How to Register a Stolen Ship in Starfield: A Comprehensive Guide
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The vast expanse of Starfield is ripe for exploration, and sometimes, that exploration leads to opportunities to acquire ships through less-than-lawful means. If you’ve successfully “liberated” a vessel from its previous owners, you’ll soon discover that you can’t just fly off into the sunset. You need to register that stolen ship to fully integrate it into your fleet. Here’s exactly how to do it.
The quickest and most cost-effective method to register a stolen ship in Starfield involves a little trick of the interface. First, make sure you have boarded the stolen ship and are sitting in the pilot’s seat. From there, instead of undocking or taking off, open your ship menu, located in the lower-left corner of your circular menu (usually accessible by pressing the TAB key on PC). Within your ship menu, select the newly stolen ship. Once selected, you will notice the option to make the stolen ship your Home Ship. Select this option and the register option will then appear. Select Register and pay the required fee.
By registering the ship from the ship menu while you are inside the stolen vessel, you will find the cost is lower than registering the ship at a Ship Services Technician. This method of registration will allow you to keep the ship, fly it and sell it at a technician, as you wish. After you have registered the ship, you can return to your previous ship and make it your Home Ship again. This ensures you can leave in the ship you want and keep your new ship for future use.
Understanding Ship Registration
Before we dive into more details, it’s essential to understand why you need to register a stolen ship. Unregistered ships have limitations. While you can fly an unregistered ship without any immediate problems, it’s not officially yours. You can’t modify it at a ship technician, and you also cannot sell the ship to any vendor. Registering a ship essentially legalizes its ownership, allowing you to take full advantage of its potential.
The Cost of Ship Registration
Be prepared to pay a significant amount for registration. The cost hovers around 85% of the ship’s total value. While this might seem steep, it’s the price of entry to truly own the vessel and is required if you wish to sell the vessel. It is important to note that the cost of registration is the same irrespective of if you have boarded the ship or are talking to a ship technician, however, by registering inside the ship, from the ship tab, you are given a lower price to register. This means if you plan to build a fleet using stolen ships, you will want to register them from the ship menu, whilst inside the ship you wish to register.
Steps to Register a Stolen Ship In Detail
Step 1: Capture a Ship
This step is obvious, but it’s important to note that you must have successfully boarded a ship. You will need to take down the engines of the ship to make it land and be accessible to you. If you try to kill everyone outside the ship, it will take off and you will not be able to board.
Step 2: Board the Ship
Once you’ve disabled the ship’s engines, it will drift in space, allowing you to dock and board it. If the ship is landed, it simply needs to be boarded.
Step 3: Take the Pilot’s Seat
Once inside the stolen ship, you must sit in the pilot’s seat to initiate the process of claiming ownership.
Step 4: Open the Ship Menu
This is a vital step. Instead of immediately undocking, press TAB (on PC, other platforms may vary) to access the game’s main menu, and look for the ship option in the lower-left corner of the circular menu.
Step 5: Select the Stolen Ship
In your ship menu, select the name of the stolen vessel. This will bring up the ship’s details and an option to make the ship your home ship.
Step 6: Make the Stolen Ship Your Home Ship
Select the option to make the stolen vessel your home ship. Once selected, the Register option will appear.
Step 7: Pay the Registration Fee
You’ll be prompted to pay the registration fee, which, as mentioned, is roughly 85% of the ship’s value. Once paid, the ship is legally yours.
Step 8: Return to Your Previous Ship
If you have a preferred ship, simply exit the stolen ship, board your ship, and select it to be your home ship again.
Why Register From The Ship Menu?
Registering from within the ship menu, while seated in the pilot seat, is the cheapest method of registering your ship in Starfield. If you go to a ship technician, you will find the same registration price. However, if you wish to register the ship for a lower cost, always register it from the ship tab, while on the stolen ship itself.
FAQs About Stolen Ships in Starfield
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify the ins and outs of ship stealing and registration in Starfield:
1. Can I sell a stolen ship without registering it?
No, you cannot. You must register a ship before you can sell it to any Ship Services Technician. Selling an unregistered ship is impossible.
2. How much does it cost to register a stolen ship?
The cost is approximately 85% of the ship’s total value. This is why it’s essential to know the ship’s value prior to committing to registering the ship.
3. Is it always worth it to register a stolen ship?
That depends on the value of the ship and your in-game finances. Generally, you’ll only make a small profit if you intend to sell the ship immediately. However, if the ship is better than your current one, it is worth it to keep and fly.
4. Can you steal Starborn ships?
Unfortunately, you cannot steal Starborn ships in your first playthrough. You will only gain access to a Starborn Ship when you begin a New Game Plus.
5. What happens if I steal a UC (United Colonies) ship?
Usually, the UC ships that you can board are part of a mission or activity. They are not for stealing. However, with console commands, you can unlock the restriction and claim the ship.
6. Can I steal a landed ship?
Yes, you can steal ships that are landed. The ship must be boarded before killing those outside, however.
7. Can I modify a ship without registering it?
No, you cannot modify an unregistered ship. You must have registered a ship before attempting to modify it.
8. What happens if I fly an unregistered ship?
You can fly an unregistered ship without any issues. The only caveat is that you cannot sell it, or modify it. However, if you are on a budget, you can fly unregistered ships no problem.
9. Is it better to sell or keep the stolen ship?
The decision to sell or keep a ship depends on your needs. If the ship is better than yours, keeping it can be beneficial. However, it is important to note that you will be paying for the registration fees.
10. What is the best way to register ships?
Register the ships from within the ship itself, from the ship menu. This is the cheapest way of registering a ship.
11. Are all ships steallable?
No, there are a number of ships which you cannot steal. These include Starborn ships and most UC Ships, which are part of a quest line.
12. Can you get free ships in the game?
Yes, there are a number of free ships you can gain through the game. The frontier is your first ship, the Starborn Guardian is your New Game+ ship and the Wanderwell is gained via a trait. There are other free ships from completing quests in the game.
13. How do I sell my stolen ship after registering it?
After registering the stolen vessel, visit a Ship Services Technician. You can then select the “Sell” option when viewing the technician’s inventory.
14. Can I have more than one ship?
Yes, you can acquire and own several ships, and you can switch between them at any point by setting one as your home ship. You will only be able to modify and customize the ship you have set as your home ship, so make sure you always select this carefully.
15. Are there any hidden ships I can find in Starfield?
Yes! There are a number of secret ships, often from quests or through exploration. These include the Razorleaf, the Star Eagle, UC Prison Shuttle and the Kepler R or Kepler S which are all attainable by completing quests.
By understanding these mechanics, you can become a true ship acquisition expert in Starfield, making the vast universe your own, one stolen (and then registered) ship at a time. Remember to use the method above to minimize the cost of ship ownership, and always be ready for the next great adventure in the cosmos.