# 14 CFR 47.40: Registration expiration and renewal

> A Certificate of Aircraft Registration expires seven years after the last day of the month it was issued. You can renew it with AC Form 8050-1B and the fee during the six months before the expiration date.

Source: https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/47-40
Official text: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/section-47.40 (eCFR, current as of 2026-10-15; section last amended 2025-01-17)

## In plain English

- A registration lasts seven years, counted from the end of the month of issue. [(a)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/47-40#a)
- Renew with AC Form 8050-1B and the 47.17 fee in the six months before it expires. [(b)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/47-40#b)
- If the certificate's information is wrong, the FAA can require a full new application and fee before it expires. [(c)](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/47-40#c)

## Common questions

**Didn't registration used to be three years?**

Yes. The FAA extended it to seven years in 2023. The section as current says seven years for certificates issued under 47.31.

**What happens if registration expires?**

The aircraft no longer has an effective registration certificate, so 91.203(a)(2) stops it from flying until it is registered again.

## Official text of 14 CFR 47.40

Registration expiration and renewal.

(a) Initial Registration. A Certificate of Aircraft Registration issued in accordance with § 47.31 expires seven years after the last day of the month in which it is issued.

(b) Renewal. Each holder of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration containing an expiration date may apply for renewal of a Certificate of Aircraft Registration by submitting an Aircraft Registration Renewal Application, AC Form 8050-1B, and the fee required by § 47.17 during the six months preceding the expiration date for the Certificate of Aircraft Registration.

(c) Inaccurate Information. The Administrator may require the owner of a registered aircraft to submit a complete Aircraft Registration Application, AC Form 8050-1, and fee prior to the expiration date if the Administrator finds that the Certificate of Aircraft Registration contains inaccurate information.

## Related

- [14 CFR 91.203: Documents required on board](https://www.aerscheduler.com/regulations/91-203.md)

AerScheduler keeps each aircraft's inspections and squawks in one place, and a grounded aircraft comes off the schedule. [https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/maintenance](https://www.aerscheduler.com/features/maintenance)

_The plain-English summary is AerScheduler's reading of the rule, not legal advice. The official text above is the eCFR's, published by the Office of the Federal Register; the eCFR is the current text._