What Happens When Your Domain Expires?

If a domain isn’t renewed before it expires, it is treated as expired and could eventually be deleted or put up for auction. As I am in domain name business since 2005, I can help you to understand how it works. I’ll explain to you what happens when a domain name expires. Keep reading for a general overview of the domain life cycle.

The day when domain expires

Your domain enters what is called as the Auto-Renew Grace Period on the day it expires, which normally lasts between 37 and 38 days. Expiring domains can still be renewed for their regular renewal price throughout the first 30 days of this time frame without incurring any additional costs. Please be aware that some of domain registrars may impose additional late renewal costs and/or have an Auto-Renew Grace Period that is either zero days or 45 days lengthy.

After 21 days

The expired domain will be offered for auction through third-party services once approximately 21 days of the Auto-Renew Grace Period have passed.

For days 25-26 through 36-37

A third-party auction provider will host the expired domain from days 25–26 through 36–37 of the Auto-Renew Grace Period. Up until day 30, you can renew expired domains at the normal renewal cost. Nevertheless, you won’t have this choice any more after day 30. At the conclusion of this auction time, the winning bidder will receive the expired domain if you do nothing and it is won at auction.

On day 35 – 45

The Auto-Renew Grace Period will end and the domain will be removed from the registrar on day 35 to 45 following expiration (usually on day 37 or 38). Expiring domains are regarded as being in the Redemption Grace Period for 30 days following deletion. Expiring domains are returned to the registry during this second grace period and can be redeemed for the regular renewal charge plus a redemption fee that varies per registry.

For days 31 – 35 after deletion

The deleted domain will be shown in WHOIS as “Pending Deletion” for days 31 through 35 following deletion and will no longer be redeemable. There is no going back once expired domain names are designated as Pending Deletion; the domain will be released by the registry and can be lost for good.

After the expired domain is released by the registry

One of the following things could happen once the registry releases the expired domain:

On a first-come, first-served basis, anyone can register for the domain if it is made publically available, including drop catch bots, so take that into consideration.
It could be “re-tiered” by the registry as a “premium domain,” which would considerably raise the price to re-register the domain name.
The domain may be reserved by the registry, making it permanently unavailable for registration.