Finding the right tail number starts with checking N-number availability. CheckAero checks the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) format rules and the public registry files to see whether a number is registered, reserved or free, and suggests similar available numbers if your first choice is taken.
The format is strict. An N-number begins with N, followed by 1 to 5 characters. The first character is a digit 1-9; zero is not allowed. You can use up to two letters, only at the very end. The letters I and O are not used.
A reservation costs $10 and lasts no more than one year; you renew it every year to keep the number. When a registration is cancelled, the number may be reserved for one year in the last owner's name if requested with the fee; otherwise it becomes unavailable for five years, and the check shows when it is released.
CheckAero is independent and does not file paperwork or collect payments. The FAA has the final word on every assignment, and our copy of the registry can lag the official records by a few days.
N-number rules
- Length
- 1 to 5 characters after the N
- First character
- A digit from 1 to 9 (never 0)
- Letters
- Up to two, only at the end (N123AB, N1234Z)
- Not allowed
- The letters I and O
- Reservation fee
- $10 per number, renewed every year (14 CFR 47.17)
- Data as of
- Oct 30, 2026
Short numbers with one or two characters are handled specially by the FAA. A number shown as available here can still be refused; the FAA has the final word.