You might be wondering, “Do I have to renew my domain right now?” Sometimes it’s tempting to wait until the very last minute. However, delaying your domain renewal can be surprisingly risky and could even lead to losing your domain, entirely.
Here’s what happens when your domain expires, and why it’s so important to renew it on time.
The Bad News About Expired Domains #
When your domain expires through HostHuski (and really anywhere), it is immediately deactivated:
- A temporary parking page will be displayed.
- Your website and email services stop working instantly.
- You cannot update your domain settings or site while it’s expired.
At this point, you still have a chance to renew your domain, but the clock is ticking.
The Good News: Grace Period (But It’s Not Guaranteed) #
Our domain vendor provides a non-guaranteed grace period of up to 25–30 days after expiration. During this time, you can still renew your domain at the standard renewal rate.
But here’s the catch: your domain can be canceled at any time, even during the grace period, depending on the TLD and registry rules. Once canceled, it can no longer be renewed or recovered through regular means.
We strongly recommend:
- Enabling auto-renew in your HostHuski account
- Renewing early to avoid downtime or permanent domain loss
Good to know: Renewing your domain early never shortens your registration. Renewal time is added to the end of your current period. So, there’s no downside to renewing ahead of time!
Timeline: What Happens After a Domain Expires? #
Here’s a general breakdown of what typically happens once a domain expires. If a number of days is negative it means it is that many days BEFORE expiry.
| Days After Expiry | What Happens |
|---|---|
| -120 days | Domain expiration reminder 1 |
| -90 days | Domain expiration reminder 2 |
| -60 days | Domain expiration reminder 3 |
| -30 days | Auto-renew attempt If a renewal invoice fails to be paid, you’ll be notified |
| Day 0 | Domain expires: your site/email goes down, parking page is displayed |
| Day 30 | Domain may enter redemption period or our domain vendor may decide to move your domain to auction (rarely) |
| Day 60–75 | Redemption may end, domain now subject to deletion |
| Day 75–80 | Domain is deleted and becomes available to the public for purchase |
Note: These timelines are approximate and can vary by domain type.
The Really Bad News: Redemption and Auction #
After the grace period ends, your domain may enter a redemption period, where:
- You can still recover the domain but it comes with a $300 redemption fee plus the standard renewal price.
- The domain cannot be transferred or updated.
- If not recovered, the domain may be moved to auction, where it becomes unrecoverable unless repurchased.
Once a domain is deleted from the registry, anyone can register it. It’s a first-come, first-served situation, and your domain might even be resold at a premium.
The Bottom Line #
Letting your domain expire—whether intentionally or accidentally—can cause serious issues. Even though there’s a short grace period, it’s not guaranteed, and after that, it gets expensive or impossible to recover your domain.
Play it safe:
- Renew early
- Enable auto-renew
- Keep your contact info up to date so you never miss a reminder
Your domain is the foundation of your online presence. Don’t risk losing it!
