How can I transfer my domains from an existing registrar / hosting service to something like GoDaddy?

Question

Do I have to pay again? I have about 9 months left before the extension, but my current provider does not offer many options / control panels.

Update: thanks for helping everyone - I finally finished it now.

I had to:

• Ask my old domain registrar "Unblock" domain
• Ask my old registrar to set the domain administrator's email address to my email address
• Ask my old registrar for "authcode"
• For the rest, I just followed GoDaddy's instructions

What a pain in **

Answer 1

Here's how it works. Let's say you have another 9 months to expire your domain, you transfer the domain to GoDaddy (or to any other worthy Registrar) you will be charged a price (a little more or equal) with the price of booking a new domain BUT, you will have a domain for 9 months + one year (or for the year for which you paid godaddy)

So, you decided to transfer the domain and pay USD9.99 (during the year), you will have domains for 1 year + 9 months

Answer 2

I did this when I had to switch hosts with the awful, unreliable Fuitadnet. They managed the domain for me, so I emailed them that I want to transfer my domain. (I switched to GoDaddy.)

I don’t remember all the details, but it seems that I remember that it was a process with several handshakes. First, they had to force my current registrar to free the domain; this involves sending an email so that I can confirm that I really wanted to free the domain. Then I received a confirmation code, which I sent to a new registrar who did something or another and returned with a new confirmation code. As soon as I entered the final verification code, the domain belonged to the new registrar. It took several days, and for some reason my first set of codes did not work, but I found that GoDaddy explained very well what was going on.

I had to pay a fee for the transfer, but the registration has retained its length. I decided to renew it, because at that time there was a discount.

If you contact your current host / registrar and they should be able to help you; it was one of the few times that i really got a good service from fuitadnet.

Answer 3

You must have a domain unlocked by your current registrar, and make sure your contact information is updated.

You can then transfer the transfer request to the new registrar. This will result in a notification being sent (provided that your contact information is accurate).

You will need to follow the instructions in this transfer request letter.

A domain can take up to several days to completely switch to a new registrar.

When you transfer a domain, you will actually renew the registration for another year, so you will be charged for the transfer / registration.

If you have any questions, you can always contact the company you want to become a new registrar. I am sure that they will be able to guide you through their process.

Answer 4

Just to let you know, GoDaddy as a company has a somewhat dubious reputation . I personally have never had any problems with them, but I only had a few low profile sites and never did anything even remotely complicated with DNS.

Answer 5

There is a procedure for transferring a domain. This was difficult because it was designed to prevent people from stealing domains by transferring them to another registrar (for example, it happened with sex.com back in 90). GoDaddy is pretty good at telling you this (I gave them a domain in the past). Of course, you will have to pay them for domain registration for you (although they sometimes offer discounts on domain forwarding).

Answer 6

You may have to pay. If you check with your current registrar and with your target register and see what to do with them and what are the costs.

This is different for each registrar, although the actual process is the same.

Answer 7

they charge you for the transfer (e.g. 6.99?), but godaddy will extend it for a year. You usually need to contact your current hosting and give them release for transfer, and then follow the godaddy procedure to transfer the new domain.

Answer 8

You may have to pay, but when I switched from Register.com to goDaddy.com, I paid a very small amount for the transfer (for example, $ 10), as well as for renewing the domain for another 2 years. (This turned out to be much cheaper than updating with Register.com)

Answer 9

Yes!! When I moved, my new registrar accused me. Also remember that before starting the transfer process, you must have a secret key (transfer code).

Answer 10

It also depends on the host. For example, if you travel to a company such as BlueHost, they will give you free domain transfers from the losing registrar. I think in fact they can give you free translations. They will ask if you want to renew your domain with them, which will cost you.