Your aircraft registration does not last forever. Under current federal regulations, a Certificate of Aircraft Registration expires seven years after the last day of the month in which it was issued. If you miss the window, your aircraft is not authorized for flight, and its airworthiness certificate is considered ineffective.
The rules changed in 2023, when the term went from three to seven years. Below is a clear guide to the aircraft registration expiration cycle, the form you need, and what happens when the clock runs out.
The 7-year term and the 2023 transition
The current seven-year registration term took effect on January 23, 2023. Before this date, certificates were valid for three years.
If your certificate was valid on January 23, 2023, the FAA automatically extended it by an additional four years and mailed a new certificate with the updated expiration date. Certificates issued after that date follow the standard seven-year cycle (14 CFR 47.40(a)).
There is no grace period for an expired aircraft registration. Once the expiration date passes, the aircraft is not authorized for flight until the registration is restored.
The 6-month renewal window
You may apply for FAA aircraft registration renewal during the six months before the expiration date (14 CFR 47.40(b)). This window gives you time to prepare your paperwork and pay the fee.
To renew, submit AC Form 8050-1B (Aircraft Registration Renewal Application) with the fee. The renewal fee is $5 (14 CFR 47.17).
What happens when a registration expires
When your registration expires, the aircraft is not authorized for flight, and the airworthiness certificate is considered ineffective.
Once registration is restored, the airworthiness certificate becomes effective again, provided:
- the certificate was not surrendered, revoked or terminated, and
- the aircraft is otherwise compliant.
N-number basics and reservations
An N-number is the US aircraft registration mark. It consists of the letter N followed by one to five characters. The first character is a digit 1-9 (never 0). Up to two letters are allowed, only at the end. The letters I and O are not used.
If you want a special N-number, you can reserve it for $10 (14 CFR 47.17). A reservation lasts no more than one year and must be renewed every year with the fee (14 CFR 47.15(h)).
When a registration is cancelled, the number may be reserved for one year in the name of the last owner if this is requested with the fee before cancellation. Otherwise, the number is unavailable for assignment for five years (14 CFR 47.15(j)). Our N-number availability check takes this into account.
Privacy
Owners can ask the FAA to withhold their name and address from public display under 49 U.S.C. 44114(b).
Quick reference: key terms
- FAA: Federal Aviation Administration.
- N-number: US aircraft registration number (tail number).
- AC Form 8050-1B: Aircraft Registration Renewal Application.
- FSDO: Flight Standards District Office.
- TCDS: Type Certificate Data Sheet.
- Mode S: a transponder mode; every US-registered aircraft is assigned a unique 24-bit Mode S code.
- CFR: Code of Federal Regulations.
More terms are explained in the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Can I renew my registration after it expires? The aircraft cannot fly while the registration is expired. Once registration is restored, the airworthiness certificate becomes effective again if the conditions above are met.
Is there a grace period for an expired aircraft registration? No.
How much does it cost to renew? The renewal fee is $5.
What is AC Form 8050-1B? The Aircraft Registration Renewal Application used to renew your certificate.
What happens to my N-number if the registration is cancelled? It may be reserved for one year if you request it with the fee before cancellation. Otherwise, it is unavailable for five years.
Can I hide my name from public records? Yes, you can ask the FAA to withhold your name and address from public display.
How do I know when my registration expires? Look up your N-number on CheckAero: the record shows the expiration date and the date the renewal window opens, on a timeline with today's position.