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Free expired domain name research |
| Updated Thu, May 22, 2008 | Version 1.0.3 |
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The domain name expiration process The domain name expiration process varies for the many types of TLDs (Top Level Domains). For the purposes of this article, I will focus on the most common TLD .com. STEP 1: Domain name registration expires This occurs when the domain name has not been renewed by the owner before its expiry date. Once the registration expires, the domain name is placed under the status of REGISTRAR-HOLD, where it cannot be modified or deleted. It is kept under this status for 30 to 45 calendar days, during which time it can be renewed by the owner. Once it enters the REGISTRAR-HOLD status, the domain name is removed from the zone files, which means the website and email addresses will stop working. STEP 2: Registrar requests the domain name be deleted Once the registrar's 30 to 45 day REGISTRAR-HOLD expires, the registrar requests the registry delete the domain name. Once this request is made, the domain name is placed under the status of REDEMPTIONPERIOD, where it cannot be modified or deleted; it can only be restored by the original owner. It is kept under this status for a maximum of 30 calendar days, and will continue to be excluded from the zone files. STEP 3: Registry grace period ends If the registry's grace period expires and the domain name is still under the status of REDEMPTIONPERIOD, it is placed under the status of PENDINGDELETE. The domain name will remain under this status for 5 calendar days, during which time it cannot be restored by the original owner, the registrar, or the registry. It will continue to be excluded from the zone files. STEP 4: The domain name is deleted After being under the status of PENDINGDELETE for 5 calendar days, the domain name is deleted or "dropped" from the registry on the 6th day. The moment it's deleted from the registry, it becomes available for registration by the general public. Most registries typically delete their domain names once a day, with the exact deletion time being dependent on the registry/TLD. For Verisign, the registry for the .com and .net TLDs, this occurs between 8:00 am EST and 9:00 am EST each day. Although it's technically possible to manually register an expired domain name as soon as it becomes available, your chances of success are quite low, especially if it has any value. Professional backorders have many orders of magnitude the resources of private citizens, so if you think it will be contested at all, it's worthwhile looking into backordering services. Read our article how to buy an expiring domain name for more detailed info. Dropscout.com provides free expired domain name research. Read more expired domain name articles, or send us your comments and questions. Last Updated: October 3, 2007 |
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