Aircraft Registration

Re-Registration and Renewal Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

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When is my plane due to Renew or Re-Register?

Aircraft registration renewal is due three years after the aircraft was registered or last renewed. The registration renewal due date is scheduled five months before registration expires.

You can determine the due date for your renewal application using the Aircraft Registration Renewal Schedule shown below. In the first column, find the expiration date shown on your aircraft’s Certificate of Aircraft Registration or in the on-line look up an N-number web page, then follow across the schedule to the third column titled Renewal Application Due Date, for the date that applies for your aircraft.

2013	Aircraft Registration Renewal Schedule			2014
For Registrations That Expire on This Date	A Renewal Notice Will be Mailed On or About This Date	Renewal Filing Window Renewal Application Due Date Last Timely Filing Day, On-line Renewal Ends		New Certificate Expiration Date
Oct, 31, 2013	May, 01, 2013	Jun, 01, 2013	Aug, 31, 2013	Oct, 31, 2016
Nov, 30, 2013	Jun, 01, 2013	Jul, 01, 2013	Sep, 30, 2013	Nov, 30, 2016
Dec, 31, 2013	Jul, 01, 2013	Aug, 01, 2013	Oct, 31, 2013	Dec, 31, 2016
Jan, 31, 2014	Aug, 01, 2013	Sep, 01, 2013	Nov, 30, 2013	Jan, 31, 2017
Feb, 29, 2014	Sep, 01, 2013	Oct, 01, 2013	Dec, 31, 2013	Feb, 29, 2017
Mar, 31, 2014	Oct, 01, 2013	Nov, 01, 2013	Jan, 31, 2014	Mar, 31, 2017
Apr, 30, 2014	Nov, 01, 2013	Dec, 01, 2013	Feb, 29, 2014	Apr, 30, 2017
May, 31, 2014	Dec, 01, 2013	Jan, 01, 2014	Mar, 31, 2014	May, 31, 2017
Jun, 30, 2014	Jan, 01, 2014	Feb, 01, 2014	Apr, 30, 2014	Jun, 30, 2017
Jul, 31, 2014	Feb, 01, 2014	Mar, 01, 2014	May, 31, 2014	Jul, 31, 2017
Aug, 31, 2014	Mar, 01, 2014	Apr, 01, 2014	Jun, 30, 2014	Aug, 31, 2017
Sep, 30, 2014	Apr, 01, 2014	May, 01, 2014	Jul, 31, 2014	Sep, 30, 2017
Oct, 31, 2014	May, 01, 2014	Jun, 01, 2014	Aug, 31, 2014	Oct, 31, 2017
Nov, 30, 2014	Jun, 01, 2014	Jul, 01, 2014	Sep, 30, 2014	Nov, 30, 2017
Dec, 31, 2014	Jul, 01, 2014	Aug, 01, 2014	Oct, 31, 2014	Dec, 31, 2017
An aircraft may not be operated unless a new registration certificate has been issued, and is carried in the aircraft.	This renewal notice contains the on-line application code and is mailed only to the address on file as of this date.	Renewal applications are due by mail or by on-line filing on this date.	When a good application is not filed at the Registry by this date, renewal certificates may be delivered after the old certificate expires.	These expiration dates will be shown on a renewal certificate when the renewal application is filed at the Registry before the old certificate expires.

When is my plane due for Re-registration?

Aircraft issued registration before October 1, 2010, that are to continue operating as a U.S. civil aircraft, must file a re-registration application with the FAA Aircraft Registry in accordance with the schedule shown below. This will enable the new registration certificate to be issued before the old registration certificate expires.

Aircraft Re-Registration Schedule

If the Certificate was issued in:	The Certificate Expires:	The Owner must apply for re-registration between these dates, - to allow for delivery of a new certificate before expiration.
December of any year	June 30,2013	February 1,2013 and April 30, 2013
January of any year	September,30,2013	May 1, 2013 and July 31, 2013
February of any year	December 31, 2013	August 1, 2013 and October 31, 2013
March through November of any year	The certificate has expired.	Application for registration may be made under 14 CFR § 47.35

To see when your aircraft's registration certificate was issued look up your registration here.

