Yes, you can register and insure a car in California without a CA driver's license.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) notes that any vehicle, including a vehicle registered to a nonresident owner, that is based in California or primarily used on California highways must be registered in California.

A vehicle is considered to be primarily or regularly used on California highways if it is located or operated in this state for a greater amount of time than it is located or operated in any other individual state during the registration period per CA Vehicle Code (CVC) 4000.4.

The CA DMV has online its handbook of registration procedures and here it states that there is an exemption from CA registration for a nonresident student. A nonresident student is defined as a student who is under 23 years of age, is a dependent, pays nonresident tuition, and is unemployed.

An exception is for the employment portion of this exemptions is that a student may be employed in a position required as part of the student’s educational field when the student’s earnings are directed toward his or her education rather than being taken as an income. For example, a communications major working in a radio station or a medical student working in a hospital or laboratory. So if you have a different type of job in California than you would need to register your car and not be exempt.

A nonresident student operating a nonresident vehicle that displays valid registration/plates in the student’s home state is exempt from California registration normally. The nonresident student may possess a California driver license or operate on a valid driver license from his/her state. If the nonresident student applies for California registration, all requirements for California registration are applicable though.

So if you are considered a nonresident student you would not normally be required to register your car in California however you could if you buy a car in California and desired to do so. You should be able to register the vehicle without changing over your residency or driver's license to California. You should check with the CA DMV for more information on how to register your car. You should also be able to obtain CA auto insurance with your New York license.

Get cheap student car insurance information here along with a quote for CA insurance.