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Whether you're registering a vehicle for the first time, or you've been behind the wheel for a few years, you may be required to get a pink slip. Inspection is a legal requirement and you cannot register your car without it. Depending on the age and condition of your car, it can be a breeze to pass. Here's what you need to know about pink slips.
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. The mechanic will also submit a report to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) on the outcome of the inspection.
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.
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 Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) website. Costs are for NSW only.
Type of vehicle | Cost |
---|---|
Light vehicles | $42 |
Motorcycles | $23 |
Trailer without brakes | $21 |
Trailer with brakes | $33 |
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:
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.
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.
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.
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:
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