It's actually different per state - different laws and levels of enforcement. Some states you can't drive off the lot without a plate, others give temporary ones. That makes selling cars faster, in a state with a terrible Dept. of Motor Vehicles, like CA - where the town in question is located.
What's so terrible about the California DMV? In recent years, they've done a huge digital modernization effort.
When I had to renew my license in person within the last year, I completed almost all of the application online. I could also upload and submit documents for pre-review for a REAL ID. The website let me book an appointment at a nearby DMV office. I can't remember exactly how long it took overall, but compared to many other governmental or big business processes, it was a perfectly fine process.
Now, the California DMV's approval of AVs without safety drivers... that I do have many more concerns about...
