Green Slip Refunds in NSW: When You Can Get Money Back

Your car's been written off with nine months left on the green slip, and you'd like that money back. In NSW you often can get part of it, but only once the vehicle's registration is cancelled, and never just because you sold the car. Here's when a refund applies, how to claim it and what to expect, based on SIRA and Service NSW 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. Refund amounts and fees are set by each insurer, so we don't quote figures.

When you can get a refund

SIRA's Cancelled policy refunds page (updated 19 December 2024) says you may be able to get a partial refund from your insurer if your vehicle becomes unregistered. It gives three examples:

• the vehicle has been written off
• the vehicle has been taken to a wrecker
• the vehicle has been stolen

The trigger is the registration being cancelled. While the vehicle stays registered, the green slip stays in force, and there's nothing to refund.

The refund is partial. SIRA says it's calculated from the date the registration was cancelled, and the insurer may deduct an administration fee. Each insurer sets its own refund calculation and fee, so we can't tell you what you'll get back. Your insurer can.

When you can't get a refund

Selling a registered vehicle doesn't give you a refund. SIRA says the CTP stays with the vehicle when it's sold, so it suggests factoring the remaining green slip into your sale price.

That's because the green slip is attached to the vehicle, not to you. When a buyer takes over a registered car, the NSW Government says the CTP transfers automatically with the registration and the buyer has nothing to do until renewal.

Sometimes a seller cancels the rego to claim the refund before selling. Service NSW's buying guide warns buyers that the green slip won't transfer if the seller has done that, or if it has expired. The buyer then needs a green slip of their own. Our guide to buying, selling and unregistered vehicles covers both sides.

How to claim a green slip refund, step by step

1. Cancel the registration. SIRA says to visit a Service NSW centre in person to cancel the rego.
2. Keep the cancellation letter or receipt. SIRA says Service NSW will issue a letter or receipt showing the cancellation date. That date is what the refund is worked out from.
3. Send it to your CTP insurer. Give the letter or receipt to the insurer that issued your green slip and ask for a refund of the unused CTP.
4. Check the amount. The insurer calculates the refund from the cancellation date and may take out an administration fee.

If you're not sure who your CTP insurer is, check your renewal notice or green slip paperwork. SIRA's list of licensed insurers (updated 13 April 2026) names AAMI, Allianz, GIO, NRMA, QBE and Youi. Each explains its own refund process on its website:

• AAMI
• Allianz
• GIO
• NRMA
• QBE
• Youi

The list is alphabetical and isn't a ranking. Our fact sheets for AAMI, Allianz, GIO, NRMA and QBE set out what each insurer's own site says about cancelling.

Written-off vehicles

A write-off can mean two separate refunds. Service NSW's Cancel the registration on a written-off vehicle page says you may be able to get:

• a refund of the remaining CTP from your insurer, worked out from the cancellation date
• a refund of unused motor vehicle tax from Service NSW

They come from different places. The green slip refund is between you and your CTP insurer. The motor vehicle tax refund is part of the registration side, handled by Service NSW.

If the write-off was caused by a crash in which someone was hurt, the injury claim is a different matter again. Our CTP claims guide explains how that works.

Cancelling rego for other reasons

You might cancel registration because the car is off the road for good, being stored, or leaving NSW. Service NSW's Cancel vehicle registration within NSW page says there's a cancellation fee, and you can apply for a refund of unused motor vehicle tax.

Whether there's a CTP refund depends on the same rule as above: once the rego is cancelled, you can take the cancellation letter or receipt to your insurer and ask about a partial refund from the cancellation date.

What cancelling does to the car

Cancelling the rego to get the refund has knock-on effects, so think about what happens to the vehicle next.

• It can't be driven on the road. SIRA says driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal and can bring heavy fines and, in some cases, jail.
• A buyer won't get a green slip with it. Service NSW says a cancelled green slip doesn't transfer to the buyer.
• Moving it needs a permit. An unregistered vehicle permit includes CTP for a specific journey, but Service NSW says written-off vehicles aren't eligible.
• Coming back after 3 months means re-registering. Once a vehicle has been unregistered for more than 3 months, it needs an AUVIS (blue slip) inspection to be registered again.

Refund-style pricing

There's one other kind of refund in the rules, and it's different from cancelling. SIRA's Motor Accident Guidelines (version 10.1, from 12 December 2025) allow insurers to refund part of a premium during or after the policy, based on recorded safe driving data or distance travelled. An insurer needs SIRA's approval for the method first. The guidelines allow it. Whether any insurer offers it is a question for the insurer.

What this means for you

If your car is written off, wrecked or stolen, the order is: cancel the rego at Service NSW, keep the paperwork, then contact your CTP insurer for the refund. Ask Service NSW about the motor vehicle tax refund as well.

If you're selling a car that still has rego, there's no green slip refund to claim. The time left on the green slip is part of what the buyer gets, which is why SIRA suggests reflecting it in your asking price.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get a refund on a green slip in NSW?

Sometimes. SIRA says you may get a partial refund from your insurer if the vehicle becomes unregistered, for example because it was written off, taken to a wrecker or stolen.

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

No. SIRA says there's no refund when you sell a registered vehicle, because the CTP stays with the vehicle. You can factor the remaining cover into the sale price.

How is a green slip refund calculated?

From the date the registration was cancelled. The insurer may deduct an administration fee, and each insurer sets its own calculation.

Can I cancel my rego online to get a CTP refund?

SIRA says to visit a Service NSW centre in person to cancel registration. Then give the cancellation letter or receipt to your insurer.

Who pays the refund, Service NSW or the insurer?

The green slip refund comes from your CTP insurer. Any refund of unused motor vehicle tax comes from Service NSW.