Electronic lien and title

Electronic lien and title, also known as ELT, is a program offered by various US States allowing state Department of Motor Vehicles to electronically exchange lien and title information with lienholders in lieu of a paper title.

Standards

American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) created a 'standard' that many states have adopted in ELT design. States that use the AAMVA standard include: Arizona, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia.
States that have chosen not to use the AAMVA standard have developed their own proprietary system.

Implementation in the United States

States offering an ELT program include Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Several states have or will require lenders to participate.

Pennsylvania: July 1, 2008
Louisiana: January 1, 2010
Arizona: May 31, 2010
Wisconsin: July 1, 2010
Nebraska: January 1, 2011
California: January 1, 2013 [5]
Nebraska: January 1, 2011
South Dakota: July 1, 2012
Florida: January 1, 2013
Georgia: January 1, 2013
Texas: January 1, 2013

Benefits of ELT for jurisdictions

Improved data accuracy resulting from the electronic exchange of data (reduction in typographical errors).
Improved timeliness of data exchange (no more waiting for the mail).
Reduction in the use and control of secure forms (paper costs).
Reduction in mailing and printing costs.
Improved data and forms security.

Benefits of ELT for lienholder

Potential staff reduction in areas associated with filing, retrieval and mailing of paper titles.
Reduction of storage space needed for filing and storing paper titles.
Ease of processing for dealer transactions.
Reduction in fraud.

Drawbacks

Cannot have a lien released and sell a car with a paper title on the same day

* For example, in Ohio, a vehicle owner who wishes to sell their car that has an ELT must first have the lien released by paying the lienholder
    the remaining amount owed on the lien. The lienholder then has two business days to mail the release letter to the owner. The owner can then 
    request a paper title at their local BMV. Once a paper title has been issued, ownership can be transferred to the buyer.

Some states have a lag time of up to 3 months for a paper title to be produced after an electronic lien release