, auctions and more.

In year two, eSTART said it seeks to build momentum toward driving legislative and regulatory changes that support digital transformation in the automotive sector through ongoing advocacy and increased awareness.

To that end, the coalition is planning its first in-person events and a new awards program: the inaugural eSTART Modernization Awards.

“Over the past year, eSTART’s membership and influence has quickly grown as our broad coalition has aligned on the importance of coming together to advocate for adopting more efficient, secure and modern technologies to improve title and registration processes across the country,” said Carvana head of policy, title and registration modernization Tony Hall, who serves as chairman of the eSTART Coalition Advisory Board.

“Our members have built strong partnerships, engaged with policymakers and championed solutions that make those processes faster, more secure and more efficient for everyone.”

Since its founding, eSTART has focused on three key areas of modernization: adopting e-signatures for all title and registration documents, using electronic tools to submit and process vehicle title and registration transactions, and secure and seamless digital transfers of vehicle records.

The coalition said it facilitated 14 member-driven advocacy campaigns in its first year, amassing more than 230 signatures on letters of support for electronic signatures, electronic titling and electronic lien systems in Massachusetts and New York, and petitions and requests for executive action in Texas and Georgia, among other initiatives.

Those efforts and others have contributed to ongoing policy discussions and growing interest in modernization, eSTART said, supporting a broader movement toward digital solutions that benefit consumers, state agencies, dealers and industry participants.

“Modernizing title and registration processes isn’t just about efficiency — it’s about providing a better experience with government services,” said eSTART Advisory Board vice chair Kevin Park, senior manager of government affairs for Insurance Auto Auctions. “Over the past year, eSTART has been an instrumental voice for industry participants, and we look forward to continuing to provide a forum for our members to collaborate.”