...but that's not how it is now, so I agree that right now, the DMV mostly exists to collect tax on vehicle registrations, license fees, title transfers, and other annoying paperwork-heavy things. The smog test industry is pretty scammy (you can find "a guy who knows a guy" who can get your unable-to-pass vehicle's paperwork done with little effort) and the license stuff could be handled online in conjunction with drivers Ed schools (since IIRC you have to take classes before you can take the test anyway).