Will the FAA notify owners when it is time to Re-Register and Renew Registration?

Yes, the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch will send courtesy notices to the registered owner(s) of an aircraft at the mailing address on file. The notices will be mailed six months prior to their aircraft's registration expiration date. Owners should receive the notice before the opening of a three month window established for them to file their re-registration or renewal application. Filing an aircraft's re-registration or renewal application during the designated window allows time for processing the application and the delivery of a new certificate before the old certificate expires. Filing at the beginning of the window allows for the correction of application errors and replacement of certificates that were misdirected during delivery.

Is this the only notice that will be sent?

No. If the aircraft is not re-registered or renewed before the close of the designated filing window, the FAA will send a second courtesy notice advising the owner of the pending expiration and their options. A third notice will be sent when an aircraft's registration expires. It will inform the owner that the N-number assigned to the aircraft will be cancelled if the aircraft is not registered within 30 days.

Can I send in my application early?

Re-registration and renewal applications may be filed as much as 30 days before the three month filing window. Applications made more than 30 days early will be returned to the registered owner with instructions to re-file the application and fee during the assigned time interval. Fees sent with a premature application will be refunded under separate cover. It is advised to file at the beginning of the assigned window. This will allow time to resolve any issue that may arise and delay the new certificates arrival.

Can re-registration and renewal be completed on-line?

Yes, most aircraft owners should be able to re-register their aircraft or renew their registration on-line. The first notice sent will have a code that enables on-line application, provided the aircraft's current ownership and registration address(es) match what is shown in FAA records, the ownership still meets citizenship requirements, and the $5 fee can be paid by credit card. Please proceed carefully; the on-line code is good for one use only.

Can I mail my Re-Registration or Renewal form? / What's the address?

Yes, you can apply for re-registration by mail. Anyone who has registration changes to report or does not apply online during the suggested window will have to send their application by mail. The blank, forms are available on our registration Forms Page and may be completed on line.

For U.S. Postal Service regular and Priority mail use:

FAA Aircraft Registration Branch AFS-750
PO Box 25504
Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0504

For Overnight or Commercial Delivery Services, use:

FAA Aircraft Registration Branch AFS-750
6425 S Denning Rm 118
Oklahoma City, OK 73169-6937

What is the Re-registration / Renewal fee? How do I make Fee payments?

The re-registration and renewal fees are both $5.00 per aircraft. Fees for on-line transactions are paid through Pay.Gov which accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit cards. If you are mailing your application and payment, please pay by check or money order made payable to the Federal Aviation Administration.

How does the on-line Re-registration / Renewal web page work?

Upon receiving the “Notice: Expiration of Aircraft Registration letter”, the aircraft owner will access the Aircraft Re-registration / Renewal web page at http://registry.faa.gov/renewregistration/. In the “Let's get started” box enter the aircraft's N-number and the re-registration/security code into the indicated spaces, then select Next”. Depending on the type of code you are issued, this will display either a Re-registration or Renewal application filled out with the information then on file with the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch for this aircraft. The page also offers the owner the option to affirm that no changes to the registration information shown are needed or that there is a change to be reported. Before selecting an option, carefully review the information shown.

If you find that: the aircraft description matches your aircraft; the owner or owners' names* are listed properly; the mailing address and physical address are correct; the owner(s) still meets citizenship requirements under 14 CFR §47.3; and the aircraft is not registered in another country; then you should affirm that no changes are needed to this registration by selecting that bar. This will take you to a page where you may proceed with payment, or to add the first aircraft to your cart and proceed to the re-registration or renewal of another aircraft. Follow the instructions and select the links appropriate to your situation.

If you find that: there is an unreported change in address or ownership*; a loss of qualifying citizenship status by an owner; or the aircraft is registered in another country; then select the bar indicating that there are changes to report. This will redisplay the form with active fields for you to enter your updates or report changes. When you are finished making your entries; print the form, sign it, and mail it to the FAA Aircraft Registry at the address shown on the form. If only an address has changed and the aircraft will remain registered in your name, include the $5.00 re-registration/renewal fee with your form. Before signing the form, please review the Helpful Information” section on the right side of the form to verify who should sign, the title signers should show, and to find direction to further assistance if needed.

