Transferring Domain Names

There are two means of ‘transferring’ a domain name; first is between domain name registrars (GoDaddy, Enom, Register.com, Network Solutions, and many others) and the second, is between direct account holders within the same registrar, often called a “push”.  This article will discuss the transfer between registrars.

One scenario of choosing a registrar to register your new domain name may be due to price and there may be other services from your target registrar that are not featured here that might entice you to transfer to another registrar besides where the domain currently resides.

For those that have multiple domains, perhaps you would like to simply consolidate all with one registrar, to assist in managing the domains.  Since most registrars offer a management interface or account manager to make changes, this could be a significant cost savings as a volume customer will receive certain benefits, such as reduced costs, etc.  In all, the choice of which registrar you use is 100% up to you.

Steps in Transferring Domain Names to a New Registrar

The following is a rough guide for you in transferring a domain from one registrar to another.

1. Start by verifying your domain status, updating records such as the information found on any whois search site (http://www.whois.net/).  Pay particular attention to the email address on the domain account.

2. You will need a most likely need an authentication code from the existing registrar, to enter at the new registrar telling them that you have authorization from the current owner to initiate a transfer

3. Make certain your domain is not ‘locked’

4. Next, you will want to contact the registrar you want to transfer your domain to, provide your authentication code and request the services desired

5. Upon successful connection, your current registrar will contact the “administrative contact” email address on the domain to confirm that you initiated the transfer request. Depending on the current registrar and where you are transferring it to, there may be a few additional steps you have to take in order to make the transfer confirmation.  This will allow the current registrar to release the domain to the your newly chosen registrar. Note that this process may not, and probably will not, be immediate; domain transfers can take up to two full weeks (on average about 5-7 days), so be sure to initiate a transfer with plenty of time before the expiration date on a domain name registration, otherwise you may find your domain name in limbo.

6. Upon notice from your new registrar that the transfer is complete, check the administrative data to make certain the domain server, DNS, and all other contact information (especially the admin contact email address) is correct.

Transferring a domain name may have some costs involved.  These costs may vary depending on the top-level domain (TLD) of the domain name and other factors.

The 60-Day Rule

ICANN Transfer Restriction: If any domain name was acquired or renewed within the past 60 days, it is not available for transfer until the 61st day per ICANN transfer restrictions. If this is the case, payment in full will still be due as agreed but we will change the “WHOIS” information from our ownership, contact and nameserver information to your information after payment in full. You will then have ownership and nameserver control so you can host a web site, park the domain name or forward the domain to an existing web site right away. You can then complete the transfer to your registrar of choice after the 60 days have elapsed. We will provide you with the date of the 61st day from acquisition or renewal.

Here are a few specific registrar links discussing this process:

GoDaddy: http://help.godaddy.com/article/3560 – Transferring Domains to Another Registrar

eNom: http://www.enom.com/terms/agreement.asp – in the seventh paragraph labeled TRANSFERS

NameCheap: http://namecheap.simplekb.com/kb.show?show=article&articleid=263&categoryid=8 – FAQ

Network Solutions: https://www.networksolutions.com/domain-transfer/index.jsp;jsessionid=5dade5a2a30be00f132c6d27deea:9jF4