What Will It Take to Modernize Auto Titling and Registration? | An Interview with Quinn Cheney of CHAMP (eLUMINATE Vol. 5)

Welcome to part five of eLUMINATE: An eSTART Profile Series. This series features individuals with perspectives on eSTART’s mission and objectives, with the goal of providing awareness, perspective and education on modernizing the title and registration space.

In this edition, we're featuring Quinn Cheney, Director of Business Development and Government Affairs at CHAMP. We sat down with Quinn to discuss her career in politics, how it led her to CHAMP, CHAMP's efforts to help DMVs build a digital future for auto titling and registration, and more.

Tell me a little bit about yourself!

I'm Quinn Cheney, Director of Business Development and Government Affairs at CHAMP. I work on CHAMP’s Strategic Partnerships team, where I help state DMVs navigate modernization through our industry-leading electronic DMV solutions. My role is to connect with government leaders, simplify the complexities of digital transformation, and guide them through implementation to build more efficient, adaptable, and user-friendly systems.

Tell me a little more about your background and CHAMP, if you wouldn’t mind.

My career has always been rooted in government affairs, spanning nearly every level of state government, except municipal. I started in Washington, D.C. working in the U.S. Senate, then advised the Canadian government on U.S. states and federal relations. From there, I moved into state government, working for a governor a state agency, later as a contract lobbyist. Eventually, I transitioned into the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) space, focusing on driver data issues for another Associate member.

All of that experience in government naturally led me to join the CHAMP team last spring. Before CHAMP, my work was about more than just policy—it was about building relationships and driving meaningful innovation. That same approach is what drew me to CHAMP and sets us apart. We’re not just another vendor; we’re a trusted partner, helping DMVs take control of their infrastructure with open, flexible, and future-proof solutions.

I am fortunate to be part of a company leading the charge in modernizing electronic titling and registration. We work closely with state governments to help motor vehicle departments replace their aging technical infrastructure, including their title and registration systems. Our technology is designed for flexibility—states can upgrade existing systems or transition to a fully digital process, and CHAMP adapts to their needs. We seamlessly integrate into any stage of a state’s transformation, whether they’re looking to keep certain systems or replace others. We collaborate with DMV administrators, lenders, dealers, and all of their stakeholders to make the process faster, more efficient, and more secure. This hands-on approach to innovation is what has always driven me.

During my time in government, I always enjoyed the sausage-making process—evaluating the benefits and challenges of legislation and finding solutions to problems. That sense of fulfillment still drives me at CHAMP. It is incredibly rewarding to be part of a team that is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and shaping the future of DMV operations.

Wow, what a journey. Can you tell me a little about the connection between CHAMP and eSTART?

When you’re working to modernize policy, expanding the playing field to include more forward-thinking solutions is key. CHAMP was the first to crack the code on interstate transactable digital titles, and eSTART provides a crucial forum for industry leaders to collaborate on policy changes that drive widespread adoption of innovations like e-signatures and digital odometer statements.

Title and registration processes are full of small but significant statutory hurdles that can slow progress. By partnering with eSTART Coalition, CHAMP works alongside other industry leaders to break down those barriers, ensuring modernization efforts are not just innovative but also practical and widely implemented.

What do you feel is the biggest barrier to modernizing titles and registration?

State government tends to be risk-averse, and for DMV decision-makers, the scale of modernization can feel overwhelming. Instead of focusing on manageable progress, they see the whole ocean instead of just the inlet.

That’s where CHAMP —and initiatives like eSTART—make a real difference.. Modernization doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing leap; it can be a series of smart, incremental changes. We help state governments and DMVs take those first steps, proving that innovation is achievable. Step by step, we guide them from small improvements to a full-scale transformation of auto titling and registration.

Anything else you’d like to say before we wrap up here today?

We touched on this earlier, but the benefits of electronic titling and registration are huge. It’s better for the environment, eliminating the need for specialty paper, ink, and printers. It also cuts costs and streamlines operations.

But perhaps the biggest advantage is security. Paper-based systems may seem secure, but their inherent delays create opportunities for fraud. For example, a bad actor requests a duplicate paper title at the DMV, takes it to the bank to secure a loan, then sells the car with the original title before the state even processes the lien. By the time the fraud is discovered, the car is gone, and they’ve cashed out twice.

With a fully digital system, transactions happen almost instantly, and documents are routed through a NIST Identity Assurance Level 2 validation process, making this type of fraud impossible.

We’ve talked about security, efficiency, and cost savings—but at the end of the day, modernization is about building a system that works better for everyone. Dealers, lenders, consumers, and DMVs all benefit from a faster, more transparent, and fraud-resistant process. The transition to digital isn’t just inevitable—it’s necessary. And at CHAMP, I am really proud to say we’re making sure it’s done the right way.

Thanks so much for your time, Quinn!

Thank you.