How N-number transfers work.
The FAA supports a direct seller-to-buyer transfer of a reserved N-number through a signed Relinquish-and-Transfer Letter. Here is exactly what happens between the moment you click Buy and the moment the number is yours.
You buy a number
You complete checkout securely via Stripe. At checkout we collect the legal name and mailing address that will appear on the FAA reservation — the same details you would later use on Form 8050-64 when assigning the number to an aircraft.
We auto-generate the FAA letter
Our system pre-fills a Relinquish-and-Transfer Letter from Buy N Numbers (the current reservation holder) to you (the new holder). The letter references the FAA reservation confirmation number and your contact details. You receive an email to e-sign it — usually under one minute.
The letter is mailed certified to the FAA
We auto-mail the signed letter via certified post to the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch (AFS-750) in Oklahoma City, with the $10 transfer fee included. We email you the certified-mail tracking number as soon as it ships.
FAA processes the transfer
The FAA processes the letter in 2–4 weeks. Your number is never released to the public during this window — it moves directly from our reservation to yours inside the FAA registry.
You own the reservation
Once the FAA confirms, the reservation is in your name. You can renew it for $10/year, or assign it to your aircraft via FAA Form 8050-64. We send you the form pre-filled when the transfer completes.
Premium tier: instant transfer, no FAA wait.
For our highest-value numbers, we hold each reservation inside a single-purpose LLC. When you purchase, you receive 100% of the LLC's membership interest — the FAA reservation never moves, so there is no processing wait. You walk away with the LLC, the reservation, and the right to assign the number to your aircraft on day one.
Why no gap risk?
A common misconception is that N-numbers are released to the public when transferred between parties. They aren't. The FAA Relinquish-and-Transfer Letter moves the reservation from one named holder to another inside the registry — the number never becomes publicly available during the transfer. Plus, canceled reservations go on a 5-year hold before becoming public, which protects against sniping in every direction.
Ready to find yours?
Tell us the N-number you want — we'll quote the path to getting it.
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