* The Re-Registration and Renewal Application forms only have room to show the first two owners of an aircraft. To verify the names of any additional owners, you can look up an N-number on-line and review the names shown as other owners. From the Re-Registration / Renewal web pages in the left margin under Aircraft Inquiry” select Online”. This link will take you to the Aircraft Inquiry page. Select N-Number” to bring up the N-Number Inquiry page. Enter the N-number of your aircraft in the space provided and select the “Submit” button. This will bring up the aircraft registration information page for your aircraft, you may have to scroll down to see Other Owner Names.

Is there a way to pay for multiple on-line re-registration or renewal actions with one credit card payment?

Yes. The on-line re-registration / Renewal web page now accepts as many as 25 re-registration actions in one session. This includes accepting payment of the multiple re-registration fees in one on-line credit card transaction. The aircraft must be due for re-registration or renewal according to the applicable schedule, and the window for on-line re-registration applications must still be open.

I can't find my online re-registration / renewal security code, can I get it resent or by phone?

No, the code is sent once with the first notice of registration expiration. It can not be re-issued or provided by phone. You may re-register your aircraft following the instructions under "How do I re-register without the code provided in the notice letter?"

How do I re-register / renew without the code provided in the notice letter?

If you did not receive the notice with the on-line re-registration / security code, if your designated filing window has closed, or you have a registration change to report then you must mail your re-registration or renewal application and fee. Select Look up an N-number from the Do you want to..?” box on the right side of the Aircraft Registration page. Enter your aircraft's N-Number in the space provided and select “Submit” to perform an N-number inquiry for your aircraft. Review the registration information shown for your aircraft; the names of the owners, the mailing address, the type of registration and status. It may be useful to print the results page.

Return to the Aircraft Registration” web page, and select the link for "Aircraft Registration Forms". From the Registration Forms List select AC Form 8050-1A Aircraft Re-Registration Application if you are re-registering you aircraft. Select AC Form 8050-1B Aircraft Registration Renewal Application, if you are renewing your aircraft's registration. Both forms may be filled out on-line. Complete the top half of the form using the information from the N-number inquiry. If your mailing or physical address has changed, enter the new address in the spaces provided. If your mailing address is a P.O. Box then you must also provide a physical address. Check the box for the appropriate certification statement, print the form, and sign it as appropriate for the aircraft's type of registration. Send the form and the $5 re-registration fee to the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch at the address shown.

Does the expiration of registration affect the leases, liens, security agreements already on file at the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch?

14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 49 - Recording of Aircraft Titles and Security Documents, provides regulations for the recording of certain conveyances affecting an interest in U.S. registered aircraft. The validity of any instrument recordable under this part such as a bill of sale, lease, lien, or security instrument is governed by the laws of the State, possession, Puerto Rico, or District of Columbia in which the instrument was delivered. This rule did not make any change to Part 49, and the Aircraft Registration Branch does not anticipate any changes in the examination and processing of these instruments. It is notable that an aircraft with expired registration is not registered, which means new instruments may not be recorded until the aircraft is again registered. However, when an aircraft's registration expires, the recorded bills of sale, liens, leases, and security interests that are part of the aircraft record will remain a part of that record. Recorded instruments will be available for review during periods of expiration as they are now following the sale, export, registration cancellation, and even the demise of the aircraft.

Does expiration of registration affect an aircraft's airworthiness certificate?

Because an aircraft with an expired registration is not registered, its airworthiness certification would be considered ineffective. Without registration the aircraft is not authorized for flight. Once registration is restored, the airworthiness certificate not having been surrendered, revoked or terminated would become effective again provided it was otherwise compliant with maintenance, inspections, and any other requirements for an effective airworthiness. If you have further questions please contact an airworthiness inspector through your nearest Flight Standards District Office.