How to Register a Drone with the FAA: Step-by-Step Guide

If your drone weighs 250 grams (0.55 lb) or more and you plan to fly it in the United States, you almost certainly need to register it with the FAA before you take off. The good news: the process itself is fast, cheap, and done entirely online. Here’s the short version — registration costs $5, is completed through the FAA’s DroneZone portal, and stays valid for three years before you need to renew it.

Rules and requirements around drones change over time, and this article is not legal advice. Before you register, always double-check the current requirements directly on the FAA’s Recreational Flyers page or DroneZone registration page, since fees, thresholds, or steps in the process could be updated after this article was written.

Jump to: Who needs to register · What you’ll need · Step-by-step guide · Common mistakes · FAQ

Who Actually Needs to Register a Drone?

The registration requirement hinges almost entirely on weight:

• Drones weighing 250 grams (0.55 lb) or more generally must be registered with the FAA before their first outdoor flight, whether you’re flying recreationally or for work.
• Drones weighing under 250 grams are currently exempt from registration if you’re flying purely for recreation under the FAA’s Exception for Limited Recreational Operations. If you’re shopping specifically to avoid the registration step, our best drones under $500 guide highlights several current sub-250g models, including the DJI Mini 3 and DJI Neo. If you’re also weighing brands rather than just a specific model, our DJI vs Autel drones comparison covers which current models from each brand fall under that same 250g registration-exempt weight class.

Check Price: DJI Neo →

A few nuances worth flagging up front:

• Weight exemption applies to recreational flying only. If you’re flying for any kind of compensation, business purpose, or as part of your job — even a lightweight sub-250g drone — you’re typically operating under Part 107 commercial rules, which have their own registration and certification requirements regardless of weight.
• Registration and the TRUST test are two separate things. The Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) is a free knowledge test that recreational flyers are required to pass and carry proof of, regardless of the drone’s weight — including drones under 250g that don’t need to be registered. In short: TRUST applies to every recreational flyer, while registration applies only once your drone crosses the 250g threshold.
• These thresholds and exemptions have shifted before and could shift again. Since this affects whether you need to register at all, confirm the current weight threshold on the FAA’s Recreational Flyers page before assuming your drone is exempt.

If you’re brand new to drones entirely and are still deciding what to buy, it’s worth reading that decision alongside the registration question — our best drones for beginners guide covers which current models are easiest to learn on, and several of the picks there fall on different sides of the 250g line.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Based on the FAA’s published registration requirements, gather these before you sit down to register:

• A valid email address (you’ll create a DroneZone account and verify it by email)
• A physical mailing address
• A credit or debit card for the $5 registration fee
• The make, model, and serial number of your drone(s)
• The serial number of your Remote ID module, if your drone doesn’t have built-in (“Standard”) Remote ID and you’re using an add-on broadcast module instead
• You must be at least 13 years old to register a drone. If the drone’s owner is younger than 13, someone 13 or older needs to complete the registration on their behalf.

How to Register Your Drone with the FAA: Step-by-Step

Step 1: Confirm which category you’re registering under

The FAA registration process branches depending on whether you’re flying recreationally (Exception for Limited Recreational Operations) or commercially/for any other non-recreational purpose (Part 107). Most hobbyists flying for fun will register under the recreational category. If you’re flying for real estate photography, paid content creation, inspections, or any other purpose where you’re being compensated, you’ll typically need a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate in addition to a different registration process. This article focuses on the recreational registration path, since that covers most first-time drone owners.

Step 2: Take the TRUST test (if you haven’t already)

It’s not strictly a prerequisite for creating a DroneZone account, but recreational flyers are required to pass the free Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST) before flying, so it’s worth doing this before or around the same time as registration. It’s an online, open-book test with no minimum age, typically takes around 20–30 minutes, and results in a certificate you’re expected to carry (digitally or on paper) while flying.

Step 3: Create an account on FAA DroneZone

Go to the FAA’s official registration portal at faadronezone.faa.gov and create a new account using your email address. You’ll set a password, verify your email through a confirmation link, and log in to access the registration dashboard.

Step 4: Choose “Fly under the Exception for Recreational Flyers”

Once logged in, select the option to register as a recreational flyer (as opposed to Part 107 commercial). This is the category that lets one $5 registration cover every recreational drone you own, rather than requiring a separate fee per drone.

Step 5: Enter your drone information and pay the $5 fee

You’ll be asked to enter identifying details for your drone — typically make, model, and serial number, plus the Remote ID module’s serial number if your drone relies on an add-on broadcast module rather than built-in Remote ID. Pay the $5 fee by credit or debit card. According to the FAA, this single $5 fee and registration number cover your entire fleet of recreational drones, not just one aircraft — you don’t pay $5 per drone under the recreational category (commercial Part 107 registration works differently, with a separate registration required per drone).

