If your registration is due, always compare green slip prices first. You may find a cheaper price than your current insurer offers. In fact, there are 10 ways you could make your green slip cheaper.
10 factors affect green slip prices
Your green slip price is based on information about you, your vehicle, and your driving history. It’s also affected by the insurer’s appetite for risk, current cost of claims, and business conditions.
We look at 10 factors that could make your green slip cheaper next time:
- Vehicle type, age, make and model
- Where you live
- Your age and driving experience
- Having P plates
- Motor insurance on the vehicle
- How far you drive in a year and whether you commute
- Demerit points
- Serious traffic offences that lead to licence suspension or cancellation
- Any accidents and at-fault claims
- Having a current greenslip
See how green slip prices are set.
1. Vehicle type, age, make and model
What’s the cheaper option?
Try to choose a newer, safer type or model when you update your vehicle. Some vehicle types usually get cheaper green slips than others:
- Greenslips for motor cars are usually cheaper than for utes or vans.
- Vehicles with safety features usually get cheaper green slips than old vehicles.
Greenslip prices for ute or car
| Vehicle | Price range |
| Car | $570-$607 |
| Ute | $884-$939 |
| Extra paid | $314-$332 |
Prices at 1 August, SUV driver, 42.
The green slip calculator asks what type of vehicle you drive – motor car, ute/light goods vehicle or motorcycle.
- Large SUVs are usually classified as light goods vehicles, not motor cars.
- Research shows older vehicles are known to crash more often than newer ones.
2. Where you live
What’s the cheaper option?
- Country green slips are cheaper than Metro green slips because claims for serious injuries are higher in Metro areas.
- Changing where you live is difficult unless it’s part of a lifestyle plan.
Where you live affects your green slip price. Your postcode is allocated to one of 5 geographic rating areas:
- Metro
- Outer metro
- Wollongong
- Newcastle/Central Coast
- Country.
Greenslip prices in each area
| Area | Price range |
| Metro | $570-$613 |
| Wollongong | $474-$509 |
| Outer Metro | $440-$469 |
| Country |
$400-$429 |
| Newcastle/Central Coast |
$391-$418 |
Prices at 1 August, SUV driver, 42.
Essential to know
Five postcodes are split between 2 rating regions:
- If you live in a split postcode, it’s important to choose your suburb when using the green slip calculator.
- You don’t need to know your rating region.
3. Your age and driving experience
What’s the cheaper option?
Being 27 or older and having more driving experience is the cheaper option. Younger drivers can change other factors that affect their price, which benefit them when they’re older.
Greenslip prices by age
| Age | Price range |
| 23 | $728-$826 |
| 28 | $581-$641 |
| 40 | $570-$613 |
| 55 | $546-$632 |
| 65 | $546-$580 |
Prices at 1 August, Metro SUV driver.
Your age and the youngest driver’s age affect your green slip price because certain ages are higher risk:
- Drivers under 27 are higher risk
- While young drivers under 26 are 14% of all licence holders, they make up nearly a fifth of all road deaths and 18% of serious injuries in NSW.
Remember, if you’re the only driver of the vehicle, you’re also the youngest driver (you don’t have to be young).
4. Having P plates
What’s the cheaper option?
Once again, having a full licence and driving experience is the cheaper option. However, older drivers on P plates pay much the same as someone on a full licence.
Greenslip price by licence
| Licence | Price range |
| P plate | $570-$826 |
| Full licence | $570-$613 |
Prices at 1 August, Metro SUV driver, 30.
Drivers with more licensed years are less of a risk than drivers on P plates:
- A new P1-plater is 33 times more likely to crash than a learner
- Their risk of crashing halves 6 months after they get their P1.
5. Motor insurance on the vehicle
What’s the cheaper option?
Holding comprehensive or third party property insurance sometimes makes your green slip cheaper. You can buy motor insurance from any green slip or motor insurer to protect your vehicle and/or other people’s vehicles in an accident.
Greenslip prices with or without insurance
| Insurance status | Price range |
| With insurance | $570-$613 |
| Without insurance | $579-$826 |
| Extra paid | $9-$213 |
Price at 1 August, Metro SUV driver, 42.
One way insurers assess driver risk is by asking whether there is motor insurance on the vehicle.
Some people misunderstand motor insurance and ask why they need a green slip if they already have comprehensive insurance. Motor insurance is always to protect property only, not people.
6. How far you drive in a year and whether you commute
What’s the cheaper option?
It can be cheaper to reduce your commute by, say, taking public transport or car pooling. Only one insurer considers commute frequency.
Greenslip price by commute
| Commute | Greenslip price |
| 5 days | $1,021 |
| 3 days | $1,021 |
| 2 days | $988 |
| Rarely/never | $982 |
Prices at 1 August, Metro ute driver, 28.
People who spend more time on the road, such as tradies, are higher risk than someone who mainly works at home.
- Commuting to work or study may involve more risky peak hour travel.
7. Demerit points
What’s the cheaper option?
Don’t incur any demerit points. Improve your driving record from now by making sure you don’t get booked for any traffic offences and be aware how easy it is to get demerit points.
Greenslip prices by demerit points
| Demerit points | Price range |
| None | $886-$984 |
| 1-2 points | $1,118-$1,252 |
| 3 or more points | $1,136-$1,252 |
Prices at 1 August, Metro ute driver, 35.
Did you know demerit points remain on your driving record for 3 years? In fact, the real cost of demerit points is more than you think because you could pay extra for your green slip for up to 3 years.
8. Serious traffic offences leading to licence suspension or cancellation
What’s the cheaper option?
Don’t drink or drug drive. You may lose your licence and have to spend more money and time travelling. Make sure you drive safely and within the rules.
Drink and drug driving are the kinds of serious traffic offences that lead to licence suspension or cancellation. However, exceeding the limit for demerit points also leads to licence suspension.
9. Any accidents and at-fault claims
What’s the cheaper option?
Drive safely and make sure you have no more accidents. If you do, consider not making a claim if the injury or damage is only minor. Otherwise, it could cost you more in the long run.
Greenslip prices by at-fault claim for recent accident
| Accident and claim | Price range |
| No accident, no claim | $570-$615 |
| Accident and claim in last 2 years | $579-$826 |
| Accident and claim in last 5 years | $571-$821 |
Prices at 1 August, Metro SUV driver, 50.
Have you made an at-fault motor insurance claim in the last 2-5 years?
- Insurers see this as a sign you could make a successful claim again.
- This will put up your green slip price.
10. Having a current greenslip
What’s the cheaper option?
Having a current green slip is cheaper than letting it lapse. Renew your registration when it’s due.
If you don’t renew your registration within 3 months or buy an unregistered car, you have to start a new registration. This costs more than renewing registration:
New registration
- blue slip – $82
- number plates – $58
- 12-month green slip – $662 average.
- Total = $802
Renew registration
- 6-month green slip – $338 average
- Total = $338
Costs at 1 August 2026.
- It’s a good idea to use our free green slip calculator first.
- Compare the cheapest prices from all 6 insurers and choose the one that suits your pocket.
your opinion matters: