Getting Your GMRS License
The General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) is a licensed two-way radio service for short-distance voice and data communication. One individual license, with no examination, covers the licensee and their immediate family.
One license, one fee: GMRS has a single license class and no examination. The FCC application fee for a new license is $35, and the license is valid for ten years. Guides that list a different amount predate the current fee schedule.
The Licensing Path at a Glance
GMRS is licensed to individuals. There are no license classes and no examination: an eligible applicant registers with the FCC, applies, and pays the fee (47 CFR §95.1705).
GMRS
No examination. The grant assigns a call sign and is valid for ten years from the date of grant or renewal (§95.1705(e)).
Who Does a GMRS License Cover?
Eligibility, who may operate under one license, and the licensee’s responsibilities.
A new individual GMRS license may be issued only to an individual who is at least 18 years old (§95.1705(a)(1)). A foreign government, or anyone acting as its representative, is not authorized to operate Personal Radio Service stations (§95.305(c)).
One license covers more than the licensee: members of the licensee’s immediate family may operate the licensee’s GMRS stations without licenses of their own.
The licensee’s spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws (§95.1705(c)(2)).
A licensee may allow anyone to operate the licensee’s GMRS station if necessary to communicate an emergency message (§95.1705(c)(3)).
The licensee is responsible at all times for the proper operation of the stations, and decides which individuals, including family members, may operate them (§95.1705(b), (d)(1)).
Each station identifies with its FCC-assigned call sign at the end of a transmission and at least every 15 minutes during longer ones, by voice in English or by Morse code (§95.1751).
How to Get Licensed
All four steps are done online with the FCC.
- 1
Register with the FCC (Obtain an FRN)
Create an FCC username and obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN) in the FCC Commission Registration System (CORES). The FRN identifies the applicant on every FCC filing.
- 2
Apply in the Universal Licensing System
Sign in to the ULS License Manager with the same username, choose to apply for a new license, and select the General Mobile Radio Service (radio service code ZA).
- 3
Answer the Eligibility Questions
The application asks for the applicant’s name and address and confirms eligibility: at least 18 years old and not a representative of a foreign government. There is no examination.
- 4
Pay the Fee and Receive the License
Pay the $35 application fee through CORES. Once the FCC grants the application, the license and its call sign appear in ULS.
Understanding the Costs
FCC application fees for GMRS, from the FCC’s fee schedule for personal licenses.
| Application | Examination | FCC Application Fee |
|---|---|---|
| New license | None (no examination) | $35 |
| Renewal | None | $35 |
Fees from 47 CFR §1.1102 (personal licenses). Any regulatory fee is set in the FCC’s fee filing guide, not in this table; check it when applying.
License Term and Renewal
How long a GMRS license lasts, and when it must be renewed.
Ten-Year Term
A GMRS license normally has a term of ten years from the date of grant or renewal, and is renewed through the FCC’s licensing system (§95.1705(e)).
Renewal Window and Expiration
A renewal must be filed no sooner than 90 days before the expiration date and no later than the expiration date (47 CFR §1.949(a)).
A license that is not renewed in time terminates automatically on its expiration date (§1.955(a)(1)). Part 1 sets no grace period for GMRS: after expiration, operating again requires a new license.
FCC ULS License Manager (opens in new tab)Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from new GMRS applicants.
Is there an examination?
No. GMRS has no examination and no license classes. An eligible applicant applies and pays the fee.
Does every family member need a license?
No. Members of the licensee’s immediate family may operate the licensee’s GMRS stations under the licensee’s license (47 CFR §95.1705(c)(2)).
Is a license needed just to listen?
No. The license authorizes operating (transmitting from) a GMRS station; receiving does not require one.
Is GMRS the same as amateur radio?
No. GMRS (47 CFR Part 95, Subpart E) and the Amateur Radio Service (Part 97) are separate services with separate licenses and rules. GMRS has no examination; amateur radio requires one.
What happens if the license expires?
It terminates on its expiration date unless a renewal was filed in time (47 CFR §1.955(a)(1)). Renewal opens 90 days before expiration (§1.949(a)).
Official Rules and Supporting Sources
Primary regulatory citations from Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations.