Transferring an expired domain name to another registrar is not as difficult as we worry about it!
If you’ve ever found yourself wondering about the possibility of rescuing an expired domain and giving it a fresh start, you’re in the right place.
You have the right to transfer your expired domains to another domain registrar. They are not allowed to deny transfer due to expiration or non-renewal (unless you pass the renewal grace period or have not paid for the previous registration period).
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of transferring an expired domain name to another registrar, clear up any misconceptions, and highlight useful points.
So, let’s get started.
Can You Transfer an Expired Domain Name to Another Registrar?
According to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), you can transfer your expired domain name to another registrar before the renewal grace period ends. This is usually completed within 40-45 days of expiration!
If a registrar does not renew the domain name before the actual expiration of the domain name, then the registrar allows you to renew the domain name for another 45 days, and this period is called the renewal grace period!
Typically, after the renewal grace period, a domain name cannot be renewed. However, some domain registrars offer a fee of up to $80 to retrieve your domain. This period lasts 30 days before the domain is pending deletion period, which takes about 5 days for domain names to be completely deleted.
However, not all domains (TLDs) and all domain registrars are the same; it will be different in some cases.
How Domain Lifecycle Works?
The owner of a domain name has a non-guaranteed grace period of about 30 days after the expiration date to renew the domain at the regular rate.
If the domain is not renewed, it is deleted from the domain database and placed into the redemption period at the registry. If the domain is not re-instated in this phase, it’s released to the public and becomes available approximately 70-80 days after the expiration date (in rare cases, up to 120 days) if not auctioned off by upstream vendors.
Why Do You Need to Transfer an Expired Domain?
Many times we don’t have money on our card, or many of us turn off auto-renewal to manually renew a domain name or transfer to another place because most domain registrars bring upsells during domain renewal, which may cause our domain to expire.
So we can’t save our money by constantly renewing with some registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, and more. However, transferring a domain name is a cost-effective way to reduce domain renewal costs, and the best thing is that most registrars offer domain transfer discounts, which are a great way to save money.
How Can I Transfer an Expired Domain to Another Registrar?
If your domain is listed in your account, you can request your registrar to transfer it because during this time you cannot manage things like unlocking the domain name and getting an authentication code to start transferring your domain to a new registrar.
As an example, I’ve used one of my Namecheap expired domains to transfer to a new registrar.
Step 1: Log in to your domain registrar account
Log in to your domain account where your domain has expired and you are ready to transfer elsewhere.
Step 2: Go to Domain List and select your domain name
Go to the “Domain List” also known as a domain control panel for other registrars and select your domain that is in the GRACE period.
Generally, to transfer a domain name from Namecheap, you need to click on Manage and go to Domains → Details → Sharing & Transfer → Transfer Out page where you can unlock your domain name and get an Auth Code to initiate the domain transfer to a new registrar.
But, when you transfer an expired domain from Namecheap or another registrar, you can’t do it from your side. Here’s why you can’t do it by yourself that shown show the transfer-out function difference between active domains and expired domains in the images below.
So what you found? Correct! there are no options to unlock your domain and get an auth code once your domain name is expired.
Don’t worry! you need to contact support to let them know that you want to transfer your expired domain and they’ll do it for you.
Step 3: Go to Live Chat and ask them about the transfer
When I ask Namecheap Live Chat support “Can I Transfer an Expired Domain Name to Another Registrar?” Then they immediately replied to me, “Yes, you can transfer your domain until it falls into Redemption”.
But they additionally asked me for the reason why I’m moving the domain away.
Then I simply replied to him “No, I want to transfer it to a new place where I got a discount”.
Then support asked me for the domain name I want to transfer and additionally I asked about the redemption period.
Luckily they replied to me “Your domain has not entered the Redemption stage yet, so you can transfer it to another registrar (the only thing here is that manual preparation on our side is required).” As you already know that it should be done by support only.
Then I confirm support that can go ahead with the transfer process.
And they unlocked the domain and sent me the auth code to my e-mail.
Thanks to Namecheap for providing excellent support in real-time. Now I can transfer this domain.
Finally, I’ve got the requested authorization code for the domain “bestshoesformen.com”.
If you don’t find your e-mail in your Inbox, make sure to check your Spam/Junk folders as the email may be delivered there due to its automated nature.
Step 4: Initiate your domain transfer
Once you receive the Auth/EPP code, you will just need to initiate the transfer on the side of the new registrar and follow their transfer process.
Both Porkbun and NameSilo are recommended for affordable domain transfer rates. You can choose any of them according to your preferences; I’m going with the Porkbun as an example.
Process 1: Log in to your desired domain registrar account
Log in to your domain registrar account where you want to transfer your domain name, whether it’s an expired domain or not. They are obligated to manage your domain name until you have a valid authentication code and the domain is unlocked.
Process 2: Go to the domain transfer page and paste the domain name and auth code to submit
Once you’ve logged in, go to the Transfer to Porkbun page, fill in your domain name and auth code, and click on the Submit button.
After clicking the submit button, the porkbun verifies the input data, and if it’s correct, you have the option to click the “Add Transfers to Cart” button to proceed with the next step.
Process 3: Review your cart items and continue to billing
Review your item (items) and click on the “Continue to Billing” button.
Process 4: Select your payment method and finalize the order
After clicking the “Continue to Billing” button and selecting your payment method and tickmark the terms & conditions and click the “Continue with Credit Card” button or any other method and make payment to finalize your domain transfer order.
Then you’ll see a confirmation of your order with a green tick mark.
A transfer may take 5-7 days to be completed.
Still, after you submit the transfer and it starts, you will receive a transfer-out notification for the domain, where you would be able to speed up the process.
Process 5: Accept confirmation e-mail to be completed the domain transfer
After you get a confirmation e-mail then you have three options, either you can wait up to 5-7 days or speed up the transfer by accepting or rejecting the domain transfer request immediately!
Click on the “Approve” button to move your domain to the new registrar.
Conclusion
Transferring an expired domain is as simple as transferring an active domain name. But you must do it before your domain falls into the redemption period, where most registrars don’t allow you to renew or transfer a domain name.
Make sure you turn on auto-renew to prevent your domain from expiring or renew your domain in advance and get a discount price at Namecheap. Otherwise, transfer your domain name to a new place to save money.
Which domain registrar do you prefer?
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