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How To Sell Your Captured Ships in Starfield: A Comprehensive Guide

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Want to turn your space pirating adventures into cold, hard credits? In Starfield, capturing enemy ships is a thrilling way to expand your fleet and make some serious money. But before you start imagining yourself as a space tycoon, you need to understand the process of actually selling those commandeered vessels. This guide will provide you with everything you need to know to turn those stolen ships into valuable assets.

The Short Answer: How to Sell a Captured Ship in Starfield

The process of selling a captured ship in Starfield involves a few key steps. Here’s the direct and comprehensive answer:

Disable the Ship’s Engines: The first crucial step in capturing a ship is to disable its engines. You can do this by targeting the ship’s engines in space combat. Once disabled, the ship will drift, allowing you to dock.
Dock and Eliminate the Crew: Approach the disabled ship and dock with it. Breach the airlock and take out any remaining crew members. This might involve some combat, so be prepared.
Claim the Ship: Once the crew is eliminated, head to the cockpit and interact with the pilot’s seat. This officially makes the ship yours.
Register the Ship: This is the most important step before selling. You cannot sell a stolen ship without registering it. Find a Ship Services Technician, typically located at most planet landing zones. This technician will charge you a registration fee, usually around 90% of the ship’s value, to legally add the ship to your inventory.
Sell the Ship: After registration, talk to the Ship Services Technician again. In their menu, switch to the ‘Sell’ tab (usually a button or prompt at the bottom of the screen). Select the ship you want to sell, and confirm your decision. You’ll see the amount of Credits you’ll receive for the sale before you finalize.

Understanding the Process

The process might seem simple, but understanding why each step is important will make you a more effective ship-flipping entrepreneur in Starfield. The registration fee is a significant hurdle to making quick profits from stolen ships, so keep this in mind. The idea is that by registering the ship you are effectively ‘legitimizing’ it for sale on the open market. Without registering, you can only have the stolen ship as an active vessel.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to further clarify the details of capturing and selling ships in Starfield:

General Ship Capture and Ownership

How do I capture an enemy ship in Starfield?
To capture an enemy ship, disable its engines in combat, dock, clear the interior of hostile forces, and then claim the pilot’s seat.
How many ships can I own at once in Starfield?
You can own up to ten ships at any given time. Once you reach this limit, you’ll need to sell existing ships to acquire new ones.
Can I sell my original, starter ship in Starfield?
No, you cannot sell your home or starter ship. If you have only one ship, you can’t sell it. You need at least two ships to sell one, as the game requires you to have a ‘home ship’.

Ship Registration

Why do I need to register a captured ship before selling?
Stolen ships cannot be sold unless you register them with a Ship Services Technician. Registration makes the ship legally yours. It is, effectively, a laundering fee.
How much does it cost to register a stolen ship?
Registration typically costs around 90% of the ship’s value. This can significantly reduce the profit you make from selling a stolen ship. Some sources cite around 84% as well.
Where can I register a stolen ship?
You can register a stolen ship at any location with a Ship Services Technician. These are usually located at most major landing zones.
Can I sell a ship without registering it?
No, you cannot sell a stolen ship without registering it first.

Selling and Profits

Where do I go to sell my ships?
You sell your ships through the same Ship Services Technician that you registered it at. Select ‘Sell’ at the bottom of the menu screen once you talk to them.
How much do captured ships typically sell for?
The amount you receive for a captured ship depends heavily on the ship’s class, condition, and features, but remember to factor in the high registration fee. After registration, the sale price will likely be significantly less than the value of the ship.
Is selling captured ships a good way to make money in Starfield?
It can be a good way, but the high registration fee makes it less profitable than it might seem initially. Focus on capturing higher-value ships to make the most of it. It can also be useful to sell ships that have overlapped with eachother in function.
What’s the most profitable way to make money from ships in Starfield?
It may be more profitable to find a ship with valuable contraband aboard that can be sold at the Trade Authority. Also, keep in mind, if you board a ship, and you don’t like it, you can take anything of value and leave the ship there. There is no requirement to keep the ship you board, but selling the loot can be more profitable than the ship itself.
Why is the sell value of a stolen ship so low?
The sell value is low due to the registration fee (which usually is a high percentage of the ships value) taking a big chunk out of the selling price. Essentially, you have to pay for the ship to become legitimate before you can sell it.

Specific Ship Types

Can I sell the Starborn ship I get in the game?
Yes, you can sell the Starborn Guardian ship, after going through a Ship Services Technician, just as with other ships. The game still requires you to pay the registration fee before selling.
Can you steal a UC ship?
While you can attempt to board a UC ship, there may be quest-related restrictions that stop you from taking it. Sometimes, even if the ship is not ‘owned’ by any particular character in the game, you may still not be able to take it.

General Gameplay

What happens to my old ship when I steal a new one?
Your old ship just kind of disappears when you steal a new one. It will essentially just fly away. You don’t get anything back from it.

Conclusion

Selling captured ships in Starfield is a core part of the game’s experience, allowing you to explore the galaxy in your own stolen armada. However, it’s vital to understand the mechanics of registration and the associated costs to maximize your profits. By following the steps outlined in this guide and keeping these FAQs in mind, you’ll be well-equipped to become a successful space trader, one stolen ship at a time. Happy pirating!