What happens when my domain expires?
When a domain registration expires, your options for renewal vary based on when your domain expired. On Aug. 31, 2013, ICANN adopted the Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP), which requires registrars to disclose important information to Registrants and prospective customers about expiration notices, fees and redemption procedures. All required information and disclosures currently exist in various locations throughout our website. However, as an aid to Registrants, this article contains links to all required elements in the new policy.
Each domain name extension and its registry rules can affect the renewal process once a domain has expired. Some domains, such as ccTLDs, may have special requirements for renewals.
We'll send multiple emails to notify you of expiration within the 30 days prior and 30 days after the expiration date of your domains.
Expiration timeline
| Days after domain expiration | What happens and what you can do |
|---|---|
| +1 day | We'll try to auto-renew it, or you can manually renew for the standard renewal price. |
| +5 days | We'll try to auto-renew again - but if that doesn't work, your domain gets parked: your site and email stop working. But you can still manually renew for the standard renewal price. |
| +12 days | We'll try to auto-renew your domain one more time. You can still manually renew for the standard renewal price. |
| +19 days | Domain goes on hold: it's still in your account but inactive. Manually renew with applicable redemption fee. |
| +26 days | Domain goes to auction. You can still manually renew for the standard price plus the applicable redemption fee. |
| +30 days | If no active bids in the auction, the domain stays in your account but now it's expired. You can manually renew for the standard price plus the applicable redemption fee. Once there's a bid, the domain is removed from your account and you can't renew it any more. |
| +36 days | Domain goes to a final closeout auction. Unless there's a pending purchase of the domain, you can still manually renew for the standard price plus the applicable redemption fee. You can't renew the domain if a purchase is pending. |
| +41 days | Final closeout auction ends. You can still manually renew for the standard price plus the applicable redemption fee. |
| +72 days | Domain is removed from your account and you can't renew it any more. You may be able to register the domain after the registry has released it, but GoDaddy can't advise when the registry will release a domain for registration. |
Some domains, such as ccTLDs, may have special requirements for renewals.
Related steps
- Make sure you enable auto renew to continue your domain registration uninterrupted.
- Here's how to manually renew your domain.
- And here's how to renew your domain after it expires.
More info
- For full details on ICANN's policies, you can review the Registrant Rights & Responsibilities Under the 2009 RAA.
- ICANN Registrant Benefits & Responsibilities (2013) will be determined upon publication by ICANN.
- Start your search for a brand new domain today.
