When to renew your domain name

We recommend that your renew your domain name through your registrar.

Many registrars will allow you to log into your account and renew your domain name before any reminders are sent to you. We allow renewals to be made up to six months in advance of the actual renewal date. However not all registrars may offer this service.

Otherwise, you will receive an email from your registrar advising you that your domain name is due for renewal and explaining how to renew. This will usually involve logging into your account with the registrar to confirm and pay for domain name renewal.

How to renew your domain name

In most cases renewal should be a very simple process.

The emails that you receive from your registrar should explain the process for renewing your domain name. If you are unsure, have not received a reminder or want to renew well in advance, check your registrar’s web site. You will probably be able to log into your account and renew your domain name. If you don't know who your registrar is more information is available.

You can also easily check the status of your domain name using our WHOIS service.

Enter your domain name in the box on the right of this page and check the results.

'Relevant dates' shows the date the domain name was first registered on and the next renewal date.

The 'registration status' can be one of the following:

• Registered until renewal date

• Renewal required

• Renewal request being processed

• Registration request being processed

What happens if you don't renew your domain name before the expiry date

If we do not receive a renewal request from your registrar before the expiry date then we will send you an email renewal reminder.

If the domain name has still not been renewed seven days after the expiry date then we send a Nominet pro forma invoice by email and post. This invoice is for renewal directly with Nominet rather than through your registrar and costs £80 plus VAT. This fee is for the domain name renewal only and does not include any other services that the registrar may be providing such as email services or web site hosting. We strongly recommend that you do not pay this invoice. You should contact your registrar and arrange renewal through them, usually at a lower cost.

If you don't renew the domain name within 30 days of the invoice being sent (either by paying the pro forma invoice or preferably through a registrar) then the domain name is suspended for 60 days.  During the suspension period all services related to the domain name will not work, including email and web sites.

You can still renew the domain name through your registrar during this period.

Otherwise, at the end of the suspension period the domain name is cancelled and becomes available for anyone to re-register. Most registrars will send you a reminder that your domain name is due for renewal, when, how, and how often these are sent will depend on your registrar. Remember though that if you have not kept your details up to date with your registrar, you may not get these reminders – potentially causing you to lose your domain name.

Renewal process summary

• Renew up to six months in advance
• On expiry date a Nominet reminder is sent
• Seven days after expiry a Nominet invoice is sent
• You can still renew through your registrar at a lower rate
• Suspended 37 days after expiry date
• Cancelled 97 days after expiry date
  

Protect and keep your .co.uk

• Why it's so important to renew your domain name
• Your registrar