Register a Domain Name with Hover

Registering a domain with Hover reserves the name for your website, email, or business for as long as you keep renewing it. This article walks you through searching for a domain, adding it to your cart, and completing checkout — whether you're setting up your first Hover account or you're already signed in.

How domain registration works

When you search for a domain, Hover checks its availability across hundreds of extensions (like .com, .shop, or .io) and suggests alternatives if your first choice is taken. Domains marked with a gold star in the search results are premium domains — names someone else already registered but is willing to sell — and they're purchased a little differently. See Hover Premium Domains for details.

Before you begin

• A domain name or a few keywords: search for the exact name you want, or enter keywords if you're still brainstorming — Hover will suggest available options.
• A payment method: a credit card or a PayPal account to complete checkout.
• Registration contact details: the name or organization that will appear as the domain's registrant. This can be different from your billing information.

Note: If you're registering as an individual rather than an organization, you can enter your first and last name in the Organization field. If you are registering on behalf of an organization, make sure the organization name is more than four characters — leaving it blank or too short can cause registration problems.

Step 1: Search for your domain and add it to your cart

1. Go to the Hover home page.
2. Enter the domain name you want, or keywords for suggestions, in the Find your domain name box.
3. Click + Add to Cart next to the domain name you want to register.
4. Click the Shopping Cart icon, then click Secure Checkout to proceed.

Tip: Whois Privacy is included free with every domain you register through Hover, where the registry supports it. You can add email addresses for the domain during checkout by clicking Show Email Options, or set up mailboxes later — see Getting Started with Email (Hover).

Step 2: Sign in or create your Hover account

If you're new to Hover, select Create an account and enter your first and last name, email address, desired username, and password, then click Create Account.

If you already have a Hover account, select Sign in to an existing account and enter your username and password instead. Your saved registration and billing information will be applied automatically, so you can skip ahead to reviewing your order.

Step 3: Enter your domain's registration details

1. Fill in the registration record for your domain — this identifies who the domain is registered to, and can be an individual or an organization.
2. Click Continue once the details are correct.

Step 4: Add your billing information and submit your order

1. Select Pay with credit card or Pay with PayPal. If you choose PayPal, a pop-up window will ask you to log in to your PayPal account. For help, see Managing Payments.
2. If paying by credit card, enter your billing information and click Continue.
3. Check the box next to "I have read and agree to the Terms of Service," then click Submit Order.

You'll see an order confirmation on screen once your registration is complete, and a confirmation email will follow shortly after.

Next steps

• Set up email for your new domain: create a professional mailbox or forwarding address — see Getting Started with Email (Hover).
• Confirm auto-renew is turned on: new registrations default to auto-renew, but it's worth checking so you don't lose the domain later — see Turning Auto-Renew On or Off.
• Curious about premium or tiered pricing? Learn why some domains cost more than others in Hover Premium Domains and Tiered Price Domains.

Questions? Contact Hover Support.