Step 6: Get your registration number and mark your drone

After you complete registration, the FAA issues a unique registration number (typically formatted starting with “FA” followed by a string of characters). You’re required to mark this number on the exterior of your drone somewhere it’s legible and accessible without tools — a permanent marker, label maker printout, or vinyl sticker all work. It doesn’t need to be a specific size or font, but it does need to be readable during a visual inspection, and it can’t be tucked inside a battery compartment or under a panel that requires disassembly to view.

Step 7: Confirm your Remote ID compliance

Any drone that requires registration also generally needs to comply with Remote ID — think of it as a digital license plate that broadcasts your drone’s identification and location while it’s flying. Many newer drones have this built in (“Standard Remote ID”); older or budget models may need a separate FAA-approved broadcast module attached to the aircraft. If you’re using a broadcast module, make sure its serial number is listed correctly for each drone you fly it on during registration, since the module is portable between compatible drones you own.

Check Price: FAA-compliant Remote ID broadcast module →

Step 8: Renew before your registration expires

FAA drone registration is valid for three years from the date it’s issued. Mark your calendar, because letting it lapse without renewing effectively means flying an unregistered drone, which carries the same risk as never registering in the first place. Renewal is done through the same DroneZone account and, as of this writing, also costs $5 — but confirm the current renewal fee and process on DroneZone directly, since fee structures can change.

Common Mistakes People Make When Registering a Drone

• Assuming a sub-250g drone means no rules apply at all. You may not need to register, but the TRUST test requirement still applies to recreational flyers regardless of weight, and Part 107 rules apply to any non-recreational flying regardless of weight.
• Hiding the registration number where it’s not easily visible. Current marking rules require the number to be readable from the exterior without opening compartments or using tools — putting it inside the battery bay technically doesn’t meet the requirement.
• Registering under the wrong category. Recreational registration is cheaper and simpler, but it’s only valid if you’re genuinely flying for personal enjoyment, not for any kind of compensation or business use.
• Forgetting the three-year renewal. It’s easy to register once and forget about it; an expired registration isn’t automatically renewed.
• Not accounting for Remote ID. Registering the drone itself doesn’t automatically make you Remote ID compliant if your drone needs a separate broadcast module — that’s a distinct step.
• Assuming FAA registration is the only rule that applies. Some states and municipalities have additional local drone ordinances layered on top of federal rules, which the FAA registration process doesn’t cover.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to register a drone with the FAA? Recreational registration costs $5 and, according to the FAA, covers your entire fleet of recreational drones under one registration number rather than charging per drone. Commercial (Part 107) registration is handled differently and generally requires a separate registration per aircraft. Confirm current pricing on DroneZone, since fees can change.

How long does FAA drone registration last? Registration is valid for three years from the date it’s issued, after which it needs to be renewed through your DroneZone account.

Do I need to register a drone under 250 grams? Generally, no — if you’re flying strictly for recreation, drones under 250 grams (0.55 lb) are currently exempt from registration under the FAA’s Exception for Limited Recreational Operations. You still need to pass the free TRUST test regardless of weight. If you’d rather buy a drone that skips registration altogether, several current sub-250g options are covered in our best drones for beginners guide.

Is the TRUST test the same as FAA registration? No — they’re two separate requirements. TRUST is a free knowledge test every recreational flyer needs to pass regardless of drone weight. Registration is a $5 process specifically for drones weighing 250 grams or more, and it involves entering your drone’s information into the FAA’s database and marking the aircraft with a registration number.

What happens if I fly an unregistered drone that should have been registered? Based on FAA guidance, failing to register a drone that’s required to be registered can carry civil penalties and, in more serious or knowing violations, criminal penalties as well. Exact enforcement varies by case, so this is worth taking seriously rather than treating registration as optional paperwork. Confirm current penalty details on the FAA’s official site rather than relying on secondhand summaries, including this one.

Can I register a used or gifted drone? Yes — registration is tied to the drone’s owner and the specific aircraft’s serial number, not the original purchase. If you receive a drone secondhand or as a gift, you register it the same way as a newly purchased one, using your own DroneZone account.

This article summarizes the general FAA drone registration process for informational purposes and is not legal advice. Requirements, fees, and procedures can and do change — always verify current rules directly on the FAA’s Recreational Flyers and DroneZone registration pages before registering or flying. Information reflects research conducted as of August 2026.