When importing a vehicle, you must apply for a DMV assessment and wait for a decision before registering. The process can take up to a month, during which time the vehicle should sit in the yard doing nothing. Which defies all logic, because we buy it to drive, not to look at.
I PROPOSE:
that at the time of importation, the importer be offered either
a) a lump sum payment of 12% of the value of the vehicle and then a surcharge or refund after the DMV decision has been issued, but also the option of immediate registration; or
b) the option of waiting for the decision, but without the possibility of immediate registration.
This would bring some common sense to the process and at the same time bring the process closer to others, e.g. payment of income tax, etc.