The sticker price is not the price. Here are the four costs you pay on top in NSW, with worked examples and a calculator that adds up your whole drive-away figure in one place.
On a $20,000 car in NSW you are typically looking at around $1,150 to $1,600 on top of the price before you put petrol in it: stamp duty, the transfer fee, a CTP green slip, and a pink slip if the rego is nearly up. Here is how each one works, with the figures current for 2026. Always confirm against Service NSW and SIRA, as rates can change.
For passenger vehicles, NSW charges roughly 3% of the price up to $44,999, then $1,350 plus 5% on every dollar above $45,000. Duty is on the purchase price or market value, whichever is higher.
$20,000 at 3% is about $600 in stamp duty.
The first $45,000 is $1,350, then 5% on the remaining $5,000 is $250, for about $1,600 total.
Some buyers, such as eligible pensioners or certain disability cases, may qualify for concessions. Check the Service NSW exemptions list to see if any apply to you.
The registration transfer fee is a flat charge of around $36 at Service NSW, paid at the time you transfer the car into your name. It is separate from stamp duty.
A CTP green slip is compulsory third-party injury insurance you must hold before you can register. For a typical used car it runs about $450 to $900 a year.
Insurers price on risk. A 25-year-old garaging the car in Mount Druitt will usually pay more than a 45-year-old in Manly for the same vehicle. It is the one cost here you can actually shop around on.
Use the NSW Government SIRA green slip comparison tool to compare every CTP insurer for your exact car and circumstances in one place. It is free and often saves real money.
If the registration has under 6 months left, you generally need a pink slip (eSafety inspection), around $47, before the rego can be renewed. If it has more than 6 months left, you usually do not need one just to transfer. A pink slip is a minimum roadworthy check, not a pre-purchase inspection.
Enter the car price and adjust the estimates. This gives you a realistic all-in figure. Treat CTP as an estimate; use the SIRA tool for an exact quote.
Estimates for 2026 NSW passenger vehicles. Confirm stamp duty with Service NSW and CTP with the SIRA green slip tool. Figures are a guide, not a quote.
Stamp duty and CTP are sunk costs once you have bought. A pre-purchase inspection before you pay is the one spend that can change the price or save you from the whole transaction. Get a quote across Sydney.
Signed transfer details from the seller, your proof of identity, and proof of registration entitlement.
Lodge through your Service NSW account online, or visit a service centre if you prefer.
Pay the vehicle stamp duty at transfer. Keep the receipt with your records.
You have 14 days from purchase to transfer the rego and pay stamp duty. Miss it and you can face a late transfer fee and interest on the duty, and you remain exposed if the car is involved in anything while still in the seller's name. Do it promptly.
Every step from shortlist to drive-away.
Read the guide ›Your rights at Fair Trading and NCAT.
Know your rights ›The one cost that can still change the deal.
Get in touch ›For passenger vehicles, stamp duty is about 3% of the price up to $44,999, then $1,350 plus 5% on the amount above $45,000. A $20,000 car is roughly $600 in duty.
You have 14 days from the date of purchase to transfer the registration and pay stamp duty. Miss it and you can face a late fee and penalties.
CTP is priced on factors like the driver's age, the vehicle, and the garaging postcode. Younger drivers and some Western Sydney postcodes pay more. Compare insurers on the SIRA green slip tool.
If the registration has under 6 months left, you generally need a pink slip (eSafety check) before renewal. If it has more than 6 months, you usually do not need one to transfer.
We refer across Western Sydney and the surrounding areas. Our local mechanics come to the vehicle, wherever it is.
Our local mechanic inspects the car and keeps you informed at every step - whether you come along or leave it to them.
Turn up at the car, watch the checks first-hand and ask questions on the spot. Tell us in your request that you want to attend and the mechanic will work around you when they agree a time.
Can't be there? The mechanic carries out the full inspection for you, then calls you with the findings once they have finished. You never have to take the seller's word for it.
Tell us about the car. The make, year and the suburb it is in, plus anything you are worried about.
We alert local mechanics. Your details go to our local mechanics who cover that council.
They call you. The mechanic quotes their price and agrees a time window with you directly.
On the day. They ring the seller about 20 minutes before arriving, then inspect the car on site.
Get the results. A clear verbal summary, plus a written report if you asked for the Comprehensive Inspection.
It rarely happens - most inspections run exactly to plan. But if we can't reach your nominated contact, we don't simply leave. The mechanic makes three touchpoints across about 35 minutes: a call around 20 minutes before arrival, a call and text on arrival, and one more call after waiting 15 minutes. If there is still no answer, the mechanic rings you personally to agree the next steps - your booking is never wasted.
Most are arranged a few days ahead, inside 8am to 8pm. Need it sooner, or outside those hours? Say so in your request and we will flag it to the mechanics.
We verify ABN and licence before a local mechanic joins the network, and we only refer independents with no dealer ties.
Sedans, hatchbacks, wagons, SUVs, 4WDs, AWDs, utes, vans, people movers, coupes and convertibles. Not motorbikes or trucks.
These take longer and need extra expertise, so we match them with one of our local mechanics who knows the marque. Expect the quote to reflect that. As a guide:
Not sure which applies to your car? Put the make, model and year in your request and the mechanic will confirm everything in their quote - no surprises.
A used car is one of the biggest purchases you'll make, and the seller isn't on your side. An independent mechanic going over the car, and a plain-language walk-through of what they found, put the facts in your hands before you sign anything or hand over a deposit.
Get a quoteTell us about the car and where it is. We pass your details to our local mechanics who cover your area, and they call you to organise a time and quote their price.
