I know this isn’t news, but have you thought about what happens to your domain once it expires? More importantly, what happens to the services on your site during this time?
Do they disappear completely?
And when the domain is renewed, is there a seamless transition, or do you lose all your links and rankings?
In this article, we’re going to give answers to the most frequently asked questions about domain expiry.
What happens after domains expire?
A lot of things happen when a domain expires.
First, your website ceases to function, and your customers and blog readers (if it’s a blog) can’t access any service.
Secondly, a registrant can renew the domain, the domain can be auctioned or returned to the registry (becomes subject to domain squatting ).
But as a registrant, you will always have the opportunity to reclaim your domain back before anything else happens. However, it’s best if you can renew your domain before the expiry date.
How do you know when your domain is about to expire?
A handful of domain expiration emails will reach out to you and warn you if your domain is about to expire. It is an important opportunity to take advantage of if you want to keep your website online.
These emails are sent by default from the registrar so there’s nothing extra that you need to do. The register/web hosting companies must update you before the actual expiry date.
Additionally, you can check the status of your domain yourself on WHOIS lookup. You will have access to data such as contact name, date of purchase, and the expiry date of the domain.WHOIS lookup is run by a variety of registrars certified by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned numbers and names).
Can the original registrant renew an expired domain?
Yes, the original registrant can renew an expired domain. Domain names do not belong to a specific person and are not transferable without the approval of the domain name registrar (the company where you registered it).
Domain name owners have a set grace period before the registration is up for renewal. It usually lasts for a month, but it’s easy to miss the deadline if you don’t pay attention.
The price of renewing your domain is established by your domain registrar and depends on how much time has passed between expiring and re-upping.
What’s the pending delete stage?
Once your domain has dropped to its Redemption Period, it is in a state called ‘Pending Delete’. During this time the domain name is locked to prevent you from transferring rights to a different registrar. It’s very easy to lose your domain name at this stage.
What’s cyber/domain squatting?
Cybersquatting is the registration of Internet domains with the main intent of selling the domain names to trademark owners or others who would find such addresses useful.
Often the site contains no information other than an explanation of why the domain should be purchased –for example, to prevent a competitor from getting it.
Can I delete my domain?
No, it’s impossible to delete a domain but you can terminate domain registration through the registrar.
Different domain registration companies will have their unique terms for termination. For instance, some will allow you to discontinue registration whenever you please while others wait until your domain expires naturally.
Why do I need to pay for my domain name every year?
A domain name is like a door to your house and the only way to access it. So to access your website you have to pay an annual renewal fee. The renewal fee may vary depending on the company that registered your domain name but it is mostly about $10 or $20 per year, which is not much at all. If renewing your domain annually stresses you, your registrar might allow you to pay for a couple of years ahead.
What happens if an expired domain isn’t purchased?
If the expired domain does not sell, and no one comes forward to claim it before 6 months have elapsed then the domain is taken back by the registry and reinstated for registration.
Final Words
Domain names expire, and once they have expired, it’s very easy to lose them. To avoid such from happening, you need to renew your domain name one month before the expiry date. Namecheap, for example, encourage their customers to renew their domain names one month before the expiry date. That way, you won’t risk losing your domain name.
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