When you register a domain, it becomes yours until the expiration date. You can renew the domain name to continue with ownership, let it expire, or intentionally cancel it. When a domain expires, someone else can purchase and register it. Premium domain names are no different from conventional domains in terms of expiry. Once the domain expires, it becomes available for reregistration. Here’s an overview of what may happen before expiration:
Registration Expiry Reminders
When you purchase premium domain names, you’ll get a set period of time during which you can use them for your business or brand. The registrar will begin sending email notifications before the expiry date arrives. Notifications feature options to renew the registration. If you don’t act on the notifications, the domain name status will change to the renewal grace period. Depending on the registrar, you may have a certain period of time to renew the domain name without additional fees.
The registrar can deactivate your domain name and replace the website with a parking page. Deactivation can happen as soon as a day after the expiry date, and the parking page states that the domain has expired. You won’t be able to operate other services associated with the domain. After the grace period expires, the domain name status changes to registrar hold. You may have one more month, during which you can pay a redemption charge and renewal fee to regain access to your domain.
Expired Domain Auction
When your domain name isn’t renewed within the initial grace period, the registrar has every right to sell it to another bidder. Some registrars will put up the domain name for sale as soon as the grace period expires. You still have a chance to pay the redemption charge and renew the domain within a short period of time. If someone bids on the domain during the registrar hold period, they must wait until the registrar’s hold is lifted. Once this period ends, the registrar will transfer the domain to its new owner.
The registrar will reimburse the bidding cost if you pay the redemption charge and renew the domain name during the hold period. Sometimes the registrar’s hold duration ends before someone bids on the domain name. If the domain isn’t renewed by the owner or acquired at auction, the registrar can advertise it as a closeout sale. Closeout sales allow other people to purchase the premium domain at a lower price.
Repurchasing Expired Domains
The domain name lifecycle has multiple phases, beginning with availability. You can purchase and register an available domain name to your account. Registries allow owners to buy domain names for one to ten years. You can also renew the domain while its status is still active or reactivate it after expiry. If you fail to renew the domain during the grace period, the registry can release it to the market. Registries don’t have a designated timeframe for releasing a domain name, so letting your domain name expire isn’t advisable.
The registry can release a domain name immediately after the grace period or keep it for several months before making it available. You can assess the availability of a domain by determining its current status. If the domain is in the renewal grace period, no one can register it since the timeframe is reserved for the current owner. Once the domain is available, you can repurchase and reregister it, although that’s more expensive than renewing. Each registrar is different, so the domain lifecycles, grace periods, and redemption periods vary.
Purchasing Premium Domain Names
Domain names are sold by existing owners and registrars through the help of a broker. When a domain name is purchased, it becomes unavailable for registration by another person for a set timeframe. The existing owner can renew ownership for as long as they need. Owners can cancel their domains, which allows the registrar to release the name back into the market. The registrar can also release a domain name if the owner fails to renew it on time.
Premium domain names are indispensable and highly demanded, so they only stay available briefly. Once a domain expires and is available, anyone can bid and take ownership. You can use a domain marketplace or broker to help you find premium names. Brokers can also assist with purchasing a domain name from an existing owner. When buying premium domains, stick to reputable online marketplaces and brokers with a clean track record.
