01
Find the owner
Use an RDAP or WHOIS lookup to see the registrar and the contact route. Most owner details are hidden, so you write through the relay address or form in the record. Our guide who owns a domain shows each step.
01
Buy a taken domain without losing money or time
To buy a taken domain, find out who holds it, contact the owner with a clear offer, pay through an escrow service and then transfer the domain to your own registrar account. If the owner will not sell, you can watch the name for expiry or choose a close alternative that is available now.
03
First check why the domain is taken
A Taken result means someone holds the registration, but not every taken name is in use. Look at the domain in a browser and run an RDAP lookup to see its expiry date. A domain with no site and an expiry date in the next few weeks may be lapsing. A domain parked with a For sale banner has an owner who wants offers. A domain running a real business is rarely for sale at a price that makes sense.
- Active business site: unlikely to sell, consider an alternative
- Parked page with a For sale notice: the owner is open to offers
- Listed on a domain marketplace: there may be a fixed price
- No site and expiry soon: watch it, see expired domains
04
How to buy a taken domain in five steps
02
Decide your ceiling before you write
Work out what the name is worth to you: the traffic it might bring, the cost of a rebrand later, the value of matching your trademark. Set a maximum and stick to it. Our article on how much to offer for a domain name explains common price ranges.
03
Make a short, specific offer
Say who you are only if it helps, name a figure and give a reason. Owners of parked domains get many vague messages, and a clear number gets answered more often.
04
Pay through escrow
Never pay the owner directly. A licensed escrow service holds your money until the domain is in your account, then releases it to the seller. Agree on who pays the escrow fee before you start.
05
Transfer the domain to your account
The seller unlocks the domain and gives you the EPP code, or pushes it to your account if both sides use the same registrar. You start a domain transfer at NameBest with the EPP code. The transfer adds one year to the registration and most transfers finish within 5 days. Once it lands, update the registrant to your own details.
05
Transfer locks to know about
Registries block transfers for 60 days after a new registration or a change of registrant, under the ICANN transfer policy. If the seller changes the registrant to you at their registrar first, you may need to wait 60 days before moving the domain to NameBest. Many buyers transfer first and update the registrant after the domain arrives. Read 60 day transfer lock for the details.
06
If the owner will not sell
- Try the same name on another extension, such as .co, .io or .app
- Add a short word, such as get, try, use, hq or app
- Watch the expiry date and check the name after the grace and redemption periods end
- Register a variant now and use the brand on social profiles while you wait
Our premium domain names page explains registry premium names, which you can register straight from search without negotiating.
07
Questions about buying a taken domain
Can I buy a domain that is already registered?
Yes, if the owner agrees to sell. You agree a price, pay through escrow and the domain is transferred to your account.
What if the domain expires?
The owner first gets a grace period to renew, then a redemption period. Only after that is the name released and can be registered by anyone. The renewal policy gives the timeline per registry.
Is it safe to pay a domain owner directly?
It is risky. Use an escrow service, which holds the payment until you control the domain.
How long does it take to get a bought domain?
Escrow usually takes a few days. The transfer itself takes up to 5 days at most registries, unless a 60 day lock applies.