I'm not sure if the 'out of State' into CA inspection is more intense, but I have re-registered a couple of vehicles that have dropped off the DMV computers due to not being registered for over 5 years (they assume that the vehicle was wrecked and sent to a junk yard). This is actually a good thing as the fees are just a normal registration (no back penalties). Anyways, to re-register the vehicle, it needs a VIN verification check. Neither time the vehicles were driveable, so I called in a third party registration company. They came to my house and looked at the vin (just the dash plaque) and the title and matched the numbers, gave me the form with their stamp and signature and that was it.
The first one was my 73 240Z. She (yes, she) arrived and I met her in the driveway (car was in the garage). I layed the paperwork on the hood of my truck for her to see. She started looking for the VIN on the truck!! ha ha ha .... I had to lead her to the garage and 'splain what a Z car was......
If it is the same for your situation, it may not be as big a deal as you think.....