Knowing how to ship a drone for repair is mostly knowing three things: how to handle the batteries, how much padding is enough, and what to put in the box. This is the checklist we send with every RMA number. Follow it and your aircraft arrives the way it left you, with everything we need to diagnose it for free and quote it in writing. It applies whether you are shipping from across Georgia or across the country.
Request your RMA number → Call or text 470-821-2762
Before you pack
- Request a quote and get your RMA number. Tell us the model and what happened; we reply with your RMA number and the shipping address. The RMA ties your box to your ticket.
- Back up your media and flight logs. Copy the memory card and export flight logs from the app. We do not guarantee preservation of flight logs, photos or video on any repair.
- Decide what to send. Aircraft always; one battery and the controller when the fault could involve them (power, link, pairing, controller faults). Leave out cases, spare props, filters and chargers unless they are part of the problem.
Request your RMA number and shipping instructions
Battery rules (these are the law, not our preference)
Lithium flight batteries ship under 49 C.F.R. § 173.185. Our battery shipping guide has the full detail; the short version:
- Charge each battery to 30% or less before shipping.
- Ship by ground only.
- Send no more than two spare batteries; a battery installed in the aircraft is allowed.
- Never ship a swollen, punctured, dented or wet battery. If a pack is damaged, leave it out and tell us — we will advise on disposal.
- Protect battery contacts from shorting: tape over exposed terminals or keep packs in their original caps.
Pack the aircraft
- Power everything off. Fold the arms. Remove propellers unless we asked you to leave them on, and bag them if you include them.
- Fit the gimbal cover if it still fits; if the gimbal is damaged and the cover will not go on, wrap the gimbal loosely in soft foam so nothing presses on it.
- Use the original hard case, or a sturdy box with at least two inches of padding on every side. The aircraft should not move when you shake the box.
- Put the controller and batteries in their own padded pockets so they cannot knock against the aircraft.
- Write your RMA number on a note inside the box and on the packing slip. Include your name, phone and email on the same note.
- Add a short description of the fault and what you have already tried — it speeds up the diagnosis.
Label, insure and ship
- Address the box exactly as given with your RMA number.
- Insure the package for the aircraft’s value. The inbound shipment travels at your risk until it reaches us.
- Choose a ground service (required if batteries are inside) and keep the tracking number; send it to us by text or email so we can watch for the box.
- Ship Monday to Wednesday where you can, so the box is not sitting in a depot over a weekend.
What happens when it arrives
We photograph the aircraft on arrival, log it against your RMA, and start the free diagnosis. You receive a written, itemized quote; nothing is repaired or ordered until you approve it. Approved repairs are completed, bench-tested and test-flown where applicable, then shipped back to you with a 90-day limited repair warranty.
Printable checklist
- ☐ RMA number requested and received
- ☐ Media and flight logs backed up
- ☐ Batteries at 30% or less, no damaged packs, terminals protected
- ☐ Props removed and bagged (or left on if asked)
- ☐ Gimbal cover on or gimbal wrapped
- ☐ Two inches of padding on every side; nothing moves
- ☐ Note inside: RMA, name, phone, email, fault description
- ☐ Ground shipping, insured for the aircraft’s value
- ☐ Tracking number sent to us
Common questions
Can I ship a drone with the battery inside?
Yes, if the battery is healthy: at 30% charge or less, by ground, and installed in the aircraft or padded separately. Never ship a swollen or damaged battery.
Which carrier should I use to ship a drone for repair?
Any major carrier’s ground service works. Insure the package for the aircraft’s value and keep the tracking number. Carriers do not guarantee transit times for ground shipments; typical times from most states to north Georgia are a few business days.
Should I send the controller and goggles?
Send the controller when the fault could be on either side (link drops, pairing, stick problems). For FPV aircraft, send the goggles only for link or video faults. For airframe, arm, gimbal or motor damage, the aircraft and one battery are enough.
What if I do not have the original case?
A sturdy box with two inches of padding on every side is fine. The test is simple: when you shake the closed box, nothing should move.
The Drone Hospital is an independent repair shop and is not affiliated with, authorized by, or endorsed by any drone manufacturer.