Green Slip vs Rego: Which Do You Pay First?
In NSW the Green Slip always comes first, because you cannot renew registration without it. Everywhere else, CTP is simply part of the rego bill.
NSW rego and Green Slip cost calculator
Add Transport for NSW's registration charges to your own Green Slip quote to see the full 12-month renewal. We never estimate the Green Slip: only an insurer can price it.
Registration fee and motor vehicle tax for private use from 1 July 2026, from Transport for NSW, which calls its tax figures indicative; your renewal notice is the final amount. Discount from Service NSW; pink slip maximum fees from Transport for NSW. Checked 10 October 2026. Not included: business-use tax, lower-taxed vehicles, number plate fees and late fees.
In New South Wales you pay the Green Slip first, then the rego. The Green Slip is your compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, and Service NSW will not renew a registration without one, so buying it is always step one. Most insurers send the policy to Transport for NSW electronically, which means you can usually renew online straight afterwards.
Outside NSW there is no separate step. Every other state and territory collects CTP as part of the registration bill, so the question of which comes first does not arise. What differs is whether you get to pick the insurer.
What a Green Slip is, and what rego is
They are two different things that happen to be tied together:
- Registration (rego) is the government’s permission for a vehicle to use public roads. In NSW it is administered by Transport for NSW and renewed through Service NSW.
- A Green Slip is CTP insurance, which covers injuries and deaths caused by the vehicle. It is sold by six insurers licensed by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA), and you choose which one.
The link between them is legal: SIRA says you must have a Green Slip before you can register any vehicle in NSW, and a new one must be bought before the current one expires to keep the registration. Neither covers damage to your car or anyone else’s; that needs separate car insurance.
The NSW renewal, step by step
| Step | What to do | Timing and details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Renewal notice | Check the notice for the due date and whether an inspection is needed | Notices arrive 4 to 6 weeks before the due date |
| 2. Pink slip (if needed) | Get a safety inspection report | Needed for most light vehicles more than 5 years old; valid for 6 months from issue |
| 3. Green Slip | Compare with SIRA’s Green Slip Price Check, then buy from a licensed insurer | Buy it for the same term (6 or 12 months) as the registration you want |
| 4. Insurer notifies Transport for NSW | Nothing to do for most insurers | Most insurers send the policy electronically |
| 5. Renew the rego | Renew online with your plate or billing number, or at a service centre | Online up to 3 months before expiry, with a renewal notice |
| 6. Keep the receipt | Save it with your records | A new certificate is mailed within 7 days if you changed the term or usage |
Source: Service NSW and SIRA, checked 28 September 2026.
To find the cheapest insurer at step 3, see our guide to finding the cheapest Green Slip in NSW. You do not have to stay with the insurer on your renewal notice: to see how to renew your Green Slip with each of the six, and what each needs from you, see our NSW Green Slip page. Riders can read about Green Slips for motorbikes.
The Green Slip term decides the rego term
Service NSW is explicit: the CTP term you buy determines the registration period you can renew for. Most light vehicles up to 4.5 tonnes can be registered for 6 or 12 months; trailers and heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes can use 3 or 6-month terms. If you want to switch from a 12-month to a 6-month registration, buy a 6-month Green Slip.
There is also a time limit on the shorter term. If you renew for 6 months, the Green Slip must be paid and the registration renewed no later than 21 days after the registration’s expiry.
Vehicles that do not need a separate Green Slip
Trailers and caravans do not need a Green Slip. Conditionally registered vehicles, such as some historic, recreational and purpose-built vehicles, have CTP included in the registration: Service NSW says the QBE CTP tax invoice is mailed to the registered operator after renewal.
What rego and a Green Slip cost together in NSW
Your NSW renewal is two bills: the Green Slip, priced by the insurer you choose, and the registration charges set by Transport for NSW, which include motor vehicle tax based on the car’s tare weight. The table sets out each part for a privately registered car for 12 months.
| Part of the renewal | Private car, 12 months | Set by |
|---|---|---|
| Green Slip | Your own price: SIRA’s Green Slip Price Check shows all six insurers’ prices for your details | The insurer you choose. Every price includes GST and SIRA’s Fund Levy, which averaged $190.60 per policy from 15 January 2026 |
| Registration fee | $84 | Transport for NSW (all vehicles, from 1 July 2026) |
| Motor vehicle tax | $278 to $1,525, by tare weight (table below) | Transport for NSW (private use, from 1 July 2026) |
| 2026-27 registration discount | Up to $100 off the motor vehicle tax ($50 for each 6-month period) | NSW Government, for eligible private vehicles with an effective renewal date from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027, applied automatically |
| Safety check (pink slip), if needed | Up to $52 | Maximum fee set by Transport for NSW, from 1 July 2026. Most light vehicles more than 5 years old need one |
Sources: Transport for NSW, Vehicle registration fees and Vehicle safety check and inspection fees; Service NSW, Private vehicle registration discount; SIRA, How prices are set. Read 10 October 2026.
Motor vehicle tax for a private car, station wagon or truck depends on its tare (unladen) weight, which is on your registration certificate and is rounded to the nearest 10 kg. Transport for NSW calls these figures indicative; your renewal notice is the final amount.
| Tare weight | Motor vehicle tax, private use, 12 months |
|---|---|
| Up to 970 kg | $278 |
| 971 to 1,150 kg | $322 |
| 1,151 to 1,500 kg | $391 |
| 1,501 to 2,500 kg | $596 |
| 2,501 to 2,790 kg | $860 |
| 2,791 to 3,050 kg | $977 |
| 3,051 to 3,300 kg | $1,070 |
| 3,301 to 3,560 kg | $1,164 |
| 3,561 to 3,810 kg | $1,249 |
| 3,811 to 4,060 kg | $1,343 |
| 4,061 to 4,320 kg | $1,434 |
| 4,321 to 4,500 kg | $1,525 |
Source: Transport for NSW, Vehicle registration fees (fees increased by 2.65% from 1 July 2026).
