About Expired Domain Names

Here is everything you need to know about expired domain names, whether you are trying to reclaim your expired domain, are hoping to snatch up a soon to expire domain or are just curious about what happens when a domain name expires.

What to do if your domain name expires

Once your domain expires, you lose all information tied to it via your domain registrar or hosting service. While most domain registry services give ample warning before a domain expires, allowing your domain to expire is not the end of the world. Automatic renewal is the easiest way to ensure you keep your domain, but if you already missed that boat then you still have options. The sooner you act to reclaim your domain the better; most registries hold expired domains for anywhere from 45 to 90 days. While your registry service is likely to charge a late renewal fee, it is nothing compared to what you can expect to pay if your domain is released for resale.

Getting an expired domain name

If you are wanting to get a domain that is already owned, then the easiest way to put yourself first in line when it expires is to find out who currently owns it and when it expires. This is easy to do with a quick domain search on Whois.net. Once you know when the domain expires, you can actually pay a fee that gives you first dibs should it expire. This is a far cheaper option than buying the domain from one of the many companies that buys expired domains.

Why expired domains are more expensive

Most domain registry services charge a penalty if you choose to renew your domain name after it expires. While such a penalty may seem unfair, it is still better than what you can expect to pay to buy your domain from another entity. Once interest is expressed in a domain (via its initial purchase and use), you can expect domain registries to put a premium on it should it ever expire. The same is true of companies that harvest expired domains; if nothing else, they know that name is worth more to you or your competitors.

Time is of the essence if you want to renew your expired domain or buy an expired domain. Renewing and buying an expired domain as soon as possible are important if you want to avoid the extra fees and premium price that professional domain purchasers charge.