Although not all cars need Blue Slips, understanding the requirements – and how they differ from Pink Slips and Green Slips – can be an important part of getting your car ready, and eligible, for registration in New South Wales. A Blue Slip can also be a helpful step in the process of organising car insurance.
This article is intended as a guide to help you navigate NSW Blue Slips, including when you might need one, how to get one, what to expect at the safety inspection, how much it can cost and how long it will last.
What is a Blue Slip?
A Blue Slip is another name for an Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Scheme (AUVIS) report in NSW, which verifies that an unregistered vehicle is safe and meets design and identity standards.1
If you have an unregistered light vehicle, it will need a Blue Slip safety inspection before it can be registered in NSW.1
The NSW Government defines light vehicles as motor vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of 4.5 tonnes or less, and trailers and caravans with an aggregate trailer mass of 4.5 tonnes or less.2
So, you’ll typically need a Blue Slip if:3
- Your vehicle registration has expired, and has been expired for more than three months
- Your vehicle has been brought into NSW from another state or territory
- Your vehicle has no number plates
- Your vehicle is a write-off approved for re-registration.3
You might also need a Blue Slip if:3
- There have been changes to vehicle registration records due to significant changes, such as a new engine installation
- You have defect notices that need clearing.3
There are a number of ‘slips’ in NSW, and it’s understandable that you may get confused. A Blue Slip is different from a Green Slip (also known as CTP insurance), which is mandatory for all registered road users in NSW and can help provide cover for people injured in motor vehicle accidents. It’s also different from a Pink Slip, which is an inspection to help verify that cars more than five years old are roadworthy.
Even if you have a Blue Slip, you’ll still need a Green Slip to complete your vehicle registration in NSW.4
What can happen at a Blue Slip inspection?
To get a Blue Slip, you’ll typically need to have your vehicle inspected at an authorised inspection station.5 Authorised inspection stations should typically display an AIS (Authorised Inspection Scheme) sign at the front of their premises, listing the types of safety checks they’re authorised to perform.3
At the Blue Slip inspection, your examiner will inspect your vehicle to check it’s safe and meets design and identity standards in NSW. The inspection might involve a check of your car’s tyres, lights, fluids, suspension, seatbelts and brakes.6 Your Blue Slip inspection can also involve an identity check to ensure the vehicle or its parts are not stolen.6
In most cases, once your vehicle passes the Blue Slip safety inspection, the report will be sent to Transport for NSW electronically.1 However, you must also bring the original hard copy of your Blue Slip report when you register your vehicle at a Service NSW Centre.1
If your vehicle fails a Blue Slip safety inspection, you’ll need to make the repairs before you can complete your registration.3 If you complete the repairs within 14 days and take the vehicle to be reassessed at the same AIS station, no extra inspection fees should apply. If you repair the vehicle after the 14-day period ends, you’ll usually need to pay another inspection fee.3
How much does a Blue Slip cost?
Blue Slips have a standard cost in NSW. As of October 2023, the fees set by Transport for NSW for Blue Slips are:7
- Light vehicle: $73
- Motorcycle: $45
- Trailer without brakes: $37
- Trailer with brakes: $537
How long does a Blue Slip last?
Your Blue Slip is valid for 42 days from the date of inspection.3 This means you have six weeks from the date of your Blue Slip safety inspection to complete registration for your vehicle in NSW.8
Can I drive an unregistered car to get my Blue Slip?
If your car is unregistered and you need a Blue Slip, you’d be forgiven for wondering how you’re meant to get it to an authorised inspection station given it’s an offence in NSW to drive an unregistered vehicle under most circumstances.9
However, you’re allowed to drive an unregistered vehicle to the nearest convenient authorised inspection station for your Blue Slip safety inspection and to your nearest convenient service centre to complete registration.10
If you fail the Blue Slip inspection, you can also drive unregistered from an authorised inspection station to the nearest convenient place where necessary repairs or adjustments can be made, or where the vehicle can be garaged.10
In these circumstances, Transport for NSW recommends having some proof of journey, such as proof of an appointment with an authorised vehicle examiner, in case you get pulled over by the police.10
NSW Blue Slip checklist
When you take your car to a Blue Slip safety inspection, you might need to bring certain documents with you. These may include:6
- Proof of identity, such as your driver’s licence
- Proof of vehicle purchase, such as a Certificate of Registration completed and signed by the previous owner, a bill of sale or a receipt, or even a Completed Notice of Disposal signed by the previous owner6
You may like to call the authorised vehicle inspector before you travel to your Blue Slip appointment, to check what documents they might need you to bring.
If your vehicle is imported,11 you’ll typically need to provide the authorised examiner with a vehicle import approval issued for the vehicle by the Australian Government’s Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.12
Once you have your paperwork in place, you might want to consider looking into your car insurance. At Youi, we’ve got a range of options available – consider starting a quote online today to see which level of cover might suit you.
Information in this article is relevant as of October 2023 and by its nature will change over time. Check relevant government websites for updates if this information is important to you.
1 Source: NSW Government – Get an authorised unregistered vehicle inspection (blue slip)
2 Source: NSW Government – Vehicle standards information sheets (VSI)
3 Source: NSW Government – Safety checks and vehicle inspections
4 Source: NSW Government – What is a Green Slip?
5 Source: NSW Government – Find a safety inspection provider
6 Source: Finder – Blue Slips: What you should know, 2022
7 Source: NSW Government – Vehicle Safety check and inspection fees
8 Source: NSW Government – Vehicle registrations
9 Source: NSW Government – Licence and registration offences and penalties
10 Source: NSW Government – When you can drive unregistered vehicle
11 Source: NSW Government – Registering an imported vehicle
12 Source: Australian Government – Importing a road vehicle into Australia
