Pink Slip, Blue Slip, and Green Slip explained

“Do you suppose we’ll need all these slips for our car registration?” asked Dorothy, keys in hand, eyes staring down the long NSW road. 

“Well,” her friend replied, “There’s a rainbow of them. Pink Slips and Blue Slips and Green Slips.”  

“Oh my!” gasped Dorothy.

“Don’t worry,” her friend reassured her, “I can explain.”

Over the lifespan of your vehicle, the slips you need to register your car may change. This is because each slip has its own purpose. Whether you need one or more of these slips will depend on your location, the age of your vehicle, and whether you intend to drive it (that might sound strange, but there are situations where cars are kept in garages). 

In NSW, Green Slip refers to Compulsory Third Party Insurance (CTP). It’s insurance that all NSW motorists must have, because it helps protect them from the financial impact of a motor vehicle accident that causes injury or death to another person. It covers the driver if they get injured, too.

In NSW, you must buy a Green Slip insurance policy before you can register a vehicle.

If your galvanised beauty on wheels is a light vehicle more than 5 years old, you’ll need to get a safety inspection report in order for it to be registered. And yes, you guessed it, that report is called a Pink Slip. 

The Pink Slip exists to ensure vehicles are road-worthy and safe, and the inspection to determine that can be carried out at any Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) station. To find out if your vehicle needs to be inspected, you can check your registration renewal notice. 

Unregistered vehicle? Well, that certainly is a horse of a different colour! 

Blue Slip refers to the Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Scheme (AUVIS). The scheme exists to ensure that an unregistered vehicle is safe, and meets design and identity standards. This slip is only needed in certain circumstances:

• your vehicle has been brought into NSW from another location
• your registration expired over 3 months ago
• your vehicle doesn’t have number plates
• and more.

Like the Pink Slip inspection, Blue Slip inspections can be carried out at any AIS station. 

“There certainly is no place like NSW,” Dorothy sighed, contemplating all her upcoming life admin. 

“But if I don’t have the right slip, I won’t be able to register my vehicle,” she resolved, determined to get the job done.

Too right, Dorothy. It can feel like a lot, but once it’s done, you’ll be fine to drive in this merry old state of Aus!