2023 New York Laws › VAT - Vehicle and Traffic › Title 4 - Registration of Vehicles › Article 17 - Other Provisions Relating to Registration and Possession › 428 - Refunds.

§ 428. Refunds.  1.  Any  fee  paid  for the registration of a vehicle
  under the provisions of this chapter shall be refunded, less the sum  of
  one dollar, provided that the commissioner and the state comptroller are
  satisfied  that the registration has not been used and the number plates
  and sticker have been surrendered to the commissioner within two  months
  after  the  date  the  fee was paid or the beginning of the registration
  period for which the registration was issued, whichever comes later  and
  application therefor is filed with the commissioner within the period of
  validity for which such registration was issued.
1-a.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  subdivision  one  of  this
  section, if a registration is issued for a period of not less  than  two
  years  pursuant  to  paragraph  c  of  subdivision  five of section four
  hundred one of this chapter, the registration fee paid  for  the  period
  commencing  after  the  first  twelve  month period of such registration
  shall be refunded less the sum of one dollar provided the number  plates
  are  surrendered  to the commissioner before the end of the first twelve
  month period of such registration and application therefor is filed with
  the commissioner within two months from  the  expiration  of  the  first
  twelve month period of such registration.
1-b.  The  commissioner  is  directed to make public notification that
  registration fees shall be refunded and to send by first  class  mail  a
  written notice and an application for refund of any registration fees to
  any   person   entitled  to  a  registration  fee  refund  according  to
  subdivision one-a of this section that  has  been  unable  to  obtain  a
  registration  fee  refund  during the period commencing September first,
  nineteen  hundred  ninety-seven  and  ending  June  thirtieth,  nineteen
  hundred ninety-eight.  Such written notice shall advise such person that
  a  registration fee shall be refunded after an application for refund is
  filed with the commissioner. Such  public  notification  shall  be  made
  through  such  newspapers  throughout all regions of the state as may be
  designated by the commissioner.
No application for a refund  of  registration  fees  shall  be  denied
  because of the failure to file an application therefor within two months
  of  the  expiration  date  of  the  first  twelve  month  period of such
  registration if such  registration  was  surrendered  between  September
  first,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-seven  and  June  thirtieth,  nineteen
  hundred ninety-eight and the applicant therefor has not received  credit
  for  such  registration  fees pursuant to section four hundred twenty of
  the vehicle and traffic law.
2. Upon the surrender to the commissioner  of  the  number  plates  or
  plate  issued  for  a  vehicle  registered  under the provisions of this
  chapter and the furnishing of proof satisfactory to the commissioner and
  the state comptroller that the owner of the vehicle  entered  the  armed
  forces  of the United States after such vehicle was registered, and that
  the registration of such vehicle is  in  full  effect,  there  shall  be
  refunded  to  such  owner,  or  to  such person as he shall designate in
  writing, a sum equal to as  many  twelfths  of  the  fee  paid  for  the
  registration  of  the  vehicle  as there are full calendar months in the
  registration year following the date of the receipt of the number plates
  or plate, less the sum of one dollar.
3. Where a refund of any part of a registration fee is  made  pursuant
  to  the  foregoing  provisions  of  this section, the registration shall
  thereupon be automatically cancelled.
4. The application fee accompanying  an  accepted  application  for  a
  driver's license shall in no case be refunded.
5. Money paid for fees in excess of the amounts required by law may be
  refunded   subject  to  approval  of  the  commissioner  and  the  state
  comptroller,  provided  application   therefor   is   filed   with   the

  commissioner  within  one  year after the date the fee was paid or, with
  respect to fees paid for a registration, on or before the expiration  of
  the registration for which such fee was paid, whichever occurs later.