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What is your process for handling expired domains?

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Last Updated: January 27, 2009 3:36 PM

The process we, the registrar, follow for expired domains depends on your domain extension and settings. If you set your domains to automatically renew, we attempt to renew the expired registrations for you. If you set your domains to manually renew, we notify you when your registration has expired.

For expired .COM, .NET, .ORG, .INFO, .BIZ, .US, .WS, .NAME, .CC, .TV, or .JOBS domain registrations, we hold your domain for approximately 42 days before cancelling it. Renewing a domain during this period is subject to applicable renewal and redemption fees.

If you set the domain to automatic renewal, when your domain registration expires, we proceed with the following steps before cancelling it:

  • On your domain registration's expiration date, we attempt to renew the domain. If we cannot renew the domain (for example, if the card on file expired), we notify you of your domain registration's expiration and park your domain. You can manually renew your domain.
  • On the 5th day following your domain registration's expiration date, we attempt to renew the domain. If we still cannot renew the domain, we send a second notification of your domain registration's expiration. You can manually renew your domain.
  • On the 12th day following your domain registration's expiration date, we attempt to renew the domain. If we still cannot renew the domain, we send a third and final notification of your domain registration's expiration, and we place the domain on hold. You can manually renew your domain.
  • On the 19th day following your domain registration's expiration date, your domain remains on hold but becomes subject to a redemption fee. You can call customer support to renew your domain, subject to any applicable renewal and redemption fees.
  • On the 25th day following your domain registration's expiration date, we place your domain for auction. You can call customer support to renew your domain, subject to any applicable renewal and redemption fees.
  • On the 42nd day following your domain registration's expiration date, we cancel your domain. All services associated with the domain are removed.

The registry may hold the domain before releasing it for general registration.

If you did not set your domains to automatically renew, when your domain registration expires, we proceed with the following steps before cancelling it:

  • On your domain registration's expiration date, we notify you that the domain expired. You can manually renew your domain.
  • On the 5th day following your domain registration's expiration date, we send a second notification of your domain's expiration and park your domain. You can manually renew your domain.
  • On the 12th day following your domain registration's expiration date, we send a third and final notification of your domain registration's expiration, and we place the domain on hold. You can manually renew your domain.
  • On the 19th day following your domain registration's expiration date, your domain remains on hold but becomes subject to a redemption fee. You can manually renew your domain, subject to any applicable renewal and redemption fees.
  • On the 25th day following your domain registration's expiration date, we place your domain for auction. You can manually renew your domain, subject to any applicable renewal and redemption fees.
  • On the 42nd day following your domain registration's expiration date, we cancel your domain. All services associated with the domain will be lost.

The registry may hold the domain before releasing it for general registration.