My DMV (gilroy) never asked to see the car. Now they did send me to the CHP for a VIN installation and the CHP searched for stolen parts and such.
I was able to get a TOP several times from the DMV without them seeing the car, or seeing insurance information (which I had).
Yet another case of every DMV is differnt I suppose. The only time I had to go to the DMV was when I received my title and it didnt have the correct VIN number on it
I had to bring the car to the DMV for them to view the VIN number that the officer from the CHP had installed many months before.
Good luck
Daryl