You can capture an enemy ship in Starfield, register it, and sell it—but it is profitable only when the sale proceeds shown in-game exceed the registration fee. The basic route is to disable the ship’s engines, board and clear it, take the pilot seat, then register and sell it through a ship services technician.
How to capture an enemy ship in space
- Target its engines. In space combat, use Targeting Control Systems to target the enemy ship’s engines, then disable them. This capture route is described in PC Gamer’s Starfield ship-selling walkthrough.
- Board the disabled ship. Defeat the crew, then enter the pilot seat to take control.
- Fly to a ship services technician. At a spaceport, speak to the technician to access the ship services interface.
Register the ship before selling it
A captured, found, or stolen ship can be flown and used before registration, but Bethesda Support says it must be registered before you can sell or edit it. You can register through a ship vendor or from the ship section of the data menu. The registration fee varies with the ship’s size and complexity; Bethesda does not give a fixed fee schedule in its ship-registration guidance.
Check whether the sale will make a profit
Before paying to register the ship, compare the fee with the sale proceeds displayed in the game. The fee is a cost of selling, and the sources establish no universal registration percentage or guaranteed profit amount. If the fee is greater than the proceeds, selling that ship will not earn you credits overall.
Sell a ship that is not your home ship
Use the ship services interface to sell the registered vessel. The PC Gamer walkthrough notes that you cannot sell your current home ship, so switch to another ship before attempting the sale. Check the interface’s displayed sale value and fee rather than assuming every captured ship is worth selling.
#1 Best Overall
- Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits
- Venture through the stars and explore more than 1000 planets
- Pilot and command the ship of your dreams.
Update and platform context
Bethesda’s April 7, 2026 Update 1.16.236 notes include a fix for an issue that could prevent unique or stolen ships from being renamed. That confirms stolen-ship handling was still part of the official ship system in that update, but does not independently verify every capture or sale step above. Bethesda lists Starfield for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5 on its official Starfield page.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content - The Rogue Infiltrator Character Pack includes cosmetics for Kay and Nix.
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- Jump into the pilot seat. Pilot your ship, the Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with the Empire and other foes. Find the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
Rank #3
- TELL YOUR STORY - In Starfield the most important story is the one you tell with your character. Start your journey by customizing your appearance and deciding your Background and Traits. Will you be an experienced explorer, a charming diplomat, a stealthy cyber runner, or something else entirely? The choice is yours. Decide who you will be and what you will become.
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- CAPTAIN THE SHIP OF YOUR DREAMS - Pilot and command the ship of your dreams. Personalize the look of your ship, modify critical systems including weapons and shields, and assign crew members to provide unique bonuses. In deep space you will engage in high-stakes dogfights, encounter random missions, dock at star stations, and even board and commandeer enemy ships to add to your collection.
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Rank #2
![Starfield (Standard Edition) [Xbox Series X]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51H0Hjwc50L._SL160_.jpg)
- Includes: Starfield Standard Edition (Disc)
- Travel to the stars in this next-gen RPG from the award-winning creators of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4
- Create a character according to your imagination and explore the endless expanses in unparalleled freedom
- The goal of this epic journey? The answer to humanity's greatest question
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