Registering your car.

You give your car to the govern-cement
and they give you exclusive rights to operate it.

Yes, you read that correctly. Registering is giving your possession over the registrar.
Now, why would you do that? Because the state was going to give you exclusive rights to operate it. As in, if someone steals it, they will get it back.

However, the state has failed hugely in holding up their end of the bargain.
But they have made sure to collect fees.
And if you don't pay the fees or fail to follow the thousands of pages of vehicle code, then the state takes back their vehicle.

What a horrifying system.