Green Slips When Buying, Selling or Registering a Car

Buying a car, selling one, or dragging an old project car out of the shed all raise the same question: what happens to the green slip? The answer depends on one thing, whether the vehicle is currently registered in NSW. This guide works through each situation using NSW Government, Service NSW and SIRA pages we read on 30 October 2026.

GreenSlipInsurance.com.au is a general information site operated by Dominet BV. This page is general information only and is not financial, legal or insurance advice. It does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. We are not an insurer or broker, we don't sell green slips and we don't recommend any insurer. SIRA (the State Insurance Regulatory Authority) is the official source of green slip information in NSW, so check its website or your insurer before you act. Facts were checked on 30 October 2026. Read our general information notice. Registration steps are run by Service NSW and Transport for NSW, so check their pages for your vehicle.

Quick guide by situation

Buying a car with current NSW rego

This is the easy one. The NSW Government's page on transferring registration when buying a vehicle says the CTP insurance automatically transfers to the new owner when the registration transfers. There's nothing to do about the green slip until the next renewal.

The rego transfer is still your job. The same page says you must transfer the registration within 14 days of purchase to avoid a late fee and fines.

Check before you pay. Service NSW's buying a vehicle guide says the green slip won't transfer if it has expired or the seller has cancelled it. Service NSW lists a free vehicle registration check among the steps before buying, which shows the registration expiry date and status and the CTP insurer and policy expiry date.

Selling a car with current rego

When you sell a registered car, its green slip goes with it. SIRA's Cancelled policy refunds page says there's no refund in that case, and suggests factoring the remaining CTP into the sale price.

Refunds only come into it when a vehicle becomes unregistered, for example because it was written off, taken to a wrecker or stolen. Our green slip refund guide covers that process. If you cancel the rego to get a refund and then sell the car, the green slip won't transfer to the buyer.

Registering a brand new vehicle

Service NSW's Register a brand new vehicle page says dealers often organise the registration when you buy a new car, truck or motorcycle. If not, you can register it yourself at a Service NSW centre, and CTP insurance is on the list of what you need.

The NSW Government's inspection page says a new vehicle that's never been registered doesn't usually need an AUVIS inspection if a copy of its Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) entry is provided or a dealer registers it.

Registering an unregistered used vehicle

A car that's been off the road, whose rego has lapsed or been cancelled, needs to be registered again. The NSW Government's registering a used or secondhand vehicle page sets out the steps:

1. Get an inspection. An Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Station checks the vehicle and, if it passes, gives you a signed identity and safety check.
2. Buy a green slip. For light vehicles, the CTP policy must be for 12 months and be issued by a NSW insurer. Most insurers send the details to Service NSW electronically.
3. Register the vehicle with the inspection report, proof of identity and the other documents Service NSW lists.

The NSW Government says the AUVIS inspection (the old blue slip) is needed if the rego has been expired for more than 3 months, the vehicle has no number plate, it's come from interstate or overseas, or it's a write-off approved for re-registration. AUVIS reports are valid for 42 days from the inspection.

When you buy the green slip, give accurate details. SIRA's How to buy a Green Slip page lists the number plate (if any), the VIN or chassis number, your licence or photo card number, the youngest driver's age and demerit points. Wrong information can lead to an adjustment charge, cancellation of the rego with reinstatement fees, and penalties.

A green slip doesn't make the car legal to drive. SIRA says CTP insurance isn't valid until the vehicle is registered, and driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal. See the permit section below if you need to move it.

Bringing a vehicle from interstate

Service NSW's Transfer or register an interstate vehicle page (last published 8 May 2025) says a vehicle garaged in NSW must be registered in NSW. The requirements include:

• NSW CTP insurance
• an AUVIS report issued no more than 42 days earlier (or a heavy vehicle inspection for heavy vehicles)
• proof of identity and proof you're entitled to register the vehicle
• the original number plates
• a visit to a Service NSW centre

Your interstate CTP doesn't carry over, because the NSW Government says vehicles registered in NSW must be insured with a NSW CTP insurer.

Moving an unregistered vehicle

For a specific trip in an unregistered vehicle, there's the unregistered vehicle permit (UVP). The NSW Government's unregistered vehicle permits page and Service NSW's application page explain how it works:

• It covers a specific journey by the most direct route. That can be one way, a return trip, or a trip over several days up to a maximum of 28 days.
• CTP is included. The permit fee includes CTP insurance, but it only covers you on roads and road-related areas, not on private property.
• Written-off vehicles aren't eligible.
• Plates. If the vehicle still has its old plates, they're returned when you apply. If the rego has expired but not been cancelled, you remove them before driving on the permit.

Service NSW says permits aren't issued to cover extra days when a vehicle "may" be using the roads, so it's tied to the journey you describe.

Trailers and caravans

The NSW Government says trailers, caravans and conditionally registered vehicles have CTP included in their registration, so there's no separate green slip to buy. They can still need an inspection, as our green slip vs pink slip guide explains.

What this means for you

Start with one question: is the vehicle currently registered in NSW? If yes, the green slip goes with the car, and the buyer has 14 days to transfer the rego. If no, plan on an AUVIS inspection, a new green slip (12 months for light vehicles) and a trip to register it, plus a permit if it needs to be driven before then.

If you're comparing green slip prices for a car you haven't bought yet, SIRA's free Green Slip Price Check has an anonymous option that needs no rego number. Our guide to comparing green slips explains it.

Frequently asked questions

Does the green slip transfer to the new owner?

Yes, if the vehicle has current NSW registration. The CTP transfers automatically when the rego is transferred, which must happen within 14 days of purchase.

Do I need a green slip for an unregistered vehicle?

Yes, to register it. For a used light vehicle, the green slip must be a 12 month policy from a NSW insurer. It isn't valid until the vehicle is registered.

How can I move an unregistered car?

An unregistered vehicle permit allows a specific journey by the most direct route, and its fee includes CTP for roads and road-related areas. Written-off vehicles aren't eligible.

Do I get a refund on the green slip when I sell my car?

No. SIRA says the CTP stays with the vehicle, so there's no refund. You can factor it into the price.

Can I use my interstate CTP in NSW?

Not once the vehicle is registered in NSW. Service NSW requires NSW CTP to register an interstate vehicle, along with a blue slip issued within 42 days.