Vehicle registration in NSW: pink slips, green slips, and renewals

You must buy Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance to register your vehicle in Australia. However, each state and territory has its own scheme.

A 'green slip' is a common term used for CTP insurance in NSW. It covers your responsibility to pay for injuries to anyone hurt in an accident. This applies if you or other drivers of your car cause the accident.

CTP insurance doesn’t cover damage to your vehicle, other vehicles, or property. You will need car insurance for this.

Green slips can be purchased from authorised insurance providers. You can often buy them online or in person.

You can visit our NSW CTP Insurance page to get a quote or renew your green slip. Or, learn more about how Allianz calculates CTP Insurance premiums.

Green slips are typically valid for the same period as your vehicle registration, usually six or twelve months. This can vary depending on the registration period you choose.

A ‘pink slip’ in NSW is a safety inspection report which verifies your vehicle as roadworthy. Most light vehicles require one for registration when they’re more than five years old. However, this may vary by region.

Pink slip inspections can be conducted at an Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) station. These are often mechanics or service centres. If you fail this inspection, you’ll need to address the issues identified and have your vehicle re-inspected.

You need to use your pink slip within six months of this safety report being issued to renew your registration in NSW. If you don’t renew your registration during this time, you’ll need to get another pink slip.

You’ll probably need to renew your pink slip each year if your vehicle is more than five years old to renew your registration.

An Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Scheme (AUVIS) is also known as a ‘blue slip’. This report checks if a vehicle meets safety standards before registration. It’s required for:

• Registering an unregistered vehicle.
• Re-registering a vehicle that has been unregistered for more than three months.
• Registering vehicles from interstate or overseas.
• Registering vehicles that have been significantly modified or repaired.

You can check online to confirm whether your vehicle is registered in NSW.

Blue slip inspections, like pink slips, must be done at authorised stations. Only licensed mechanics or inspectors can perform them.

If your vehicle does not pass this inspection, you must fix the problems found. Then, you will need to have your vehicle inspected again.

The blue slip inspection will look at your vehicle's safety and compliance standards. This includes confirming that:

• The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and engine number correspond with official records.
• The vehicle is roadworthy. The inspector will examine things such as brakes, lights, tires, steering, suspension, and the exhaust system.
• The vehicle complies with environmental emissions regulations.
• The vehicle has structural integrity. The inspector will look for significant frame damage or signs of previous accidents that might compromise the vehicle's safety.

After the inspection is done, if the vehicle meets all standards, you will get a blue slip certificate.

A blue slip is valid for 42 days from the date of issue. The vehicle must be registered within this period to avoid needing a new inspection. If you don’t register your vehicle during this time, you’ll need to obtain another blue slip.