Cant get title/ registration to 2009 prius after payoff

I think i made matters much worse. I bought another prius because the registration lapsed at end of august. And i knew it would take a long time if ever to resolve this title matter. I stupidly did not get the old problem Prius inspected in august.I dont think the inspector mechanic would have known that there was a title issue. Then it would have had a valid inspection until aug 2020. (Ignoring DMV demand that I surrender registration sticker and license plates) So in sept i called geico to cancel insurance. So if i do succeed in getting the DMV to issue title, now there is a big problem. Have to get insurance back on car. Presenting a valid title and proof that car has no salvage brand should be enough to get it insured again. I just hope that they do not demand to see the car! Because I cant take it there! They will be very interested to learn that they were insuring a car for 5 years with a salvage brand! Then i have to take the risk of driving the car to inspection station with a way outdated registration sticker. This at least is not a big risk as the inspection station is nearby.
So if i need to show the DMV that the car is safe, not wrecked, and roadworthy, i have only the sticker and recept for inspection done in aug. 2018 that's long expired.
I got very busy with a home remodelling project taking up my off-work hours, and so only just now am going to start on a letter writing campaign.