Can I get sales tax back if I bought and sold a vehicle within the year?

[tmschultz90]

I bought a car in August for 35k. Paid over 3k in taxes to NYS to register it, but ended up selling much sooner than expected in December for 30k. I'm pretty sure that money is gone as soon as you register the car, but just wanted to check and make sure I'm getting as much back as I can.

[ToddL]

Once paid to the state, sales taxes are not refundable unless the seller charged too much or collected the sales tax in error.

From the NYS DOTR website:

You may be eligible for a refund of sales tax if you made a purchase and paid too much sales tax (or paid sales tax in error), or if you are a business registered for sales tax who repaid sales tax to a customer. You may also file for a refund if you previously paid too much use tax. 

You may apply for a refund if you paid too much sales or use tax or if tax was paid in error. You may also apply if you are a business registered for sales tax and you can show that you repaid sales tax to a customer who previously paid the tax.