SpruikrAnswer · reviewed 2026-09-27
How much does a pink slip cost in NSW?
Short answer
From 1 July 2026 the maximum fee for a NSW light vehicle safety check (pink slip) is $52 including GST. Motorcycles are $29, trailers without brakes $27, and trailers with brakes $41. The fee is set by Transport for NSW and is the same at every Authorised Inspection Scheme station.
The fee is capped, not quoted
This is a government-set maximum, not a market rate. An AIS station cannot charge more than $52 for a light vehicle check, so any station quoting $75 or $90 for the inspection itself is either adding a separate service on top or is not charging correctly. Repairs needed to pass are a separate cost and are not capped.
Current fees
| Light vehicle | $52 |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle | $29 |
| Trailer without brakes | $27 |
| Trailer with brakes | $41 |
All figures include GST and apply from 1 July 2026. Heavy vehicles use a separate schedule.
How long it lasts
The report is valid for 180 days. Renew the registration inside that window or the check has to be done again at full price, and there is no grace period. Two to four weeks before expiry is the sensible booking window: early enough to fix a fail, late enough that the report will not lapse.
If the car fails
A fail is not a second fee, provided you go back to the same station inside 14 days. Change station, or let the fortnight pass, and the full fee applies again. That is the most commonly paid avoidable cost in the process, and it is avoided by asking the examiner at the counter when the 14 days end.
Mobile inspections
The $52 check fee is identical for a mobile provider, because it is capped. What differs is the call-out or travel fee they add on top, which is not regulated. They should disclose it before booking.
Who needs one
The renewal notice decides, not the car's age. Age is the rule of thumb (broadly, light vehicles past their fifth year, dated from the compliance plate) but the notice is the authority, and booking an inspection because the car feels old enough is how people pay for one they did not need. Check the paper or digital notice first.
Sources
- Vehicle safety check and inspection fees, NSW Government (Transport for NSW). Checked 2026-09-27.
- Safety checks and vehicle inspections, NSW Government. Checked 2026-09-27.
Government fees are quoted from the government source. Market prices are the observed spread across the guides listed, not our estimate. Prices change; the checked date is when a human last looked.
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