Transferring and registering a domain can be stressful. There are many different platforms and each are slightly different. In this article we’ll be covering the general process of registering a domain and transferring a domain.
Registerring a domain #
To register a domain you need to find a suitable domain registrar. There are thousands of registrars in the world, including ourselves.
One key thing to look out for when choosing a registrar…
- Pricing at time of renewal. Some of companies offer ridiculously low domain registrations fees for the first year and then ramp up their pricing drastically in subsequent years once you’re “snagged”.
Once you have found a suitable registrar, you need to check the availability of your domain. A domain is unique – there can only be one of it.
Then when you have found the right domain, it’s usually a case of going through the registrar’s checkout process. This would involve creating an account on their system, supplying some personal information and actually making the purchase. Domains tend to start from around £9.99/yr.
Transferring a domain #
The process depends on the type of domain you are looking to transfer.
Second level domains #
Second level domains (.co.uk, .org.uk, .uk etc.) work on a push & pull system.
You will need to change the IPS TAG on the domain to that of the new provider’s. Next, let your new provider know to accept the incoming domain. This process usually takes between 12 – 48 hours.
Each provider’s control panel is slightly different, so it’s best to review their support documentation or contact them directly.
Top level domains #
Top level domains (.com, .eu, .org etc) are a little bit more complex and can take between 3 and 7 days to transfer.
It involves a release system. The registrar that loses the domain will need to supply an authorisation code (Auth Code), which you will use to pull the domain across in to the new registrar.
Each registrar is slightly different, and it’s worth getting in touch with their support team or reviewing their support documentation.
If you you are looking to transfer a domain to our platform, please read our specific guide here.