Plates stay with the person they are registered to.
We keep them and can transfer them to another vehicle that we own. Another person cannot use our plates even if it is for the same car.
No refunds here. If you don't use them for the year - tough.
In Texas, the plates stay with the car and get transferred over to the next buyer. You can't take them off and use them on another vehicle (with the exception of personalized or specialty plates). They stay registered to the vehicle.
What happens to them where you are?