FAA drone registration renewal: everything you need to know
Every FAA drone registration is valid for exactly three years. The clock starts on the day your Certificate of Aircraft Registration was issued, not the day you bought the drone or the day you first flew it. Three years later — 36 months to the day — the certificate expires, and the aircraft is no longer legally registered until you renew it.
Where to find your expiration date
Your expiration date is printed directly on your certificate, next to the issue date and your registration number. If you cannot find the document, check the email that delivered it, then enter the issue date in the calculator above to get the same result. Because the term is a fixed 36 months, the math is always identical: issue date plus three years.
When does drone registration expire for recreational pilots?
Recreational registration under the Exception for Recreational Flyers works the same way as a Part 107 registration in this respect: three years, then renewal. One difference matters. Recreational flyers register once and may fly every drone they own under the same registration number, so a single expiration date covers your whole fleet. Part 107 pilots register each aircraft individually, which means several certificates and several expiration dates to track.
How to renew drone registration, and what it costs
Renewal costs $5 and adds another three years. You keep your existing registration number, so the markings on your aircraft stay valid and you do not need to re-label anything. The FAA opens the renewal window 180 days before expiration. Renewing early does not cost you time: the new three-year term begins when the current one ends, so there is no penalty for taking care of it as soon as the window opens.
You will need the same details you used the first time — your name, physical US address, email address, and, if your aircraft has Remote ID, its Remote ID serial number. Aircraft built at home without a standard Remote ID module are registered as homebuilt, and that classification carries over to the renewal.
What happens if you fly with an expired registration
An expired certificate is treated the same as no registration at all. Flying an aircraft that requires registration without a valid certificate violates federal law and can lead to civil penalties, and in serious cases criminal penalties. If you fly commercially, an expired registration can also invalidate the assumptions behind your insurance and any client contract that requires you to operate legally.
Expiration is easy to miss precisely because three years is such a long interval. Most pilots register, fly for a few seasons, and never think about the paperwork again — which is why a reminder set today is worth far more than a note in a calendar you may not use in 2029.
A simple renewal checklist
- Note your expiration date and the date 180 days before it — that is your renewal window.
- Confirm your address and email are still current before you submit.
- Have your Remote ID serial number ready if your drone has one.
- Renew, then save the new certificate somewhere you will find it in three years.
- Keep the certificate accessible during flight, digitally or on paper.
Frequently asked questions
- When does my FAA drone registration expire?
- An FAA drone registration is valid for three years from the date it was issued. The expiration date is printed on your Certificate of Aircraft Registration, and it is always exactly 36 months after the issue date.
- How much does it cost to renew a drone registration?
- Renewing an FAA drone registration costs $5 per aircraft and gives you another three years of validity. Recreational pilots renew the same registration number they already have.
- How early can I renew my drone registration?
- The FAA allows renewal up to 180 days before your current registration expires. Renewing early does not shorten your coverage — the new three-year term starts when the old one ends.
- Is it illegal to fly with an expired drone registration?
- Yes. Flying an aircraft that requires registration with an expired certificate is a violation of federal law and can result in civil penalties. Renew before your expiration date to stay legal.
Drone Register is a private service that helps pilots prepare and submit their FAA registration. We are not affiliated with the Federal Aviation Administration or any other government agency.