Free drone diagnostics means what it says: you send or bring us the aircraft, we open it up, find the fault, and send you a written quote — and if you decide not to repair, you have not paid for the diagnosis. Most drone repair services, and the manufacturers themselves, charge a diagnostic or evaluation fee before they tell you what is wrong. We do not, because the diagnosis is the part of the job that lets you make a good decision, and a good decision is what brings pilots back.
Start a free diagnosis → Call or text 470-821-2762
What the free diagnosis includes
- A full inspection, not a glance. Crash damage hides: a cracked arm hinge, a torn gimbal ribbon or a bent motor shaft rarely shows from the outside, so we take the aircraft down far enough to see the parts that actually fail.
- Bench tests of the systems involved. Gimbal axes, motors and ESC channels, battery and power path, sensors and link — whichever the symptoms point to.
- Flight-log review when the fault happened in the air (flyaways, lost link, sudden power loss).
- Photos of the damage on arrival and a written, itemized quote listing each part, its source (new, used OEM or aftermarket) and the labor.
- Your approval before anything happens. We do not order parts or begin a repair until you say yes.
What it is not
A standard diagnosis is free and thorough, but it is not a guarantee that every defect will be found — some faults only appear once the primary repair is done and the aircraft is bench-tested, which is why we re-test after every repair and tell you if anything else turns up before we proceed. Advanced, board-level fault-finding that goes beyond a standard diagnosis is explained and quoted before we do it, as set out in our Repair Terms.
How to get a free diagnosis
- Request a quote with your model and what happened. We reply with an RMA number and instructions.
- Local pilots: drop off by appointment in Cumming, GA (north metro Atlanta) — see drop-off details.
- Everyone else: ship it. Our packing checklist covers batteries, padding and labels; our mail-in page covers the whole process.
- We diagnose, send the written quote, and wait for your decision.
Start your free diagnosis
If you decide not to repair
Sometimes the honest answer is that a repair costs more than the aircraft is worth. We will say so. You can have the aircraft returned, or ask us for an offer on it for parts through our drone buy-back — many pilots put that toward an upgrade. Return shipping on a declined quote is handled as described in the Repair Terms.
Why a free diagnosis is also a better diagnosis
A shop that charges for the look has an incentive to keep the look short. Because our quote has to earn the job, the diagnosis is where we spend the time: it is normal for a crash quote to list a part you did not know was damaged, and it is normal for a gimbal quote to come in lower than you feared because the camera module tested fine. Either way you decide with the whole picture, in writing, and with a 90-day limited repair warranty behind whatever you approve.
What it costs and how long it takes
Diagnosis is free. We send a written, itemized quote before any work; no parts are ordered and nothing is opened until you approve it. Most repairs are priced flat-rate so the written quote is the full cost; complex board-level work may be quoted hourly, always before it starts.
Most common repairs are completed within days of quote approval, parts availability permitting. You get a timeline with your quote.
Every repair is covered by our 90-day limited repair warranty on the specific part and workmanship we repaired.
Mail it in or drop it off
- Mail-in from anywhere in the U.S. — request a quote, get your RMA number and shipping instructions, pack the aircraft with two inches of padding and the RMA number inside the box (packing checklist).
- Batteries: ship at or below 30% charge, ground only, no more than two spares, never a swollen or damaged pack — see the battery shipping guide.
- Local drop-off by appointment in Cumming, GA (north metro Atlanta) — see drop-off details.
Common questions
Is the diagnosis really free for mail-in drones too?
Yes. Mail-in and drop-off aircraft get the same free diagnosis and written quote. You cover the shipping to us; the diagnosis itself is not charged.
How long does the diagnosis take?
Most aircraft are diagnosed and quoted within days of arrival, parts availability permitting; you get a timeline with your quote. Severe crash or water damage takes longer because there is more to test.
Will you find every problem?
We find what a thorough standard diagnosis can find. It is not a guarantee that every defect is found; anything that appears during repair testing is reported to you before we continue.
Do you charge a fee if I decline the quote?
No diagnostic fee is charged. Return shipping on a declined mail-in quote is handled as described in the Repair Terms.
The Drone Hospital is an independent repair shop and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by any drone manufacturer.