There's some exceptions, they try a little bit. For example, if you stop driving a car and don't want to pay registration on it anymore, you can put it in non-op with the DMV. When you start driving the car again, you have to pass a safety brake and lamp inspection where they basically check the bare minimum (brakes and lights) to make sure the car is good to go. Then you just pay your fees and you're on your way.

Side note: We had a girl drive her Ford Edge into the shop (almost literally) because her brakes weren't working properly. The brake booster diaphragm had a hole in it so when she pressed the pedal, it went all the way to the floor and the car kept rolling and would eventually stop. She couldn't afford the repair right away (it was like $800+) and she had to drive the car off the lot and we had to have her sign a waiver since we looked at it and knew it wasn't safe. The car was like a 2010? So it's not just the ones that look like shit boxes that you have to worry about!