If you don’t renew your domain name by the due date, it will go through several stages before it becomes available for others to register. Here’s what typically happens:
1. Grace Period:
After the renewal date, there is usually a short grace period, typically lasting 15 to 30 days, where you can still renew the domain at the standard renewal price without incurring additional fees. The length of this period can vary by registrar.
2. Redemption Period:
If the grace period expires without renewal, the domain enters a redemption period, usually lasting around 30 days. During this time, the domain is deactivated, meaning it will not function for websites or email. Renewing the domain during this period incurs a significantly higher cost than the normal renewal price, as a penalty for late renewal.
3. Pending Deletion:
After the redemption period, the domain enters a pending deletion phase, typically lasting five days. During this phase, the domain cannot be recovered or renewed.
4. Availability for Registration:
Once the pending deletion phase is complete, the domain becomes available for anyone to register. At this point, there is a risk that someone else may register the domain, which means you could permanently lose ownership and control of it. This could impact your business or personal brand if someone else takes your domain name.
To avoid these issues and additional costs, it’s important to renew your domain before the due date or within the grace period. We recommend setting up automatic renewals or reminders to ensure your domain remains active and under your control.
