How FFL Transfers Work When You Buy Online

Buying a firearm online is legal and common, but the gun never ships to your house. It ships to a federally licensed dealer, called an FFL, who hands it to you after the same paperwork and background check you would complete at any gun counter. This guide explains each step so your first order goes smoothly.

Step 1: Choose your firearm

Browse the shop and pick your firearm. Before you order, confirm that it is legal to own where you live. Most states we serve have few model restrictions, but some have magazine limits; Vermont, for example, limits newly sold magazines to 10 rounds for long guns and 15 rounds for handguns. Check the home defense and gun law overview for a state summary.

Step 2: Pick a receiving FFL

Find a licensed dealer near you who accepts transfers. Local gun shops, pawn shops and some sporting goods stores and home-based dealers do this. Call first and ask:

Do you accept transfers from online retailers?
What is your transfer fee, and is it different for handguns and long guns?
What are your hours for pickup?
Do you need anything from me before the gun arrives?

Transfer fees vary widely by dealer and region, so it is worth asking two or three shops.

Step 3: Place your order

At checkout, select or enter your dealer's information. The dealer's license must be on file before the firearm ships. Many dealers already have their license on file with distributors; if not, the dealer sends a copy. You pay for the firearm and shipping at checkout, and pay the transfer fee to the dealer at pickup.

Step 4: Shipping

The firearm ships to the dealer by a carrier that handles firearms, usually with a signature required at the dealer. The dealer logs the gun into their records when it arrives and contacts you. Ammunition, optics and accessories ordered with it ship to your home address where state law allows.

Step 5: Paperwork and background check

At pickup, bring a valid government-issued photo ID that shows your current address. If your ID has an old address, bring a supporting government document, such as a vehicle registration or tax bill, and ask your dealer what they accept. You will fill out ATF Form 4473, which asks for your identity and a set of yes-or-no questions about whether you are prohibited from owning a firearm. Answer every question honestly.

The dealer then runs a background check. In most states this goes to the FBI's NICS system. In Wisconsin, handgun checks run through the state Department of Justice. The result comes back as proceed, delayed or denied.

Proceed: you can usually take the firearm home, unless your state has a waiting period.
Delayed: the check needs more review. Federal law generally allows the dealer to transfer after three business days if no answer arrives, but many dealers choose to wait for a final answer.
Denied: the dealer cannot transfer the firearm. If you believe the denial is an error, you can appeal through the agency that ran the check.

Waiting periods

Most states we serve have no waiting period. Two do:

Maine: a 72-hour waiting period between an agreed sale and delivery. It was upheld by the First Circuit in April 2026 and a Supreme Court petition is pending.
Vermont: the dealer may not transfer until 72 hours after receiving a NICS transaction number, or seven business days after starting the check, whichever comes first.

Plan ahead if you need a rifle for deer season in those states.

Age requirements

Federal law lets dealers sell rifles and shotguns to buyers 18 and older and handguns to buyers 21 and older. Vermont generally requires buyers of any firearm to be 21, with exceptions for law enforcement, service members and veterans, and holders of a Vermont-approved hunter safety certificate.

Handguns across state lines

A handgun must be transferred through a dealer in the state where you live. Long guns can be transferred by a dealer in another state if the sale is legal in both states, but it is simplest to use a dealer at home.

Private sales

Some states require private sales to go through a dealer. Vermont requires this, and Maine has added background check rules for some advertised private sales, so check the current law. Even where it is not required, running a private sale through an FFL gives both sides a clean record.

Tips for a smooth pickup

Call before you drive over; the dealer may not have processed the gun yet.
Bring your ID and any supporting address document.
Inspect the firearm at the counter and compare the serial number to your paperwork.
Take the gun home unloaded and cased, and follow your state's vehicle transport rules.
Lock it up when you get home; our safe storage guide has options.

Frequently asked

Can ammunition ship to my house?

In the states we serve, ammunition generally ships to a home address. An adult signature may be required on delivery.

What if my dealer goes out of business before the gun arrives?

Do I need a permit to buy?

None of the states we serve require a purchase permit. Wisconsin requires a license to carry concealed, but not to buy.

Next steps

Pick your firearm in the shop, check the first rifle guide or the shotgun guide if you are still deciding, and find your local page under gun shop locations. We do not run a physical store; every firearm ships to the licensed dealer you choose.

General information, not legal advice. Current as of September 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you act.