Deputy DMV Commissioner Matt Russo backs e-signatures to speed salvage-title transfers

On April 1, 2026, the House Transportation committee considered draft language to expressly allow electronic signatures for salvage-title transactions, with Matt Russo, Deputy Commissioner of the DMV, saying the change would streamline transfers between insurers and auctioneers and reduce mail delays that can stall payouts.

Russo told the committee the provision responds to requests from auctioneers such as Copart and insurers who currently rely on manual signatures and mailed paperwork. "Copart asked us, ‘Is there a way that we can make this a streamlined process?'" Russo said, adding that the change would let owners sign electronically without a notary so insurance companies can forward documents to auction houses more quickly.

The measure targets titles issued after a total loss. Russo explained salvage titles are applied for when insurers pay out on a vehicle declared a total loss and said the title brand—recorded in systems such as the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS)—is intended to protect future buyers by showing prior salvage events. "That salvage brand will always be there and it's for everyone's protection," he said.

The draft also includes a clause requiring insurers to "indemnify and hold harmless" the Department for claims arising from certificates of title issued using electronic signatures. Committee members asked whether that indemnity raises heightened liability exposure for insurers or creates risks the committee should consider; Russo said the department accepts e-signatures conducted under recognized verification standards and that the indemnity is included in the bill text as a protective measure.

On verification, Russo said acceptable practices rely on federal standards and technical safeguards such as NIST-compliant methods and IP tracking. "You just have to make sure that you're set up to know how to verify that any signature is real," he said. He noted NHTSA issued guidance in 2019 supporting e-signatures where states already accepted them under federal standards.

Members asked for basic statistics on how many salvage titles are issued in Vermont annually and whether out-of-state salvage brands differ; Russo said he did not have exact counts in the hearing but offered to provide the figures. He clarified Vermont’s approach to state-specific brands, saying some out-of-state labels (for example, a "junk" brand) are treated as salvage in Vermont and may be eligible for rebuild and retitling after inspection, while vehicles reported as crushed in Vermont are not retitled.

Russo and the committee discussed consumer protections: titles must display salvage branding by law and buyers can consult NMVTIS/Carfax-type reports for history. He recommended consumers run reports to confirm prior damage, particularly for vehicles repaired after storm or flood events.

The committee did not take a vote on the section during the session and adjourned; Russo and members indicated they would supply additional data (including the number of salvage-title filings) and continue review at a later meeting.