1. Scope and the rules behind this policy
This policy applies to every domain registered or transferred in through NameBest. For generic top level domains it implements the ICANN Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP). Country code domains follow the rules of their registries, described in section 9. This policy is part of our registration agreement.
2. Auto renew
Each domain is a yearly subscription. Auto renew is on by default. You can switch it off or on for each domain with the auto renew switch in your dashboard, as shown in our guide on domain auto renew. If auto renew is off, the domain stays yours until the end of the paid period and then expires.
With auto renew on, we attempt the renewal before the expiry date, normally in the days before the reminder sent 7 days before expiry, by charging the payment method saved in your account. The renewal price is the one shown for the extension in your dashboard and on our pricing page at the time of the charge. Taxes are added where the law requires it. You receive a receipt by email after each successful renewal.
You can also renew manually at any time, for one or more years, up to the maximum term the registry allows (usually ten years in total). See how to renew a domain manually.
3. Reminder notices
We send renewal reminders to the account email address and, where it differs, to the registrant email address:
- about 30 days before expiry;
- about 7 days before expiry;
- within 5 days after expiry, if the domain has not been renewed.
Reminders tell you the domain name, the expiry date, whether auto renew is on, and the renewal price. Reminders are sent whether auto renew is on or off, except that a domain with auto renew on that has already been renewed does not receive further reminders for that term. Please keep your email address current and add [email protected] to your contacts so reminders are not filtered as spam.
4. When the renewal charge fails
If the charge for an automatic renewal fails, for example because a card has expired or the bank declines it, we email you at once with a link to update the payment method. We retry the charge several times before the expiry date and again during the grace period. As soon as a charge succeeds, the domain is renewed.
A failed charge does not switch auto renew off. If no charge succeeds, the domain expires as described below. Your bank may require additional authentication for a renewal charge; if so, the email we send contains a secure link to complete it.
5. What happens at expiry
If a domain is not renewed by its expiry date:
- the domain stops resolving. Within 8 days of expiry at the latest, its DNS is changed so that the website and email no longer work, as ERRP requires;
- visitors to the domain see a notice page stating that the registration has expired and explaining how the registrant can renew it;
- email sent to addresses at the domain is no longer delivered to your mail service.
Renewing during the grace period restores the previous DNS settings, normally within an hour, although caches on the internet can take longer to update.
6. Auto renew grace period
After expiry, most generic registries offer an auto renew grace period of up to 30 days, but the exact length depends on the registry and some extensions have none. During this period only you can renew the domain, at the normal renewal price shown in the dashboard. The renewal is counted from the original expiry date, so you do not lose time.
7. Redemption grace period
When the grace period ends, a domain in most generic extensions enters a redemption grace period of 30 days. In this period the domain is removed from the zone and can be restored only by the registrant, by paying the restore fee together with the renewal price. The restore fee is charged by the registry and is shown in your dashboard before you pay. It is higher than a normal renewal. Restoring takes from a few hours to a few days, depending on the registry.
8. Pending delete and release
After the redemption period the registry places the domain in pending delete for 5 days. It cannot be renewed or restored during this time. At the end of pending delete the registry deletes the domain and the name becomes available for anyone to register. Read more about this cycle on our expired domains page.
Typical timeline for generic extensions
| Stage | Typical length | What you can do | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before expiry | Until the expiry date | Renew or let auto renew run | Renewal price |
| Grace period | Up to 30 days, registry dependent | Renew in the dashboard | Renewal price |
| Redemption | 30 days | Restore the domain | Renewal price plus registry restore fee |
| Pending delete | 5 days | Nothing, the domain is being deleted | Not applicable |
9. Country code extensions
Country code domains such as .io, .co, .ai, .me and .us follow their own registry rules, and some differ from the timeline above. Some registries have a shorter grace period or none, some have no redemption period, and some delete the domain soon after expiry. Some require a minimum term: for example .ai requires a two year registration at the registry. For these extensions we strongly recommend keeping auto renew on and a valid payment method in the account. The dashboard shows the grace and redemption periods of each domain where the registry publishes them.
10. Renewal price changes
Registries can change their wholesale prices. If the renewal price of an extension changes, the new price applies to renewals made after the change. It is shown in your dashboard and in the reminder emails before the renewal date. Premium domains may have a premium renewal price set by the registry, shown in the search result before you buy and in your dashboard.
11. Refunds and recovery by others
A completed renewal is recorded at the registry and is not refundable. If a renewal fails at the registry after you have paid, we refund that renewal in full. See our domain refund policy.
After expiry and before deletion, NameBest does not sell or auction your domain to third parties, and no one other than you can renew or restore it during the grace and redemption periods.
12. Contact
Questions about renewals go to [email protected]. More practical help is on our domain renewal page.