Understanding Domain Expiration, Renewal, and Redemption Periods
Revised Article (Client-Focused with Fee Update)
What Happens When Your Domain Expires — and How to Get It Back
If your domain name expires, there’s still a chance to recover it — but there are important deadlines and fees to keep in mind. Below is a simple breakdown of how the domain expiration process works and what your options are at each stage.
🚨 Step 1: Grace Period (Up to 40 Days After Expiration)
If your domain expires, you have 40 days to renew it at the regular price — no penalties or extra fees. You can log into WebStarts and use the "Renew" link to complete the renewal during this time.
Example:
If your domain expires on November 1st, you can still renew it at the regular cost up until December 10th.
⚠️ Step 2: Redemption Period (40–70 Days After Expiration)
Once the 40-day grace period passes, your domain enters the Redemption Period, which lasts for 30 days. During this time, we may still be able to recover your domain, but there’s a $1000 redemption fee, plus the regular renewal cost.
This fee is charged to us by the registrar (not WebStarts), and it covers the process of restoring the domain before it is deleted or resold.
Example:
That same domain that expired on November 1st could be recovered between December 10th and January 9th — but the total cost would be higher due to the $1000 recovery fee.
Also, please note: during this period, domain info may no longer appear in your WebStarts dashboard, and some details (like the expiration date) might show incorrectly.
❌ Step 3: After 70 Days — Domain Is Lost
After 70 days, the domain is out of our control. It may be deleted, auctioned, or picked up by someone else. At that point, it’s extremely difficult (and often expensive) to get it back.
Many registrars and third-party companies will buy expired domains and try to resell them at a much higher price. This is why we highly recommend renewing your domain before it expires.
✅ Best Practice: Renew Early
To avoid added costs and the risk of losing your domain:
- Set domain renewal reminders.
- Consider enabling auto-renewal.
- Make sure your contact and billing info is up to date in WebStarts.