Every domain has an expiration date, and anyone who has taken the time to go to any online registrar (they are the domain providers) to buy one knows this.

To keep the site connected to that domain active, you need to periodically renew this domain. 

Let's see below what would happen if you decided, for one reason or another, not to renew your domain. 

The life cycle of a domain

A web domain goes through several stages in its life cycle, from initial registration to eventual deletion. 

Knowing these phases is essential to understand the implications of failure to renew and above all to recognize when you are running the risk of losing your website.

Registration

The first phase is that of the registration. 

When a company or individual registers a domain, they do so for a period that can vary, usually between one and ten years. 

During this period, the domain owner has full control over the use of that name and can associate the domain with a website, email address, or other services.

Expiration date

Upon expiration of the registration period, the domain enters a state called expiration. At this point, if it is not renewed, the domain is no longer active, but the owner still has the possibility of recovering it for a short period.

Tolerance time

After expiration, most registrars offer a grace period that typically ranges from 15 to 45 days. This is often called the “grace period.”

During this time frame, the domain owner can renew it without incurring additional costs or penalties. 

The associated website may still be inaccessible, as domain-related services (such as DNS) may be temporarily suspended. 

However, the domain is not yet available to other buyers.

Domain Redemption Period

If the domain is not renewed, it enters the next phase, which usually lasts 30 days. 

At this stage, the domain is suspended and cannot be used. 

However, the original owner can still redeem the domain, but in this case he or she will have to pay an additional fee, which may be higher than the normal renewal cost.

Pending delete

The next stage is the state called pending delete, which lasts about 5 days. At this stage, it is no longer possible to recover the domain. 

At the end of this period, the domain is deleted and made available on the market again.

What happens when the domain expires?

So, what happens if I don't renew my domain? It goes without saying that not renewing a domain can have negative consequences.

The first and most immediate consequence of the failure to renew a domain is theinterruption of services Associates. 

A website will no longer be accessible, email addresses connected to the domain will stop working, and any other services dependent on the domain will be suspended. 

An e-commerce will cease to be active, damaging the current customers.

Additionally, failure to renew a domain can negatively impact your positioning in search engines. 

Search engine algorithms tend to penalize sites that are unreliable or have frequent downtime, which negatively impacts SEO optimization.

But one of the most serious consequences of the failure to renew is the permanent loss of domain. 

If the domain goes into Pending Delete and is released, anyone can purchase it. 

In some cases, valuable domains are quickly purchased by companies specializing in "domain squatting", which attempt to resell the domain at prices much higher than the cost of registration. 

For companies, this is a highly inadvisable scenario.

Impact on corporate image

Let's not forget that an expired domain can seriously damage thecorporate image. 

Visitors who try to access an unavailable website may perceive the company as untrustworthy or even closed. 

Additionally, newsletter subscribers, for example, or those who regularly contacted a company email address linked to the domain, will never find a response again.

How to avoid problems with domain renewal

To avoid the negative consequences of failure to renew, there are some good practices to adopt:

1. Set up automatic renewal: Many registrars offer the option to activate automatic domain renewal. This way, the expiration will be handled automatically, using the payment method provided.
2. Monitor deadlines: Even if automatic renewal is enabled, it is a good practice to keep track of domain expirations. Setting reminders can avoid surprises, especially in the case of changes to payment details or changes in the registrar's policies.
3. Keep your contact information up to date: Registrars send expiration notifications via email. Make sure the email address associated with your domain is always up to date so you receive timely alerts.
4. Renew for more years: If you want to avoid the annual renewal management, many registrars allow you to register a domain for an extended period, up to 10 years. This option offers peace of mind by reducing the frequency with which you have to deal with renewals.

Having problems with your current domain?

Do you want to change it for another one that seems better and more representative to you?

Are you planning to launch a website from 0 and you don't know how to move in domain management?

Contact us for a consulting.