Green slip vs pink slip — the two things you need every year
One is insurance, the other is inspection. Both are required to renew NSW rego on any car five years old or older. Here's the two-minute breakdown.
- Reviewed by
- NSW Pink Slip Review Panel
- Published
- 15 February 2026
- Read time
- 3 min
Green slip and pink slip get confused constantly. They sound similar, they arrive around the same time each year, and they're both required for rego renewal. But they cover completely different things and come from completely different providers.
Green slip = CTP insurance
A green slip is a Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance policy. It covers other people if you injure them in a crash — not your car, not your medical bills, just injuries to other road users. You buy it from any NSW-licensed CTP insurer, price varies by vehicle and postcode, and it's valid for the same period as your rego (6 or 12 months).
Pink slip = safety inspection
A pink slip is a NSW eSafety Check — a physical safety inspection carried out by an Authorised Inspection Station (AIS). It's required annually once your vehicle is 5 years old. It checks brakes, tyres, lights, steering, suspension, wipers, seatbelts and structure — not insurance and not mechanical health.
How they combine at renewal
When you go to renew rego through Service NSW, the system checks three things: is there a current green slip on file, is there a current pink slip on file (if the vehicle is over five years old), and is there any block on your account. If all three are yes, you pay the rego fee and you're done.
Frequently asked.
- Do I need a green slip if my rego is auto-renewing?
- Yes — CTP has to be purchased and current before Service NSW will process any renewal, auto or manual.
- Can the same provider do both?
- No — pink slip is done at an AIS (workshop or mobile inspector), green slip is issued by a CTP insurer. They're separate transactions.
- What if my vehicle is under five years old?
- You skip the pink slip. Green slip is still required every year.
About the author
NSW Pink Slip — Lead Inspection Team
Lead AIS-Authorised eSafety Inspector · 18+ years
Our lead inspection team is Transport for NSW-authorised under the Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) to issue eSafety Checks (pink slips) for light vehicles up to 4.5t. Combined 18+ years of hands-on Sydney workshop experience — starting in general repair, moving through diagnostic specialisation on European and Japanese platforms, and settling into full-time mobile inspection since 2019. Every article on this site is authored or reviewed by a currently-authorised AIS examiner. If we can't verify a claim against a Transport for NSW or Service NSW source, it doesn't ship.
- ✓Transport for NSW authorised AIS examiner
- ✓Cert IV in Automotive Mechanical Diagnosis
- ✓Cert III in Light Vehicle Mechanical Technology
- ✓Cert III in Automotive Electrical Technology
- ✓Working with Children Check (WWC) verified
Reviewed by NSW Pink Slip Review Panel — Reviews every technical article for accuracy against current Transport for NSW rules, AIS inspector guidelines and manufacturer service data.
Meet the full inspection team →Related from the workshop.
NSW Rego Inspection Report Explained 2026 — How to Read Every Code, Line & Advisory
Importing a Car to NSW From Interstate 2026 — Blue Slip, Stamp Duty, Rego Transfer Costs