Here is my experience:
In 2016, California passed a law stating the there must be two places on the car with the vehicle ID if it comes from out of state for the DMV employee to verify. If not, you must take the car to the California Highway Patrol and have the VIN verified by one of their VIN certified officers, of have a VIN assigned by them.
Then and only then will the California DMV issue a title. This is true even if you have the title from another state and it agrees with the VIN on the car.
Annoying but true, have been through this twice in the last year, and CHP is an hour and a half away from me.