Top 10 tips to register your vehicle in NSW

You may be an expert in registering your vehicle in NSW but some of the nitty gritty details can be tricky. We bring you our top 10 tips to register your vehicle in NSW.

1. Always renew registration on time ›

2. We can remind you when registration is due ›

3. When you can register for 6 months ›

4. The difference between pink and blue slips ›

5. You don’t usually need paper copies ›

6. Know your vehicle shape code ›

7. When you can register without a green slip ›

8. When you can temporarily drive an unregistered vehicle ›

9. Renew registration online for a national parks discount ›

10. Check your greenslip insurer and when registration is due. ›

1. Always renew registration on time

You will save money if you renew registration on time:

• If you don’t renew within 21 days of the registration due date, you must renew for 12 months.
• If you don’t renew within 3 months, your registration will be cancelled. Starting a new registration incurs extra costs of a blue slip, first 12 months registration fees and new number plates.

You can renew your registration online up to 3 months before the due date, as long as you get a renewal notice first.

2. We can remind you when registration is due

greenslips.com.au can remind you when your registration is due. Send us your mailing address and we will send you a sticker or two. You can apply them to the windscreen of your car, fridge, notice board or filing cabinet.

Ask for registration reminder stickers.

3. When you can register for 6 months

You may prefer to renew your registration for 6 months. You can do this as long as you are renewing within 21 days of the registration due date.

• If you register for 6 months you must also buy a greenslip for 6 months.
• If your vehicle needs a pink slip, this applies to alternate 6 month registration periods only.

Remember, you can’t start a new registration in NSW with a 6 month period.

4. The difference between pink and blue slips

A pink slip is an annual safety check from an authorised mechanic. Vehicles over 5 years old must have a pink slip  before they can be re-registered in NSW. Check your registration renewal notice to see whether you have to organise a pink slip.

A blue slip is a more detailed safety and identity check of your vehicle. You need a blue slip if you want to:

• register a vehicle in NSW for the first time
• register a vehicle with cancelled registration
• transfer a vehicle from interstate.

You won’t have to get another blue slip unless your vehicle registration is cancelled.

5. You don’t usually need paper copies

Insurers and most mechanics send electronic copies of your green, pink or blue slips online to Service NSW. However, you may have to show a hard copy of your blue slip when you go in person to Service NSW for the first registration in these cases:

• The vehicle is being transferred from interstate or imported from overseas.
• Registration has expired by more than 3 months.
• The previous registration was cancelled.

6. Know your vehicle shape code

Vehicles come in many shapes. The vehicle shape code is used to charge the correct registration fees and green slip premiums.

Motor car examples

CON – convertible (vehicle without roof) 


COU – coupe (2 doors, 2 seats and roof) 


PVF – panel van, must have 4WD


SED – sedan and hatchback


WAG – station wagon, must have sedan equivalent.

Light goods vehicle examples

PVN – panel van


PVS – panel van seats and windows, no 4WD


UTE – utility (one piece utility body or detachable well back body)


VAN – van (separate box body not connected to cabin).

Motorcycles have one vehicle shape code only – CYC.

7. When you can register without a green slip

In two cases, you can register without buying a green slip because they already include a green slip:

1. Conditional registration – for vehicles that need only limited road access, such as agricultural, classic, construction, historic or snow vehicles.
2. Classic and historic vehicle registration – must be conditionally registered and follow strict rules for use.

8. When you can temporarily drive an unregistered vehicle

It’s usually illegal to drive an unregistered vehicle. However, you can temporarily drive an unregistered vehicle by the shortest route:

• to get it repaired after a failed pink slip
• to insure the vehicle
• to register the vehicle
• if you bought a valid unregistered vehicle permit (UVP).

You must satisfy certain conditions to buy a UVP.

9. Renew registration online for a national parks discount

If you renew registration online, you can save $15 on one 12-month All Parks or Multi Park Pass.

• All Parks costs $175 with the discount and covers 45 parks in NSW, including Kosciuszko.
• Multi Park costs $50 with the discount and covers 44 parks in NSW, except Kosciuszko.

Single day entry is $4, $8 or $12 per vehicle, except in Kosciuszko where it depends on time of year ($17/$29). So it’s worth buying an All Parks pass for ski-ing.

10. Check your greenslip insurer and when registration is due

It’s easy to check when your registration is due or who is your current greenslip insurer. Use the Service NSW registration check for your:

• greenslip insurer
• registration expiry date
• registration status (current, suspended or cancelled)
• restrictions on registration
• concessions.

Registration check works only for currently registered vehicles. It doesn’t reveal the name and address of the vehicle owner.

Compare green slip prices

In NSW, you can’t register your vehicle to drive on the roads without first buying a green slip.

The best way to compare green slip prices is to use the greenslips.com.au Calculator. It will give you the cheapest prices from all six registered insurers and save you the trouble of contacting each one separately.

Compare green slip prices for your vehicle.

Ask us anything about green slips

If you didn’t find the answer to your question, please send it to us and we will answer it as soon as we can.