Domain expiration is a process that catches many website owners off guard. When a domain expires, it goes through several phases before it becomes available for anyone to register again:
- Grace Period: Usually 30-45 days after expiration where you can renew at standard rates.
- Redemption Period: 30 days where the domain is deleted but can be recovered for a high fee.
- Pending Delete: 5 days where the domain cannot be recovered and is about to be released.
To protect your domain, always enable auto-renew with your registrar and keep your payment methods updated.