Drone Registration: What You Need to Know

Hi everyone! Today, we’re going to talk about drone registration. I know it’s a topic that a lot of people don’t like to consider or think about, but it is a fact that in the United States, when you purchase a drone, one of the very first things you need to do—if it weighs more than 250 grams or 0.55 lbs—is to register it with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Why Register Your Drone?

The reason for this requirement is that a drone is considered an aircraft by the FAA, not just a toy. As such, it must be registered. Even if your drone weighs less than 250 grams, you will still need to register it if you plan to use it for any commercial purposes.

Drone Registration: Updated Information for 2024

It has been about three years since I made a video on this topic, and quite a bit has changed since then. The information I provided before is now outdated, so this video will give you the current details as of August 2024. The last time I discussed this topic, I celebrated 150,000 subscribers with a drone Giveaway, and now, to celebrate 300,000 subscribers, I’ll be doing something similar. More on that at the end of the video!

Where to Register Your Drone

The first thing I want to mention, just as I did before, is that there is only one website where you should register your drone with the FAA: faadronezone.faa.gov.

There are some third-party companies out there, though fewer than three years ago, that try to trick you into paying more than the $5 fee required to register your drone. In my last video, I called them scammers, which may have been a bit harsh, but deceptive marketing is pretty much the definition of a scam, so avoid those websites.

It costs only $5 to register as a drone pilot with the FAA. If you decide someday to register as a Part 107 commercial UAV pilot, you’ll need to pay $5 for each individual drone.

How to Register Your Drone

To register your drone, go to your browser and type in faadronezone.faa.gov. The first thing you need to do is register an account with the FAA. Click on “Register,” agree to the Systems Use Notice, and then enter your basic information. You will be sent an email verification link, so go ahead and open your email account, find that email, and click “Verify My Account.” Once verified, you can log in with your credentials.

Adding a Service

The next step is to add a service. This website offers many different services, and one of them is to register as a drone pilot or register a drone. Scroll down, select “Drone Pilots,” and then click on “Add a Service.”

Afterward, click on “Launch Drone Owners Dashboard.” Here, most of you will choose to register as a Part 107 or a recreational account. Part 107 is for those planning to use their drone for anything other than recreational purposes. Most of you will choose to set up a recreational flyer account.

Entering Drone Information

After setting up your account, enter all your demographic information and proceed to checkout. You will be prompted to acknowledge the safety guidance; click “Next.” Then, it’s time to add your drone.

Click on “Add Device” and start entering the information about your drone. You can give it a nickname, select the company, and enter the Remote ID serial number. You only need to do this if your drone weighs more than 250 grams.

To find your serial number for most drones, start your drone and controller, open the app on your mobile device, and head to the “About” section. Enter the device serial number into the remote ID serial number box, and it will automatically transfer the data to the rest of the form. Once done, click “Check Out,” enter your credit card information, and pay. You are now registered.

Managing Your Drone Inventory

If you happen to get another drone in the future and want to remain a recreational drone pilot, the process will be slightly different. You won’t have to pay another $5. You can find your registration number by clicking on “Manage Device Inventory.” Here, you will see all the drones you have registered.

Each drone will be given an FAA number, which you must post on the exterior of your drone. You can use a label maker or simply write the number on a piece of paper and tape it to the drone. As long as it’s visible, it works. I advise against paying for overpriced stickers from third-party companies to label your drone. It seems unnecessary and a waste of money.

Taking the TRUST Exam

The next thing you must do is take the TRUST exam. Every drone pilot needs to take this exam. I know the idea of taking another test might be unappealing, but it’s one of the easiest tests you’ll ever take. It’s free, simple, and you can learn more about it on the FAA website. The FAA doesn’t administer the test but has approved several companies to do so. Choose any of them; it doesn’t matter.

You need 100% to pass the TRUST exam, but you can take it as many times as needed. It takes less than 30 minutes, and you’ll receive a certificate at the end. Print it and keep it in a safe place; I keep mine in my drone case. The test administrator doesn’t keep any records, so if you lose that certificate, you must retake the exam.

Additional Important Information

These are the two simple yet required steps you need to complete before doing anything else with your drone. Remember, if your drone weighs less than 250 grams (0.55 lbs) and you’re flying recreationally, you do not need to register it. However, you should still take the TRUST exam. If you decide to use that mini drone for commercial purposes, you must register it.

Celebrating 300,000 Subscribers with a Giveaway

Now, let’s celebrate hitting 300,000 subscribers! I still can’t believe it. That’s a massive number of people who have found enough value here to click on that beautiful subscribe button. Thank you to each and every one of you for all of your support over the past years. The growth of this channel has been stunning and consistent, thanks to the wonderful base of supporters from the very beginning.

To show my appreciation, I’m doing a giveaway. This time, it’s a little different. Let me grab this—I’ve got a whole bunch of PGYTECH backpacks, sling bags, and all sorts of stuff from PGYTECH. I’m not sure how many bags I have, but what I’m going to do is fill one of these bags with items from my studio. Some stuff will be new, and some will be slightly used from video reviews. It’s going to be packed full; I think it’s a 25-liter bag, and the bag alone is worth about $25.

Clearing Out the Studio

I’m doing this giveaway because I’m clearing out my studio. It’s not just cluttering my space; it’s cluttering my mind. I need to clear it out because next year, I’m building a new studio. I’m moving out of my basement and into a dedicated studio, so I’m not taking all of this with me.

I’ll sell some of it on Gear Focus at a 50% discount since some items are too valuable to give away. But most of it—90%—I’m giving away because it’s too much hassle to sell everything.

How to Enter the Giveaway

To be eligible to win this grab bag, you need to do three things:

1. Subscribe to the channel: This is obvious, but be sure you’re a subscriber.
2. Check out my Amazon storefront: The link is in the video description. On the storefront, you’ll find everything I love and use to make this channel successful, including my drones, portable power stations, tech gear, video production equipment, and more. You don’t have to buy anything, but if you do, it helps me earn a little affiliate revenue, which will go towards building the new studio.
3. Comment on this video: After checking out the Amazon storefront, come back here and comment on this video, telling me one thing that caught your eye. This way, I’ll know you checked out the storefront, and I’ll have a way to contact you if you win.

On August 19th, 2024, I’ll randomly choose one of the comments on this video. I’ll reply to the winning comment, letting you know you’ve won the grab bag. Then, I’ll ask for your email address so I can get in touch and arrange shipping.

A quick warning: Anytime there’s a giveaway on YouTube, scammers come out of the woodwork. They may reply to your comment, pretending to be me and ask you to click on a link or pay for shipping. I will never do that. If you win, I’ll have a checkmark next to my name, and my channel will have 300,000 subscribers. I won’t charge you for anything—this giveaway is completely free.

This giveaway is only for U.S. residents, as it’s just not reasonable to ship internationally right now due to high costs. Also, this giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by anyone but myself. Good luck to everyone!

Thank you for watching this drone registration video!