So a private car with a tare weight of 1,300 kg pays $84 plus $391 in registration charges, less the discount if it applies, on top of whatever its Green Slip costs. A private motorcycle pays the same $84 registration fee and $87 in motor vehicle tax, with up to $80 off under the 2026-27 discount. Vehicles used for business pay a higher motor vehicle tax.
Two concessions change the picture. Eligible NSW pensioners pay no registration fee or motor vehicle tax on one vehicle, but still buy a Green Slip, and vehicles already receiving a registration concession do not also get the 2026-27 discount. Neither changes the Green Slip: that price is the insurer’s, which is why the Price Check, not the registration calculator, is where you save on it.
What happens if your rego lapses
If you do not renew by the expiry date, the vehicle is unregistered. Service NSW warns that driving an unregistered vehicle is illegal, carries heavy penalties and can mean the vehicle is not covered by CTP insurance. That last point is the serious one: if you injure someone in an uninsured vehicle, you can be personally liable for their medical and compensation costs.
You can still renew online for up to 3 months after expiry, but the new registration period starts from the date you pay while the expiry date stays the same, so you lose the lapsed weeks. After 3 months unregistered, the vehicle has to be re-registered at a service centre.
Buying, selling and cancelling
The Green Slip belongs to the vehicle, not the owner. When you sell a registered car in NSW, the remaining Green Slip passes to the buyer, and SIRA says you are not entitled to a refund: it suggests factoring the unused cover into your sale price.
A partial refund is only available when the vehicle becomes unregistered because an insurer wrote it off, it went to an auto wrecker or it was stolen. You cancel the registration in person at a Service NSW centre, then send the letter or receipt to your CTP insurer, which may deduct an administration fee. Our page on how to compare Green Slips in NSW covers the refund rules too.
How it works in the other states
| State | Is CTP part of rego? | Do you choose the insurer? | How and when |
|---|---|---|---|
| VIC | Yes: the TAC charge | No | Collected with registration; 3, 6 or 12-month terms |
| QLD | Yes | Yes (3 insurers) | Nominate through the Department of Transport and Main Roads; a change applies from the next renewal |
| SA | Yes | Yes (5 insurers) | Choose at every renewal; new vehicles are allocated the cheapest insurer and can switch within 3 months |
| WA | Yes: Motor Injury Insurance | No | Paid with your vehicle licence through the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure |
| TAS | Yes: the MAIB premium | No | Paid with registration annually, six-monthly or quarterly |
| ACT | Yes: MAI insurance | Yes (4 insurers) | Choose each time you buy MAI insurance with registration |
| NT | Yes: part of registration charges | No | Funds the MAC Scheme |
Sources: the regulator for each state, checked 28 September 2026.
In Queensland there is one timing trap. You can nominate a new CTP insurer at any time, but the change only takes effect from your next registration period, and it must reach DTMR on or before the expiry date on your renewal notice. Once you pay, you are locked in with the insurer at the time of payment until that registration period ends.
Moving an unregistered vehicle
Every state has a way to move an unregistered vehicle legally, and it always includes injury cover. In Queensland, you buy CTP from a licensed insurer before driving an unregistered vehicle to a DTMR centre, and DTMR may require an unregistered vehicle permit with a class 22 CTP certificate for other trips. Victoria’s Unregistered Vehicle Permit includes a TAC charge. In NSW, SIRA notes that vehicles with limited road access may qualify for conditional registration or an unregistered vehicle permit.
For the full picture, see how CTP works in all eight states and territories.
Frequently asked questions
Do I pay the Green Slip or rego first?
In NSW, the Green Slip. You buy it from a licensed insurer, which usually sends it to Transport for NSW electronically, and then renew the registration. In every other state and territory, CTP is paid as part of the registration itself.
How much is rego and a Green Slip in NSW?
It is two bills. The Green Slip is priced by the insurer you choose, so only a quote with your details can say; SIRA's Green Slip Price Check shows all six insurers' prices. Registration for a private car is the $84 registration fee plus motor vehicle tax of $278 to $1,525 a year depending on tare weight (from 1 July 2026), less up to $100 for eligible private vehicles renewing from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027.
How do I calculate my rego price in NSW?
Add the $84 registration fee to the motor vehicle tax for your car's tare weight, take off the 2026-27 discount if it applies, and add a pink slip if the car needs one. Transport for NSW's registration calculator works it out from your number plate, and your renewal notice shows the final amount. The Green Slip is a separate price from the insurer you choose.
Is a Green Slip the same as rego?
No. A Green Slip is compulsory third party insurance, which covers injuries caused by your vehicle. Registration is the government's permission to use the vehicle on the road. In NSW you need a current Green Slip to register or renew.
Is CTP included in rego?
In Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory, yes: the CTP charge is collected with your registration. In NSW it is a separate purchase from an insurer.
How early can I renew my rego in NSW?
Service NSW says you can renew online up to 3 months before the expiry date, as long as you have a renewal notice. A notice can be generated early by calling 13 77 88 or visiting a service centre. You need a Green Slip for the new period first.
Can I drive with an expired Green Slip?
No. A new Green Slip must be bought before the current one expires to keep the registration, and SIRA warns that driving without an up-to-date policy can lead to a fine. An unregistered vehicle may not be covered by CTP at all.
Do I need a pink slip before a Green Slip?
They are separate requirements and neither depends on the other, but you need both before you renew. Most light vehicles more than 5 years old need a safety inspection report, which is valid for 6 months from the date of issue.