He's talking out his ass. I have in the past tried to buy a car without a license and subsequently told to pound sand. Many states require a license to purchase a car.
From what I can see, you can legally buy a car without a licence, you just can't register it. Since you can't register it, the guy you bought it from is still the legal owner and would be liable for any accidents or anything which occur with the car, so you can only buy it from stupid people. You can't so much as test drive it, so you'll need someone else to take it home for you.
If both parties sign the title, ownership is transferred on the spot. If you call the DMV and ask who owns the vehicle, they are unable to accurately say. All they can do is speak to what their non-updated records indicate.
I know, I know, you would think they have to record the transaction for it to be official, but nope. That is not the case.