New South Wales roadworthy guide: eSafety Check
In New South Wales the roadworthy is officially called the eSafety Check, commonly called a Pink Slip. It typically costs $47–$75 for a car (average around $61), and is valid 42 days from issue.
Need an inspection in New South Wales?
Pick your vehicle type to see what's required and find a mobile inspector.
What it's called in New South Wales
In NSW the annual safety check is officially the eSafety Check, commonly called a Pink Slip. Required for most vehicles 5+ years old at registration renewal.
The official document is the eSafety Check, in everyday speech the Pink Slip. Both names refer to the same regulatory inspection.
When you need one
- Annual registration renewal for vehicles 5+ years old (Pink Slip / eSafety Check)
- Re-registering an unregistered vehicle (Blue Slip)
- Registering a vehicle that has been transferred from interstate (Blue Slip)
- After a written-off vehicle has been repaired (Blue Slip)
- Following a defect notice (depending on severity, Pink or Blue Slip)
How long it's valid
A Pink Slip in New South Wales is valid 42 days from the date of issue. Time the inspection close to the sale or registration date, once the certificate expires, you must inspect again at full cost. Mobile inspectors who work weekends are especially useful when a sale is taking longer than expected.
What it costs
A standard car Pink Slip in New South Wales costs $47–$75, with an average around $61. Mobile inspectors charge a small premium over fixed-station rates to cover travel time, usually $20–$40, and may apply a same-day or weekend loading on top. Heavier vehicles, motorhomes and HVRAS-required jobs cost significantly more because of the time involved and the inspector's specialist authorisation.
What gets checked
The regulator's checklist for a light vehicle in New South Wales covers approximately ten major categories. The inspector works through each one and records pass or fail per item.
- Tyres, tread, condition, matching specifications
- Brakes, pedal effort, parking brake, hydraulic integrity
- Steering, play, lock-to-lock operation
- Suspension, bushes, shocks, ride height
- Lights, front and rear lamps, indicators, plate light
- Wipers, washers, windscreen condition
- Seatbelts, webbing, retractors, anchorages
- Body, structural rust, sharp edges
- Exhaust, leaks, emissions equipment intact
- Identification, engine number, VIN match
What happens if it fails
- You have **14 days** to rectify and re-present at the same Authorised Inspection Station for a discounted re-inspection.
- A failed Pink Slip does not suspend registration on its own, registration only lapses if you do not get a passing inspection before the rego expiry.
- Blue Slip fails are typically more substantial and may require workshop work before re-inspection.
- Outside the 14-day window, the original inspection is void and you book a fresh full inspection.
Mobile vs fixed: pros and cons
Mobile pros
- Mobile inspectors travel to your home or workplace, convenient for renewals when the car is at a workplace carpark all week
- Same-day availability across Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong and Central Coast
- No need to drive an unregistered car to a Blue Slip station, the inspector comes to you
- Several mobile operators specialise in either Pink Slip or Blue Slip and can advise on the correct inspection
Mobile cons
- Travel fee usually $20–$40 in Sydney metro
- Blue Slip requires a more thorough inspection that some mobile operators do not hold the authority for, confirm at booking
- Heavy vehicles (>4.5 tonnes GVM) are inspected separately by HVRAS-approved examiners
Heavy vehicles, caravans and motorcycles
Heavy vehicles in NSW require an HVRAS (Heavy Vehicle Roadworthiness Assessor Scheme) inspection rather than a Pink or Blue Slip. The scheme is administered by Transport for NSW and the inspector pool is much smaller.
Motorcycles fall under the Pink Slip / Blue Slip framework but require a motorcycle-authorised inspector.
Caravans and trailers under 4.5 tonnes ATM follow the same framework as light vehicles. LPG-equipped caravans need a separate Gas Compliance Certificate at sale.
Blue Slip (Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection)
The Blue Slip is a separate inspection from the Pink Slip and is required in different circumstances. Required when re-registering an unregistered vehicle, registering an interstate vehicle in NSW, or after a written-off vehicle is repaired. More thorough than a Pink Slip.
A Blue Slip is more thorough than a Pink Slip. It includes vehicle identification (engine and VIN cross-check), structural condition, and emissions equipment in addition to the standard safety items.
Mobile inspectors who hold the Blue Slip authority can come to your driveway, which is the easiest path for an unregistered vehicle. Confirm the operator holds the authorisation when booking, it is separate from the Pink Slip authority.
A Blue Slip costs more than a Pink Slip, typically $80–$120, and is required in these scenarios: unregistered vehicle re-registration, interstate vehicle transfer into NSW, repaired write-off return to register, and certain defect-related re-inspections.
Government source
For the current authoritative text, fees and forms, see Service NSW, Vehicle inspections.