Registering a Vehicle: Does California Allows You to Operate Your Vehicle Once You Paid All You Fees

My question involves vehicle registration or title in the state of: CA

Here is my situation. I have my car on non-operations for years. I want to drive it so I got insurance paid the fees but I have not gotten it smog. I got a letter from DMV saying I need to have the car smog. It shows my renewal fee to be zero (so I have proof I paid).

So I have two questions here. I am not that worry about getting a citation (because that is a fix ticket) but I don't want my car to be towed. My understanding is under California law I can drive my car once I paid my fees. Is that still true? Does it apply my situation??

2nd question, Can I drive the car to have the car smog without worry about getting pull over and having my car impounded? Or do I have to get a moving permit by going to DMV (long lines bummer)?

Once I get it smog and it pass can I then drive it and wait for the tags to come in the mail??

Registering a Vehicle: Does California Allows You to Operate Your Vehicle Once You Paid All You Fees