A pink slip or an eSafety check, as it's most commonly known, is necessary for all light vehicles that are older than 5 years. The inspection is a legal requirement and you cannot register your car without it. The safety check can only be done at an Authorised Inspection Scheme (AIS) station.
What is a pink slip?
Despite the name, a pink slip isn't always pink. Also known as an eSafety check, a pink slip is a letter from your mechanic stating that your car is in good working order and fit for the roads. If your car is over a certain age, a pink slip will be required in order to register your car.
Your mechanic will inspect your car and either issue a pink slip or a list or repairs needed for it to pass inspection. Although you are under no legal obligation to carry out the repairs after the inspection, it is illegal to drive an unregistered and unroadworthy vehicle.
How long does a pink slip last?
Light vehicle pink slips are valid for six months (excluding public passenger vehicles), so you'll need to use the report to renew registration within six months of having your safety check.
Interstate reports are valid for 42 days or less if the state has an earlier validity period.
If you do not register within that time, you will be required to obtain another pink slip and pass inspection again. Depending on your length of registration, you will typically be required to get a pink slip annually. Your registration papers will state if an inspection is required.
How much do pink slips cost?
Pink slips have a standard cost, which depends on your vehicle, and are separate to the cost of registration. We got these costs from the NSW Governement website.
Type of vehicle
Cost
Light vehicles
$46
Motorcycles
$26
Trailer without brakes
$24
Trailer with brakes
$36
These costs are accurate as of March 2024
What does a mechanic check during a pink slip inspection?
When you go to get your pink slip, your mechanic will assess your vehicle on a number of factors, and run a variety of tests and checks that must be passed. Assessments generally take about 30 minutes. Your vehicle will be assessed on the following:
Tyre quality and tread depth
Vehicle body condition
Working electrics such as headlights, blinkers, interior lights and dash lights
Engine/suspension/exhaust and driveline condition
Seatbelt condition
Engine and driveline fluid leaks
Brake efficiency test
What requirements are there for a pink slip?
You will be required to get a pink slip if your car is more than five years old. If you fail inspection for a pink slip, you will need to make all required repairs and then have your vehicle inspected again. Generally, a mechanic won't charge you if your vehicle needs to be inspected again, though they are under no legal obligation to do so.
What happens if my car fails to pass an inspection?
Should your vehicle not pass an inspection, your mechanic will issue you a Repairs Needed report. This report states where your car failed the inspection and what repairs are required before a pink slip can be issued.
If you disagree with a mechanic's assessment of your car and the subsequent Repair Needed report, you are not obliged to have the repairs completed and you can go to a different mechanic for a second opinion and inspection. However, your car is required to pass inspection before a pink slip can be issued for registration.
What is a car safety check?
A car safety check is when a qualified mechanic inspects your car to identify issues that could affect your safety or the safety of other drivers and pedestrians.
Your pink slip inspection is just one example, but there are other situations where it's a good idea to go in for a safety check:
You're about to sell your car. Some states require you to provide the buyer with a roadworthy certificate showing that the car is safe to drive. Even if your state doesn't require it, it can be a good way to gain the trust of potential buyers.
You've just had a child. There's no better time to make sure your car is safe than when you've had a child who will be riding along with you.
You're getting other damage repaired. If you're taking your car in for repairs, it's a good idea to have your mechanic do a quick safety inspection to make sure nothing else got jiggled loose.
You have free servicing on a new car. Taking your car in for free servicing is a no-brainer. They'll usually do a safety check as part of the overall service.
Why you can trust Finder's car insurance experts
We're free
You pay the same as buying directly from the car insurer. Better still, we regularly run exclusive deals that you won't find on any other site – plus, our tables make it easy to compare policies.
We're experts
Our team of car insurance experts have researched and rated dozens of policies as part of our Finder Awards and published 330+ guides to make it easier for you to compare.
We're independent
Unlike other comparison sites, we're not owned by an insurer. That means our opinions are our own and we work with lots of car insurance brands, making it easier for you to find a good deal.
We're here to help
Since 2014, we've helped 300,000+ people find car insurance by explaining your cover options, simply and clearly. We'll never ask for your number or email. We're here to help you make a decision.
FAQs
You will be required to get a pink slip if you have a motorcycle that is more than five years old. A pink slip is needed for registration just like a car, with similar requirements to meet, such as an oil check, lights, blinkers and tyres tests. The inspection process is typically shorter for a motorcycle than a car and the cost is lower too.
No but it could impact your ability to get car insurance. To insure your car, it needs to be in a roadworthy condition and be legal to drive. A pink slip certifies that your car is in fact roadworthy and legal to drive.
Alexandra Koster is Finder's publisher for car, home and pet insurance. She has a Tier 1 certification in General Insurance, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Cultural Studies from the University of Sydney. Her hobbies include reading Product Disclosure Statements and deciphering complicated insurance lingo to help people save on their insurance so that they can spend their money on better things – like dogs.
Would you know what to do if you were involved in a car accident? This guide looks at the steps to take after an accident has occurred, from securing the scene to making a claim with your insurer.
How likely would you be to recommend finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
finder.com.au is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stands by our editorial principles
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product. You can learn more about how we make money.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
