Phase 1: Domain registration
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) regulates domain name registrations and sets prices. Visit www.internic.net to learn about your rights as a consumer.
The registrar may be a different company than the hosting company. While HOST can host any domain name (as long as the DNS points to us), we cannot register all domains.
When registering a new domain, be sure to provide a valid email address, as you will be asked to verify your information by email. If verification is not received within 15 days, the domain name will be suspended.
If you register a domain directly with HOST, you should always contact HOST for domain related assistance.
Notes:
It is recommended that you use a separate email address from the domain you are registering, as you will need access to this email address to verify your WHOIS information..
According to the rules established by ICANN, the maximum registration period for any domain is ten years..
For example, you initially registered the domain example.com for one year. Six months later, you decide to renew this registration for the maximum possible time. You can add up to nine years to the term, since it is less than the ten-year maximum.
If the type of domain you want cannot be purchased online, or if you need to pay with a method other than a credit card, please contact us via live chat so we can help you.
Phase 2: active domains
Once a domain is successfully registered, it is active for the registration period. Depending on the registrar you use, you may be able to register the domain for up to 10 years.
While a domain you have registered is active, you can perform the following actions on it at any time:
- Renew the registration
- Transfer your domain
- Update the WHOIS
- Lock the domain
- Enable domain privacy
- Change the DNS
Domain Renewal
Renew your domain registration before the expiration date.
Phase 3: Domain expiration
If you do not renew your domain, your registration will be discontinued, at which point the registrar will change its name servers. This means that it may be a few days before you can see that your site is down, and after you finally pay to renew, it may be a few more days before you can see that your site is up and running again.
We will send domain expiration notices prior to the expiration date by email to the registrant's email address listed on the domain. The first notice will be sent thirty (30) days prior to expiration and a second notice will be sent seven (7) days prior to expiration. A final email will be sent immediately after the domain has expired.
Domain Auction
According to our terms and the Domain Registration Agreement, domains in their expiration period may be listed for sale.
If bids were placed during the first 35 days of expiration, the domain will not enter the redemption phase and will instead be sent to auction. Once queued, the domain will be sold or deleted on the 42nd day after expiration, depending on whether ICANN successfully sold the domain or not.
HOST loses all control over a domain sent to auction, and if the domain owner wishes to buy back the domain, they can do so by registering for an account with ICANN or waiting for the domain to be released to the public once again.
Phase 4: Domain Redemption
After approximately 42 days of expiration and the domain is not renewed or placed on hold during an auction, the domain will enter its redemption period for approximately 30 days. While in redemption, the current owner may renew the domain for the normal renewal fee plus a $75.00 redemption fee. If not restored during the redemption, the domain will be placed in its pending deletion status.
Phase 5: Pending Deletion
If the domain name is not redeemed during its redemption period, then it will go into the Pending Deletion period for five (5) days. In this state, the domain name cannot be redeemed, and after this period, the domain name will be released and available for public registration.
Domain Transfers
You should always initiate the domain transfer with the new company. The process takes approximately 5 to 7 days to complete. It is important to note that there are several obstacles that can cause a valid domain registration transfer to fail.
- If you have been with your current registrar for less than 60 days, then you are not authorized to transfer yet; however, if you have just renewed your domain, you can still transfer it because this means you were with the current registrar for more than a year.
- If your domain status is "Locked", you will need to ask your current registrar to unlock your domain.
- If your WHOIS information is incorrect or private, you must have your valid email on the registrant's contact email list so that you can receive the transfer authorization email to authorize the transfer of your domain to the new registrar.
- If an invalid EPP code ("authentication key") was provided, the EPP code must be obtained from the current registrar and provided to the new registrar. If you change any contact information or nameservers with the previous registrar, you must obtain a new EPP code because it may have changed.
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If your domain name is in redemption, you must pay the current company before you can transfer.
Start your domain name registration transfers at least one month before it expires. This will give you enough time to correct any errors and restart the transfer on time.Normally, when you transfer your domain registration to a new registrar, you get an additional year added to your expiration date. However, if a domain expires, is renewed and then transferred between registrars within the first 45 days after the expiration date, the domain will not retain the original renewal year once the transfer is complete (meaning its expiration date remains the same).
