Car registration, title, sales tax and moving to North Carolina (transfer, property tax)

[Vinlin]

I bought a car in Illinois a week ago and I was hoping the dealership would let me register it in North Carolina, where I just moved, so I wouldn't have to deal with registration both at Illinois and North Carolina. However, they kept saying how it was not possible because I needed proof of residency (I hadn't yet moved) and there would be high interstate fees (which they didn't want to delve into). So I ended up paying registration, plate and title fees for illinois (~$200) PLUS the Illinois sales tax of about ~$1000.

Now I have to transfer the registration, title and new plates here in NC and it seems I'm doing double the effort. In addition, it seems that NC doesn't have a car sales tax but rather a "Highway Use Tax" (HUT) of 3% every time a title is transferred (based on the value of your car) and they also have a vehicle property tax (which still have been less than $1000).

My question is.. could they have given me a temporary license for me to drive to North Carolina to avoid paying the $1200 in fees/taxes in Illinois and just pay the North Carolina fees? Or does Illinois require that sales tax and registration are paid when the car is bought? I literally drove to NC 3 days after the purchase.

If I register the car in NC, can I apply for a Illinois license and registration refund? I'm assuming I can't get a refund for the Illinois sales tax (?)

[BOBNCHI]

Nope. You should have waited and bought the car in NC.