Motorcycle Green Slip NSW Explained: Everything Riders Need to Know About CTP

A green slip is proof that a vehicle in NSW is covered by compulsory third party (CTP) personal injury insurance, which covers the injury costs of people involved in a crash. It is a legal requirement for motorbikes, and is purchased during the registration process. Green slips are typically cheaper for lower-powered bikes. Their limited coverage means they should always be paired with either third party property or comprehensive insurance.

What you need to know about green slips:

• A green slip is proof of compulsory third party (CTP) insurance.
• You need a green slip to register and legally ride your bike in NSW.
• It covers the personal injury costs of people involved in a crash.
• It should be paired with third party property or comprehensive insurance.
• Green slips cost less for motorcycles with lower engine capacities.

There's an element of risk to riding a motorcycle, a fact of life that riders accept for the thrill of rolling on two wheels. And sometimes that risk turns into reality – accidents that the rider is often responsible for.

Green slips are the NSW government's attempt to mitigate the risks of riding on the open road.

At Bikebiz, Sydney's #1 motorcycle dealer, we've spent the last 25 years helping riders stay safe on the roads. In this guide, we'll tell you everything you need to know about green slips (aka CTP insurance): what they are, how they work, and a few other things you can do to maximise your on-road protection.

What is a CTP green slip (and what does it actually cover)?

Before you can register your motorbike in NSW, you have to purchase a compulsory third party (CTP) personal injury insurance policy, also known as a green slip.

There's no nice way to put it: green slips are there to offer financial assistance if the very worst were to occur.

This insurance is designed to cover a rider in the event that they cause injury or death in an accident, taking care of costs relating to both the rider and the other victims of the accident: the medical bills, the rehab, and any compensation for injured third parties (pedestrians, cyclists, your pillion passenger, other drivers/riders). Green slips can even provide up to six months of medical and wage loss coverage for the rider at fault.

It's important to note that green slips only cover personal injuries. They don't cover the cost of damaged vehicles or property. For this reason, you really need to pair your green slip with another policy.

CTP vs third-party property vs comprehensive insurance

There are three main types of motorcycle insurance:

• CTP (green slip): Mandatory by law. Only covers injuries.
• Third party property: Not mandatory by law, but essential, as it covers the damage you cause to other people's vehicles or property in an accident (but not your own).
• Comprehensive: Optional, but highly recommended, as it covers all costs incurred in an accident, as well as in cases of theft or fire: injuries, and damage to all vehicles and property, including your own.

At bare minimum, a rider should have both CTP and third party property insurance, but for full protection and peace of mind, comprehensive insurance is 100% the way to go.

How much does a motorcycle green slip cost in NSW?

Green slips are offered by a range of insurers: the likes of NRMA, Allianz and QBE offer CTP insurance for motorcycles, and each sets its own prices, though they all typically sit around the same mark.

The price is primarily determined by your bike's engine size, because the bigger the engine, the faster it goes, and the riskier the ride. The official SIRA motorcycle greenslip classifications separate bikes into the following motorbike green slip engine capacity brackets:

• Class 10(d): 225cc and under (including electric motorcycles)
• Class 10(e): 226cc to 725cc
• Class 10(f): 726cc to 1125cc
• Class 10(g): 1126cc to 1325cc
• Class 10(h): Over 1325cc

If you're looking to keep your on-road costs low, it's wise to keep your engine capacity low. Base premiums change with every tier, so dropping down just a few cubic centimetres, say from a 250cc to a 225cc bike, can end up saving you a lot of money. Capacity-limited LAMS bikes are a good shout: our guide to the best LAMS motorcycles is a great starting point, as is our range of used LAMS bikes.

The official green slips site has a calculator that you can use to check exactly what you'll pay for your CTP insurance.

Kit up: Green slips protects others, gear protects you

CTP insurance satisfies your legal obligations, and covers the often sky-high injury costs that are incurred in an accident. But the best approach is to not get injured in the first place.

Quality road gear is the most effective insurance you can buy. If you hit the deck, it prevents friction burns, broken bones or worse. Before you roll down the driveway, make sure you're covered in armour that's up to the task:

• Motorcycle Helmet: Your bonce doesn't bounce. A helmet is your single most important piece of protection, so you should never compromise. And if you choose from the Bikebiz range of lids, you won't have to.
• Motorcycle Jacket: Home to all your other vital organs, your torso also deserves top tier slide and impact protection. There's something for everyone in our massive range of motorcycle jackets, all of which wrap you up safely and completely up.
• Motorcycle Pants: Standard denim or cotton will shred instantly in a high-speed slide. Purpose-built motorcycle pants are abrasion-resistant, tear-resistant, and have armour in all the right places, to keep your skin and joints intact.
• Motorcycle Boots: Your ankles and feet are quite vulnerable during a slide. Sprains, fractures, burns and crush injuries are all too common, but they're far less likely when you ride in a pair of reinforced motorcycle boots.
• Motorcycle Gloves: It's natural to brace your fall with your hands, but if you're falling onto tarmac at 100+kph the instinct is less than ideal. Fortify your knuckles and palms, and keep your digits protected from wind chill, with a quality pair of motorcycle gloves.

Green slip secured and body covered, you're ready to hit the road… (hopefully not literally, but if you do, you'll at least be protected).

Motorcycle green slip FAQs

Can I register my motorcycle without a green slip in NSW?

No chance. The rules of compulsory third party insurance in NSW state that a valid green slip is a strict legal requirement – which makes sense, because accident victims can't be left high and dry if the at-fault rider doesn't have the money to pay all the costs incurred. Service NSW will not let you finalise your motorbike rego until you lock in a policy.

Do I need to print my green slip to take to Service NSW?

No, those days are long gone. When you buy a policy online from providers like NRMA, QBE or Allianz, they send a digital confirmation, called an e-green slip, straight to Transport for NSW. You can renew your NSW motorcycle rego online without cutting down a single tree.

Is CTP cheaper for learner riders?

It often is cheaper, but not because the rider is a learner. The biggest factor in the cost of your green slip is the engine capacity of your bike, and learners are limited in that regard by LAMS rules. But inexperience is a counterbalancing factor for insurers: younger riders haven't built up their skills or a proven riding record, and they typically take more risks, so a learner's CTP insurance may not be dramatically cheaper than average.

Does my green slip cover my bike if it gets stolen?

No, it does not. A green slip only provides personal injury and medical coverage for people hurt in an accident. If you want cover that protects you if your bike is stolen, you'll need a comprehensive motorcycle insurance policy.

How long is a motorcycle green slip valid for?

Your green slip aligns with whatever registration period you choose. For motorcycles, you can choose either a six- or twelve-month rego period.

Can I transfer my green slip to the new owner if I sell my bike?

You sure can. In New South Wales the green slip is part and parcel of the motorbike rego, so it transfers over to the new owner if the registration changes hands.

Get road-ready with Bikebiz

Now that you know how motorcycle green slips work in NSW, you're ready to safely and legally hit the road. And we're ready to hook you up with your dream bike and gear.

As Sydney's #1 motorcycle dealer, at Bikebiz we're home to an unparalleled range of new and used bikes, and a huge collection of high-end road gear from the world's best brands. Whatever your wants, needs or style, we've got the kit you're looking for.

Browse our massive range of bikes and road gear online today, or roll down to our Parramatta or Granville showrooms to kick some tyres and get an in-store fitting.