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What are Pink, Blue and Green Slips?
What are Pink, Blue and Green Slips?
Written by
Kervin Mathew
Edited by
Andrew Kemp
Reviewed by
Adrian BennettCompare car insurance policies the easy way
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Long story short
Pink Slips confirm older cars’ safety before rego renewal
Pink Slips are mandatory for most vehicles over 5 years old in NSW. They cost $51 for light vehicles such as cars, as at May 2026.
Blue Slips confirm unregistered cars are safe to drive
A Blue Slip for a light vehicle like a car costs $80, as at May 2026. You’ll need a Blue Slip inspection if your car’s been unregistered for more than 3 months or brought in from outside NSW.
Green Slips are NSW’s take on compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance
A Green Slip in NSW costs $624 on average, as at May 2026. These insurance policies help cover medical and compensation costs for injuries or deaths caused by a motor accident.
Pink, Blue and Green Slips: what they are, why they matter and how to get them
| Type of slip | What is it? | Why do I need it? | How do I get one? | How much does it cost? |
 Pink Slip | An inspection report for an NSW-registered vehicle. | To renew your rego if your car is more than five years old. | Get your car checked at a safety inspection station. | $51, as at May 2026. ($26–$40 for trailers) |
 Blue Slip | An inspection report for an unregistered car in NSW. | To register or sell an unregistered car. | Get your car inspected at an accredited inspection provider. | $80, as at May 2026. ($41–$58 for trailers) |
 Green Slip | A mandatory insurance policy for all drivers in NSW. | To cover medical and compensation costs resulting from an accident. | Buy one from an insurance provider. | $624 on average, as at May 2026, but it will depend on your circumstances and car. |
What is a Pink Slip in NSW?
A Pink Slip, also known as an eSafety Check, is a mandatory roadworthy inspection report you need to register a car that’s more than 5 years old. You can get it from an Authorised Inspection Scheme provider, and it proves that your car is still roadworthy and safe to drive in NSW for up to 6 months. Typically, your registration renewal notice will tell you if you need to get or renew a Pink Slip.
How do I get a Pink Slip?
You can get a Pink Slip by having your vehicle inspected at an Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) provider. You can find an authorised inspection station near you and then book an inspection using the NSW Government website. You can even get a mobile Pink Slip provider to come to you.
If your car fails the inspection, you’ll need to get it repaired and inspected again before you register it. Here’s a tip – if you take your repaired car back to the same AIS provider within 14 days, you may not have to pay additional inspection fees.
What happens in a Pink Slip car inspection?
A Pink Slip vehicle safety inspection involves checking the overall condition of the car’s body, mechanical parts, electrical systems, safety features, brakes and tyres. The entire inspection should last around 30 minutes.
During a Pink Slip inspection, your car will be checked for things like:
- body condition
- engine, suspension, exhaust and drivetrain condition
- fluid leaks
- tyre quality
- headlights, indicator lights, interior and dash lights
- seatbelt and brake condition.
How much does a Pink Slip cost?
A Pink Slip for a light vehicle, such as a car, costs $51. Pink slips for trailers can cost between $26 (without brakes) and $40 (with brakes), as at May 2026.1NSW Government – Vehicle Safety check and inspection fees
What is a Blue Slip in NSW?
A Blue Slip is an inspection report for an unregistered vehicle in NSW. Officially known as the Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Scheme (AUVIS) report, a Blue Slip proves that an unregistered car is safe to drive and ready to be registered (or re-registered).
When do I need a Blue Slip?
You’ll need a Blue Slip if you want to register a car:
- that’s been unregistered for more than 3 months
- without number plates
- that was written off but approved for re-registration
- that’s been modified significantly and needs its registration updated
- that was brought into NSW from interstate or overseas.
You might also need to get a Blue Slip if you get a notice from your transport authority saying that your vehicle is defective.
How do I get a Blue Slip?
You can get a Blue Slip from a safety inspection provider accredited by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) under the Authorised Inspection Scheme, which you can find through Service NSW. Once the inspection process has been completed, the report is usually wired to TfNSW and remains valid for 42 days. Remember to take the hard copy with you when you register the vehicle at a service centre.
How much does a Blue Slip cost?
A Blue Slip can cost $80 for a light vehicle like a car. Blue Slips for trailers can cost between $41 (without brakes) and $58 (with brakes), as at May 2026.2NSW Government – Vehicle Safety check and inspection fees
Helpful tip
NSW is the only state in Australia where you need a Green Slip sorted before you can get your rego – unlike most other states where it’s bundled in. If you’re moving house in NSW, whether it’s down the road or to the other side of the Coat Hanger, don’t forget to tell your insurer about your address change. It can change your premium and skipping it could mean hanging yourself out to dry if you need to claim – in other words, it could void your policy.
Adrian Bennett
General Manager for General Insurance
What is a Green Slip in NSW?
A Green Slip is NSW’s version of compulsory third-party insurance, and every registered car in NSW must have one. It helps cover hospitalisation or compensation costs if you injure or kill someone in a car accident – as opposed to a car insurance policy, which covers damage to vehicles or property.
How do I get a Green Slip?
You can buy a Green Slip from insurers like AAMI, Allianz, GIO, NRMA, QBE or Youi, as at April 2026. You can compare prices and find an insurer that provides these directly through the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA).
How much does a Green Slip cost?
The average cost of Green Slip insurance was $624, as at May 2026.3NSW Government State Insurance Regulatory Authority – 2017 CTP Scheme Open Data How much you pay for your Green Slip can depend on factors such as your age, gender, where you live, your driving history (including demerit points) and your vehicle’s age and type.
What’s the difference between Pink, Blue and Green Slips?
Pink and Blue Slips are car safety reports required under different circumstances (pink for rego renewals and blue to register an unregistered car), whereas a Green Slip is compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance that covers liability for injuries in an accident. A Pink Slip is an annual safety inspection report for a car that’s more than 5 years old, a Blue Slip is a safety and identity check required to register an unregistered car and a Green Slip is mandatory CTP insurance you need to renew your car registration. You can get Pink and Blue Slips from a safety inspection provider, while a Green Slip is available to compare and buy from licensed insurance providers.
Do I need all three slips to register a car in NSW?
You’ll need all three slips if the car you’re registering is more than 5 years old and either its registration has been allowed to lapse or it’s an import vehicle. You won’t need all three if your car doesn’t meet those conditions.
You always need a Green Slip to register your car in NSW or renew its registration. And if that vehicle is more than 5 years old, there’s a good chance you’ll also need a Pink Slip. You’ll also need a Blue Slip if that car is unregistered or it’s imported and has cleared customs, as you’ll need to verify that the vehicle is safe to drive and meets all design and identity standards.
Fictional scenarios: When to get Pink, Blue and Green Slips
1. A rego renewal needs a Pink Slip and Green Slip
Your car is 8 years old, and its rego is due for renewal in a month. You’ll need a Pink Slip to prove that your car is still safe and roadworthy, and you’ll need to get a Green Slip from a licenced insurer so you can renew your car’s registration.
2. Buying an unregistered car needs a Blue Slip and Green Slip
You buy an unregistered used car. Before driving it regularly, you’ll need a Blue Slip from an accredited inspection provider, and then a Green Slip to complete the registration process.
3. Expired rego (more than 3 months) needs a Blue Slip and Green Slip
You haven’t driven your car for months and its rego has expired. You’ll need a Blue Slip to confirm the car’s safety and identity, and a Green Slip to re-register the vehicle.
4. Buying an already registered new car needs a Green Slip only
You buy a new car that’s still registered. You’ll eventually need a Green Slip only (before you renew the car’s rego).
Get stronger cover for more protection
While getting a Green Slip is key to getting your car registered, it will only cover your legal liability for personal injuries you cause in an accident. So, you may want to consider other types of insurance that can help cover your own vehicle or other people’s property when you’re on the road, whether it’s a cruise down Georges Street or a road trip to the Nasho.
We don’t compare Green Slips or compulsory third-party (CTP) insurance, but you can use the iSelect comparison tool to compare a range of other types of cover, such as third-party property or comprehensive car insurance for a higher level of protection when you’re behind the wheel.
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