How do I transfer registration?

If you buy or sell a vehicle, you need to transfer registration to another vehicle. The process is fairly simple for the buyer and seller. We clarify what happens to the green slip. If you have moved to NSW, learn how to transfer your vehicle registration and drivers licence to NSW.

What happens to the green slip? ›

How to transfer NSW registration if you’re the buyer ›

Transfer NSW registration if you’re the seller ›

How to transfer registration to NSW from interstate›

Transfer your interstate drivers licence to NSW ›

What happens to the green slip?

When you buy or sell a vehicle, the green slip stays with the vehicle. Here are a few tips for transferring registration to another vehicle:

• The price of the vehicle includes registration and a green slip because it can’t be registered without a green slip
• The green slip on the vehicle transfers with the registration to its new owner
• After you tell Service NSW about the transfer of ownership, it notifies the green slip insurer of new ownership
• When it’s time to re-register the vehicle, the green slip renewal reflects the new owner’s details.

Remember, when you sell your car, you can’t get a refund on your green slip because the green slip remains on the car you sold.

How to transfer NSW registration if you’re the buyer

If you’re the buyer:

• You must register the vehicle under your name within 14 days or pay a late transfer fee
• You can register the vehicle in your own name online
• If the previous owner does not submit a Notice of Disposal within 14 days, you have to register the vehicle in person at a Service NSW centre.

Transfer NSW registration if you’re the seller

If you’re the seller:

• You must lodge a Notice of Disposal to let Service NSW know you are no longer the owner
• You must show proof the new owner will be entitled to register your car, such as Certificate of Registration, motor dealer warranty form or proof of purchase.

How to transfer registration to NSW from interstate

You must transfer registration to NSW from interstate within 3 months of moving to NSW.

For the first registration in NSW, you must go in person to a motor registry or Service NSW with certain documents. After that, you can renew registration by phone or online.

There are three steps to transfer registration to NSW:

Step 1. Get a safety and identity check (blue slip) from an inspection station
Step 2. Buy CTP insurance (green slip) – compare prices
Step 3. Go in person to Service NSW or motor registry with documents proving your identity, residential address in NSW and entitlement to register the vehicle.

Step 1: Blue slip

A blue slip is a safety and identity check. Organise a blue slip at a local Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Station (AUVIS).The mechanic will inspect for roadworthiness, compliance and identification.

Step 2: Green slip

You must buy CTP insurance (green slip) separately before registration. For light vehicles (vehicles under 4.5 tonnes GVM) the first green slip and registration must be for 12 months.

Compare 12-month prices from all CTP insurers.

Step 3: Go to Service NSW or motor registry

You or your representative must visit Service NSW or motor registry in NSW in person with certain documents. Service NSW receives electronic copies of your blue and green slips once you have paid for them. However, you still need a hard copy of your blue slip.

Documents you need to transfer registration to NSW

* You must immediately attach new number plates to your vehicle.

Service NSW has a registration calculator to calculate registration fees for 12 months. This does not include the cost of green slips or blue slips.

Remember, if you want to stay in NSW for more than 3 months, you must transfer registration of your vehicle to NSW. After 3 months, it’s an offence to own a vehicle registered in another state but garaged in NSW. Make sure you cancel registration in your previous state or territory, which also cancels that state or territory’s CTP insurance on your vehicle.

Transfer your interstate drivers licence to NSW

If you want to stay in NSW for more than 3 months, you must also transfer your driver licence to NSW. You need to go in person to Service NSW or a motor registry with these documents:

• Your interstate or territory drivers licence
• Licence application form
• Proof of identity, eg, birth certificate, passport, credit card
• Proof of your residential address, eg, contract of sale or lease agreement.

Fortunately, it costs nothing to transfer your drivers licence, unless it has expired or nearly expired.

Have you ever wondered how registration and licensing works in NSW? Do you know how to choose a registration period? Do you know how to transfer registration? These are all good questions you ask that greenslips.com.au will answer.

This is the third article in our 6-part series, How registration works in NSW.