Answers to the Real Questions
Frequently asked,
honestly answered.
Everything we get asked, in one place. Search it, browse by category, or just scroll. If your question isn't here, reach out — we read every message.
01 · Start Here
Getting Started
What is Gun Vault, exactly?
Gun Vault is a private digital inventory for firearm owners. You track your firearms, attach photos and documents, record their history, and — on paid tiers — designate heirs, store NFA paperwork, and use credits across a network of related tools (GunPrice, GunClear, GunTransfer, GunShare).
How long does it take to get set up?
Create an account in under a minute. Adding your first firearm takes 2–3 minutes if you have the serial number handy. A full inventory of 20 firearms with photos typically takes 30–45 minutes spread over a few sessions.
Do I have to pay to try it?
No. Gun Vault Free is free forever — up to 5 firearms, full records, CSV export, one login across all five platforms. No credit card required to sign up. Upgrade to a paid plan only when you outgrow it or want specific features.
What do I need to add a firearm?
Make, model, serial number, and caliber are the baseline. Everything else — photos, purchase history, bill of sale, notes — is optional and can be added any time. You can add a firearm with just a make and model; the rest fills in as you have time.
Do I have to enter serial numbers?
No. Serial numbers are optional on every plan. Some users choose to skip them. The trade-off is that features that depend on serials — GunClear stolen-gun checks, certain estate handoffs, accurate insurance documentation — require them. But the vault works either way.
Can I use Gun Vault if I only own one gun?
Yes. Many users start that way. Free works fine for 1–5 firearms; there's no minimum. The vault is useful at any scale.
02 · Tiers & Billing
Plans & Pricing
Which plan should I pick?
Free for 1–5 firearms and testing the waters. Gun Safe ($99/yr) for serious owners — photos, history, bill of sale, 50 firearms, $60 in credits. Gun Legacy ($199/yr) if you're thinking about estate planning — heir designation, stories, executor access. Gun Trust ($299/yr) if you own NFA items or have a gun trust.
Monthly or yearly — what's the difference?
Yearly costs less. Gun Safe is $12/mo or $99/yr (save $45). Gun Legacy is $24/mo or $199/yr (save $89). Gun Trust is $36/mo or $299/yr (save $133). Both billing cadences get the same features and same annual credits. Monthly is good if you want to try first; yearly is the better deal once you're sure.
Can I switch plans later?
Yes, any direction. Upgrades are prorated — you pay the difference for the rest of your current term. Downgrades take effect at your next renewal; your records stay intact, but features above your new tier go read-only.
What payment methods do you accept?
Major credit and debit cards through our payment processor (Authorize.net). Card data never touches our servers — it's tokenized at the processor. We don't currently support PayPal, crypto, or ACH bank transfer.
Is there a refund if I change my mind?
Yes. 7-day refund window on first-time paid subscriptions, no questions asked. After 7 days, pro-rated refunds are handled case-by-case — contact support. We don't trap people in subscriptions.
What happens if my card fails at renewal?
We retry 3 times over 7 days and email you each attempt. If all 3 fail, your account drops to Free tier and your records stay intact but features above Free go read-only. Update your card anytime to reactivate — no penalty, no data loss.
03 · Privacy First
Security & Privacy
Is Gun Vault a federal firearms registry?
No. Gun Vault is a private record-keeping tool for individual gun owners. We are not connected to ATF's systems, we are not a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), and we do not submit any data to any government registry. Your records exist because you chose to keep them.
Who can see my records?
You. Full stop, by default. Your designated executor sees a read-only view after death certificate verification (Legacy/Trust plans). Responsible Persons on a gun trust can see the trust document if you grant access (Trust plan). No one else — not ATF, not law enforcement, not manufacturers, not insurers, not data brokers.
What about subpoenas?
A valid, specific, court-issued subpoena gets the legal compliance any US company gives. But we challenge overbroad requests, require specificity, and notify affected users unless barred by a gag order. We don't respond to informal requests, agency letters, or fishing expeditions. See the Security page for full detail.
How is my data encrypted?
AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit. Every record, every photo, every document. Passwords are hashed with bcrypt. Documents (tax stamps, bills of sale) live in a separate encrypted object store with signed, short-lived URLs.Do you use third-party analytics or tracking?
Minimal and anonymous. First-party analytics only — no Google Analytics, no Facebook Pixel, no ad-tech. Your vault activity isn't tied to any external identity graph.
Does Gun Vault use my data to train AI?
No. Your records, photos, stories, tax stamps, and trust documents are not used as training data, not shared with AI providers, and not analyzed for any secondary purpose. The AI-assisted valuation features on GunPrice run on aggregate market data, not your records.
04 · Passing Down
Legacy & Estate
Is Gun Vault a substitute for a will?
No. Gun Vault is not a will and does not replace one. It's a detailed inventory and intent document that your estate attorney, executor, and heirs can use to understand your firearms and your wishes. Your will is still the binding legal document.
What actually happens when I die?
Your designated executor submits a verification request with a death certificate. We verify authenticity, then grant read-only access to your vault — firearms, designated heirs, stories, transfer guidance. They get a printable PDF summary for the estate attorney. Your executor doesn't get your password or full control.
Can I change heirs later?
Yes, any time. Kids grow up, relationships evolve. Heir designations are editable whenever you're logged in, and changes take effect immediately. No lawyer needed to update.
What if my heir lives in a strict-law state?
