Domain Name (URL) Management

Can I Transfer My Domain from One Registrar to Another?

Yes, you can transfer from one ICANN-accredited registrar to another.  There is a 60-day blackout period leading up to your renewal date where you cannot transfer your domain, so planning ahead before the renewal is critical if you want to switch registrars.

To transfer a domain follow these steps outlined in Wikipedia “The usual process of a domain name transfer is

1. The end user verifies that the Whois admin contact info is correct, particularly the email address; obtains the authentication code (EPP or UDAI transfer code) from the old registrar, and removes any domain lock that has been placed on the registration. If the Whois information had been out of date and is now updated, the end-user should wait 12–24 hours before proceeding further, to allow time for the updated data to propagate in the registrar’s database.
2. The end user contacts the new registrar with the wish to transfer the domain name to their service and supplies the authentication code.
3. The gaining Registrar must obtain express authorization from either the Registered Name Holder or the Administrative Contact. A transfer may only proceed if confirmation of the transfer is received by the gaining Registrar from one of these contacts. The authorization must be made via a valid Standardized Form of Authorization, which may be sent e.g. by e-mail to the e-mail addresses listed in the Whois profile. The Registered Name Holder or the Administrative Contact must confirm the transfer. The new registrar starts electronically the transfer of the domain with the help of the authentication code (auth code).
4. The old registrar will contact the end user to confirm the authenticity of this request. The end user may have to take further action with the old registrar, such as returning to the online management tools, to re-iterate their desire to proceed, in order to expedite the transfer.
5. The old registrar will release authority to the new registrar.
6. The new registrar will notify the end user of transfer completion. The new registrar may have automatically copied over the domain server information, and everything on the website will continue to work as before. Otherwise, the domain server information will need to be updated with the new registrar.”

For additional information about ICANN steps and policies for transferring read FAQs for Registrants: Transferring Your Domain Name.

At the end of this process the new registrar is the domain name’s designated registrar. While this process can take as little as five days, the transfer can take up to 14 days. For this reason, it is not advisable to wait until your registration is about to expire. If your domain registration expires you run the risk of losing it. Click here for detailed ICANN-approved steps for transferring your Domain Registration.

What if I don’t renew my domain name registration? If you do not renew your domain name registration, you will lose it.  If it is not renewed, the registrar can make it available for sale and sell it to another company or individual.