Boy do I hate going to DMV

While I sympathize about the headache DMV can be, it is what it is. You have to play by their rules which are law. Here in Oregon you need titles signed and bills of sale. Without either you enter a process of the DMV sending a registered letter to the last known owner. If no response in 30 days, they title it to you. If your title and/or bill of sale is signed 30 day or more after the day you try and register there is a fine for late title transfer. But it sounds like some states DMV's are not all equal.

With the internet today, there really is no reason to not be prepared when you go to the DMV. All the information and forms are online.