NAFA member AOPA Finance shares their article on the costs beyond the aircraft loan.
Similar to other large purchases, there are costs associated with buying an aircraft. One of the primary advantages of using AOPA Finance as your finance broker is that we do not charge a fee for our services. As a member of AOPA, our aircraft financing services are included as part of your membership. The other costs associated with an aircraft loan include lender closing costs; title and escrow fees; aircraft broker’s fee (if you use an aircraft broker); pre-purchase inspection costs; CPA/legal fees to correctly set up the ownership structure and understand the tax liability of aircraft ownership; and in some cases, aircraft appraisal fees.
All lenders have closing costs, which typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. The amount varies from lender to lender, and is often determined by the size of the loan and the aircraft type. In the case of piston aircraft loans, closing costs are usually a flat, fixed fee. Turboprop and jet closing costs tend to be a percentage of the loan. Lender closing costs are intended to cover things like documentation, processing and aircraft valuation costs.
Whenever a loan is customized, plan on the closing cost being customized too. Loans customized for specific situations often don’t have the benefit of using standard documentation or processes, so the cost structure is likely to be different.
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This article was originally published by AOPA Finance on September 21, 2026.