When a domain expires, it doesn't disappear from the registry right away — it moves through a few stages before it's finally released for anyone to register. Understanding these stages can help you act in time if you ever miss a renewal.
Note: These stages apply to most extensions, but not to country-specific domains like .CA, .UK, .AU, or .US. Check with the specific country's registry for details on how their expiration process works.
Domain lifecycle after expiration
Stage | Typical length | What you can do | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
Grace period | About 34 days for extensions that support it, such as .COM, .ORG, or .NET | Renew the domain normally from your Hover account | Standard renewal price |
Redemption | About 30 days, though not guaranteed | Ask Hover Support to attempt to redeem the domain | $175 redemption fee, plus your renewal cost |
Pending delete | 1 to 5 days | Wait — the domain can't be redeemed at this stage | None; domain is released for public registration |
Getting a domain back during redemption
Once a domain moves into redemption, we can attempt to redeem it on your behalf by paying the redemption fee plus your renewal cost. Reach out to Hover Support as soon as possible if you want to try this.
Note: When a domain is finally released, it becomes available to whoever registers it first. If the domain matters to your business, don't count on being able to get it back once it reaches the open market — there's a real risk it will be registered by someone else.
Re-registering a released domain
If you'd rather not pay the redemption fee, you can wait until the domain is released and try to register it again yourself, as long as no one else has claimed it first. Use a Whois lookup to check a domain's current status and see whether it's available.
Next steps
- Turn on auto-renew so you never have to rely on the grace period — see Turning Auto-Renew On or Off.
- Still within the grace period? Renew now before moving into redemption — see Renewing Hover Services.
- Trying to reclaim someone else's expired domain? See Buying a Domain Already Registered With Hover for other acquisition options.
Questions? Contact Hover Support.
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