What is a ‘pink slip’ and when do you need one

May 20 2025

A pink slip in New South Wales (NSW) is the informal name for an eSafety check certificate. It's a mandatory vehicle inspection report required in certain situations, primarily when renewing the registration of older vehicles.

An inspector inspecting a car

When do you DO need a pink slip?

You need a pink slip if:

  • Your vehicle is more than 5 years old.
  • You are renewing the registration of that vehicle in NSW.
  • You are transferring registration from interstate for a used vehicle.
  • The vehicle registration has expired more than 3 months ago.

When You DON'T need a pink slip

You don’t need a pink slip if:

  • Your vehicle is 5 years old or newer and you are renewing registration.
  • You’re doing a non-use declaration (i.e. you're not driving the vehicle and it's off public roads).

What’s checked in a pink slip inspection?

A licensed mechanic will assess:

  • Brakes
  • Suspension
  • Lights and indicators
  • Tires and wheels
  • Seatbelts
  • Engine and fluid leaks
  • Windscreen and wipers

If your car passes, the result is electronically sent to Service NSW, and you can proceed with registration.

Other things to know

  • A pink slip is valid for 42 days from the date of issue.
  • If your car fails, you have 14 days to fix the issues and get a recheck at no extra cost from the same station.

Book a pink slip inspection today with RedBook Inspect.

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