The state transfer guidance walks through requirements for each state — California roster compliance, magazine capacity, mandatory FFL transfers, waiting periods. If a firearm can't legally transfer to your named heir, the guide flags it and suggests alternatives from your backup list.
Are my stories private?
Private by default. Only you read them while you're alive. After verified passing, your designated executor and named heirs can access them. Stories are encrypted at rest, never shared, never used for training anything.
What if I don't have an obvious heir?
Your heir doesn't have to be a family member. Friend, hunting buddy, neighbor, nephew — or leave instructions to sell and donate proceeds. The heir field is free-form; your executor sees exactly what you wrote.
05 · Title II Items
NFA & Gun Trust
Do I need a gun trust to use Gun Trust plan?
No. Plenty of NFA items are registered to individuals. You still get NFA item tracking, tax stamp storage, state transfer guidance, and all legacy features. Trust-specific features (document vault, RP tracking) light up automatically if you add a trust later.
Is Gun Trust a replacement for an NFA attorney?
No. Gun Trust is record-keeping software. It does not draft trust documents, file ATF paperwork, provide legal advice, or certify anything. An NFA attorney drafts your trust; Gun Trust stores and organizes the documents you've already received.
Can I file Form 1 or Form 4 through Gun Vault?
No. ATF filings go through eForms (eforms.atf.gov) or through your FFL/SOT dealer. Gun Trust stores approved forms and tax stamps after they're received. We're not an FFL or a filing agent.
What happens to my NFA items if I die?
If held by a gun trust, the trust continues — successor trustees take over per trust terms, and named beneficiaries receive items per the instrument. If held individually, they transfer via Form 5 (tax-exempt to a lawful heir). Gun Trust stores the paperwork and walks your executor through the process.
Can Responsible Persons see the trust vault?
Yes, optionally. You can grant each RP read access to the trust document, amendments, and item list. They log in with their own email and a secure invite. Per-RP, revocable any time.
What if ATF audits me?
Audits are rare for individuals, more common for SOT dealers. Either way, Gun Trust gives you an organized audit-ready package: item records, tax stamps, trust documents, RP records, printable PDF summary. Having organized records reduces the stress of responding — it doesn't prevent scrutiny.
06 · Across Platforms
Platform Credits
What are platform credits?
Paid Gun Vault plans include annual credits you can use on GunTransfer ($50 each) and GunClear ($10 each) instead of paying. Gun Safe gets 1 of each ($60 value). Gun Legacy gets 2 of each ($120). Gun Trust gets 3 of each ($180).
How do I use a credit?
When you check out on GunTransfer or GunClear while signed in, your account shows the credit inline. One click applies it — no discount code needed. The credit covers the full amount.
Do credits roll over?
No. Credits reset on your renewal date. Use them or lose them. A yearly subscriber gets new credits every 365 days; a monthly subscriber gets them annually on the anniversary of their first paid month.
Can I give a credit to someone else?
Not directly — credits are attached to your Gun Vault account. But if you're handling a transfer or sale for someone else, you can use your credit on their transaction while they're the legal buyer/seller.
What if I cancel before using my credits?
You have until your cancellation effective date to redeem them. Unused credits don't refund as cash. Heads-up emails go out 30 days before renewal so you can plan.
07 · Your Data
Account & Data
Can I export my data?
Yes, on any plan including Free. CSV for the firearm list, PDF for a printable report, ZIP for everything including photos and documents. No customer service ticket, no waiting period.
Can I delete my account?
Yes. Self-service account deletion in account settings. Active subscriptions auto-cancel. Your data is fully wiped within 30 days, including backups. Financial records are retained only as required by US tax law.
What if Gun Vault shuts down?
We give 90 days' notice by email with clear export instructions. Your records belong to you — we'd never hold them hostage or let them evaporate. The commitment is written into our Terms.
Is two-factor authentication available?
Email one-time codes are required for sign-in from new devices on all plans. TOTP (Google Authenticator, Authy, 1Password) and hardware keys (YubiKey, FIDO2) are available on paid plans.
How do I change my email or password?
Account settings → Security. Password change requires your current password. Email change requires verification of the new email before the old one stops working — standard practice to protect you from account takeover.
Can I have more than one Gun Vault account?
Yes, though most users don't need to. One account can handle personal firearms, a family trust, and a business trust separately — the Gun Trust plan supports multiple trusts natively. Separate accounts are an option if you want full isolation.
Still looking for an answer?
We answer every message ourselves — no offshore call centers, no auto-reply-and-forget. Typical response within one business day.
Your Account Unlocks All 5
The Complete Platform
One login. Access every Gun Transfer America platform. Free to start.
01 — Price
What’s My Gun Worth?
Free private sale estimates. Know your value before you list, trade, or transfer.
Value My Gun →
02 — Clear
Prove It’s Not Stolen
Run your serial number against private stolen gun registries. GunClear Certificate proves it’s clean. $10.
Check Serial # →
03 — Share
List Your Gun Free
Free to list. In-state private sales. Background-checked transfers for $50 when your buyer is found.
List My Gun →
04 — Transfer
Transfer It Legally
Background check, official bill of sale & lifetime digital records. Legal in most states. Flat $50 — no surprises.
Transfer a Gun →
05 — Vault
Your Guns. Your Legacy.
Secure records, photos, history & succession planning for every firearm you own. Protect your collection. Free to start.
Open My Vault →The complete platform for gun owners.
