WESTCHESTER, Ill. -

KAR Auction Services business unit Insurance Auto Auctions rolled out its newest offering on Tuesday, something the salvage auction company is calling IAA Express Notary.

Officials highlighted this service allows for the electronic assignment of title documents in an attempt to shorten the cycle time significantly for total loss settlements. This tool is the newest development in the IAA Total Loss Solutions suite of products that can directly allow for more management of costs, while simultaneously boosting customer satisfaction and retention.

Carriers that choose Express Notary as their document delivery service can tap into a national network of mobile notaries who will travel directly to the vehicle owner and execute documents on the spot. The electronic assignment ability can allow the notary requirement to be satisfied at a faster rate, leading to an overall enhancement of the customer experience.

“The mobile aspect of Express Notary markedly reduces the time typically required for a total loss settlement to be processed,” said Pat Walsh, senior vice president of business development at IAA. “Because the notary can meet the vehicle owner at a place and time of their choosing, rather than requiring the vehicle owner to execute the entire process on their own, the results are distinctively more efficient and more accurate, giving customers a greater sense of relief.”

In addition, improved cycle time can lead to a reduction in costs, as insurance carriers are able to save on vehicle rental fees and to better allocate employee bandwidth.

“By deploying mobile notaries, insurance carriers remove the step in the claims process that customers find most inconvenient, which in turn leads to increased policyholder satisfaction and retention,” IAA chief executive officer and president John Kett said.

“Every feature added to IAA Total Loss Solutions further demonstrates IAA’s dedication to consistently innovating as an industry leader to provide a seamless suite of technologies that streamline the total loss claims process for our customers and theirs,” Kett went on to say.

ADESA Boston raises more than $55,000 for JDRF

In other KAR news, fellow business unit ADESA announced that its ADESA Boston location has raised more than $55,000 for JDRF so far during the auction’s annual charity drive.

The main event of the charity drive was the auction’s 16th annual Classic Car and Motorcycle Show in May. This event raised more than $38,000 through a live auction, show entry fees and sponsorships.

“The success of this annual event is astounding,” ADESA Boston general manager Jack Neshe said. “Thanks to tremendous generosity from our employees, our customers, local businesses and law enforcement agencies, as well as the community, we’ve been able to support the important research that JDRF funds to cure, treat and prevent Type 1 diabetes.”

More than 50 motorcycles and 180 cars were on display. First-, second- and third-place trophies were awarded by a panel of judges in both the car and the motorcycle categories. Everyone was eligible to vote for the People’s Choice trophy, which went to auctioneer Mike Chambers’ 1975 Volkswagen camper van.

During the past 16 years, the auction’s annual charity drive has raised more than $600,000 for children’s charities including JDRF, a leading advocacy group for people with Type 1 diabetes. The drive runs through June 30.

“This event has become a favorite in the community, and we look forward to hosting it every year,” Neshe said. “The classic cars and motorcycles draw fans back year after year.”

KAR family generates $27,500 for NIADA Foundation

When the bidding ended in the NIADA Convention’s Expo Hall, Andrew Gurowitz was the last man standing.

The owner of Fairfax Motors in Fairfax, Va. — and Virginia's reigning State Quality Dealer — placed the winning bid of $27,500 on a 2015 Chrysler 300 Limited donated by ADESA, AFC, IAA and TradeRev, members of the KAR Auction Services group of companies.

All proceeds from the auction, which was held last week during the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association Convention and Expo at The Mirage in Las Vegas, benefit the NIADA Foundation, which spearheads the association's commitment to charitable giving in addition to awarding scholarships to deserving college-bound students across the United States and providing training and educational opportunities to automobile dealers and the general public.

The vehicle, an ivory white 2015 Chrysler 300 Limited with a black leather interior, a sky-slider roof, a wood-grain dash and 9,320 miles on the odometer, will be delivered to Gurowitz free by ADESA/AFC/IAA/TradeRev.

Gurowitz prevailed in a spirited bidding battle with California's State Quality Dealer, Mehdi Chitgari of Classic Chariots in Vista, Calif.

Over the past four years, KAR company-sponsored auctions at the NIADA Convention and Expo have raised a total of $97,200 for the NIADA Foundation. During last year's event, Pennsylvania dealer Andy Gabler bid $27,500 for a 2013 Mercedes C250W.