Do you even NEED to register your drone? And if so, how do you do it? In this post, helpful tips on what to know, when to do it and when you might need to cancel your registration.
When to register your drone
There are two key questions to ask yourself:
- Are you making ANY kind of money from your drone?
- Are you flying a drone LARGER than 249 grams?
If your answer is “YES” to EITHER of these questions, you DO need to register your drone on the FAA Drone Zone website.
The exception? DJI Mavic Mini drones.
If you are flying the Mavic Mini JUST FOR FUN and NOT making any money, it is OPTIONAL to register your drone.
However if you are flying the Mavic Mini 3 Pro WITH the intelligent battery (making it weigh greater than 249 grams, then you DO need to register your drone).
The video below will help you determine if you need to register your drone.
Free drone resources
Whether you’re figuring out which drone to get, how to fly a drone, or are trying to become an advanced pilot, get free drone courses and resources!
How to register your drone
Using the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) government website, register your drone using the following information:
A few helpful tips
- Are you registering as a Part 107 (a certified pilot using your drone to make money) or as a recreational flyer (flying just for fun, but your drone weighs more than 249 grams)
- Does your drone have remote ID? Generally if you have a newer drone, the answer is yes. The entire list of drones that DO have remote ID capability is listed on the FAA website here.
- Your drone serial number can generally be found INSIDE of where the battery is at. Simply remove the battery and find the serial number
For a screen share of how I registered my Mavic Mini 3 Pro, see the video below for a full tutorial
Considering becoming a pilot? I QUICKLY studied for my exam using the easy tutorial videos from Greg at the Pilot Institute!
TRUST Exam
Don’t forget! Take the TRUST exam regardless of whether you are a certified part 107 pilot OR a recreational pilot.
What is that? Learn more in the video below!
Connect with other drone pilots in The Drone Party community on Facebook!
Cancelling your drone registration
When might you want to cancel your drone registration? When you SELL or GIVE AWAY your drone. You’ll want the new drone owner to register the drone in their name (as a new registration), and you’ll want to cancel your own drone registration on the FAA drone zone website.
