On May 29, the six-month trial of mobile safety inspections, which are required to register a vehicle – will begin in the Illawarra.

The trial will also take place in the Central Coast, Hunter and Sydney metropolitan areas.

“The trial aims to ensure mobile pink slip inspections can be delivered in a safe and effective way, on top of improving convenience and flexibility for motorists,” Roads Minister Melinda Pavey said during the launch late last week.

Motor Traders Association NSW CEO Stavros Yallouridis has expressed concern about what the scheme will do to small businesses.

However, a Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman said the inspectors are already working in garages and service stations.

“All participants are private operators who responded to an Expression of Interest request through the NSW tenders site,” the spokeswoman said.

“The examiners are currently approved by Roads and Maritime Services and have been working at fixed inspections stations for several years.”

The spokeswoman said a table of approved proprietors participating in the trial will be available on the Roads and Maritime Services website from May 29.

A potential weakness in the trial is that it will end up being more expensive to get a mobile safety inspector to come to your house than it would be to take your car to the mechanic yourself.

“The pink slip will cost the same but there may be a call-out fee which must be discussed with the customer before the service is provided,” the spokeswoman said.

“It will be cheaper at the fixed station but the mobile service aims to provide flexibility and convenience.”

At the end of the six-month trial, Roads and Maritime Services will consider issues like customer satisfaction, the safety of carrying out inspections in the field, compliance with Work Health and Safety regulations when deciding whether to roll the scheme out across the state.