Buying Firearms Online: How FFL Transfers Work

An FFL -- Federal Firearms Licensee -- is a business or individual licensed by the federal government to deal in firearms. Your local gun shop is almost certainly an FFL. So is the online retailer you're buying from.

Per the Gun Control Act of 1968, any firearm that crosses state lines must be transferred through an FFL holder. That means when you buy a gun from an online retailer in another state, it can't ship straight to your house. It ships to a local FFL dealer near you, and that dealer legally hands it over to you after you clear the paperwork and background check.

According to Gun University, an FFL transfer is technically the change in possession of a firearm from one FFL to another FFL, or from an FFL to a customer -- and each step in that chain has specific ATF requirements attached to it. The dealer has to log it into their Acquisition and Disposition (A&D) Book, and before you walk out the door, a specific form has to be completed.

Key Point: The online retailer sells you the gun. Your local FFL dealer is the one who legally hands it to you after confirming you're eligible to receive it.

The only meaningful exceptions to the home-delivery prohibition are antique firearms (manufactured before 1899) and certain black powder muzzleloaders, according to The Gun Dock.

Here's how a typical online purchase plays out from click to carry.

Step 1: Find your local FFL dealer first.

Before you buy anything, call a local gun shop and ask two things: do they accept transfers, and what do they charge? Don't skip this step. Gun University points out it's bad practice to have a firearm shipped to a dealer without them knowing it's coming -- get the conversation out of the way before you order.

Step 2: Buy the firearm online.

Once you know where you're picking it up, go ahead and make the purchase. During checkout, most online retailers will ask you to select your FFL dealer. Many maintain a database of licensed dealers so you can search by zip code.

Step 3: The gun ships to your FFL.

The online retailer ships directly to the dealer you selected. Per The Gun Dock, shipping typically takes 3--7 business days. The dealer logs the incoming firearm into their A&D Book when it arrives.

Step 4: Your dealer calls you.

When it arrives, the dealer will contact you. At that point, you go in to complete the transfer.

Step 5: Paperwork and background check at the dealer.

This is the part that actually transfers legal possession to you. You'll need to:

• Complete ATF Form 4473 -- the federal firearms transaction record
• Present a valid government-issued photo ID showing your current address
• Satisfy the background check requirement
• Pay the dealer's transfer fee

Once you're cleared, you take the gun home.

ATF Form 4473 is the federal form every buyer completes before taking possession of a firearm from an FFL. It asks about your eligibility to own a firearm -- citizenship, criminal history, mental health adjudications, and similar disqualifying factors. Answer every question completely and honestly.

The background check itself runs through the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) -- or through your state's own system if you're in a Point of Contact (POC) state. Gun University notes that some states run all transfers through a state-level system, while others use a mix of state and federal checks depending on the type of firearm.

There's also a shortcut available in some states: if you hold a valid concealed carry permit that the ATF has approved as meeting background check standards, your dealer may be able to use that in lieu of running a fresh NICS check. Ask your dealer whether your state's permit qualifies.

Key Point: Under federal law, regular firearms are NOT registered in anyone's name when they transfer. The 4473 creates a transaction record at the dealer level, but there's no national gun registry for standard firearms. This is a common misconception.

What Happens If Your Check Is Delayed?

NICS returns one of three results: Proceed, Delayed, or Denied. Most checks come back in minutes. If yours comes back "Delayed," the dealer is required to wait. According to The Gun Dock, after 3 business days without a final determination, the dealer may -- but is not required to -- proceed with the transfer. Many dealers have their own policies and will wait for a final answer before releasing the firearm.

If you're denied, the transfer doesn't happen. You can appeal through the FBI's NICS Section, but the firearm stays with the dealer.

The transfer fee goes to your local dealer, not the online retailer. It covers their time, paperwork burden, and the cost of handling the transaction on their end. Per The Gun Dock and Gun University, here's what to expect:

Gun University puts the common range at $20--$40 for a standard transfer. Fees for NFA items (suppressors, short-barreled rifles, etc.) can run higher given the additional paperwork involved.

Always confirm the transfer fee before you buy online. Some dealers charge per firearm; others offer a discount when you pick up multiple guns on the same Form 4473. A quick phone call before you order saves any awkwardness at the counter.

Show up to the transfer with the right stuff and you'll be in and out in 20 minutes. Show up without it and you're making a second trip.

• Valid government-issued photo ID showing your current address (driver's license, state ID, or military ID). If you've moved and your ID still shows your old address, bring proof of your current address -- a utility bill or lease works.
• Concealed carry permit if you have one and your state allows it to substitute for the NICS check.
• State-specific permits or cards if your state requires them (more on that below).

Federal law sets minimum age requirements for firearm purchases from an FFL. Some states layer additional restrictions on top of these.

Federal law sets the floor, but states can add requirements on top of it. If you're in one of these states, you need to sort out your state-level paperwork before you try to complete a transfer. According to The Gun Dock:

California also has its own FFL shipment approval process. Per the California DOJ, when shipping or transferring a firearm to another California FFL, the transferring dealer must obtain a Firearms Shipment Approval number from the California DOJ before the transfer can proceed.

If your state isn't on this list, that doesn't automatically mean there are no additional requirements -- check your state laws before you order.

From the time you click "buy" to the time you walk out with the gun, here's a realistic timeline per The Gun Dock:

Waiting periods at the state level are the wildcard. California's 10-day wait is the longest commonly encountered. If you're in a state with no waiting period and your check comes back clean, you could be walking out the same day you pick up.

This comes up a lot, so it's worth covering: what if you're not buying from a retailer? What if a family member in another state wants to give you a gun, or you sold one to someone out of state?

According to Gun University, if you own a firearm and want to transfer it to someone in another state -- whether you sold it, gifted it, or are letting them borrow it -- you must ship it to an FFL in their state. They go into that gun shop in person, complete the 4473, pass the background check, and take possession there. You can't just mail it directly to them.

There is a legal exception for shipping a firearm to yourself in another state. You can ship it to a hotel or lodge addressed to you, in care of the receiving location. The key is that it's addressed to you and that the recipient does not open the package -- if they do, Gun University notes, you've put the firearm into their possession without an FFL transfer, which creates a legal problem.

Key Point: When in doubt, route it through an FFL. The $20--$50 transfer fee is a lot cheaper than the alternative.

When the online retailer ships to your local dealer, that's technically an FFL-to-FFL transfer. The sending dealer logs it out of their A&D Book; your local dealer logs it into theirs when it arrives.

Gun University also notes that some shooters choose to get their own FFL -- including home-based FFLs, which they note represent most individual FFL holders in the country. If you have your own FFL, firearms can be shipped directly to you without going through a third-party dealer and without paying transfer fees. That's a separate process and a longer conversation, but it's a legal option worth knowing exists.

Run through this before you place an online order:

• Confirmed a local FFL will accept the transfer and verified their fee
• Checked your state's additional permit or waiting period requirements
• Your ID shows your current address (or you have proof of residence ready)
• You meet the minimum age requirement for the firearm type you're buying
• You know which email address or phone number to watch for the dealer's "it arrived" call

• https://www.thegundock.com/live/blog/how-to-buy-a-gun-online-ffl-transfer-guide
• https://gununiversity.com/ffl-transfer/
• https://oag.ca.gov/firearms/cflcfaqs

Last Updated: March 30, 2026