This blog post discusses six important points about transferring your domain.

Tip 1: Make Sure You Have the Option of Transferring Out

Before purchasing a domain, make sure you have the option of transferring out. If the need arises, and you have to switch your domain to another registrar, there could be technical details preventing you from doing so.

Below is a list of pointers.

• Your domain will have to be older than 60 days. If your domain is not over 60 days old, chances are you will not be able to transfer it to another registrar.
• Check to see when your domain expires. It is still possible to transfer your domain name once it has expired, but if it has your current transfer may deny the transfer.
• If it has expired and you renew it, wait 45 days before you attempt to transfer it to the new registrar. If you try to transfer it before 45 days, you can still transfer it, but will no longer have the one year renewal with the previous registrar. The Help section goes into this in further detail.
• You should know about any rules that the current register may have before you transfer your domain to a new registrar. Dynadot is a domain registrar that does not have any additional restrictions included, however there are other registrars that do.

Tip 2: Check the Information in Whois

Use Whois to lookup and check the contact information for your domain to make sure that what it has listed is correct and up-to-date. If it isn’t, contact your current registrar to change and update your information in Whois.

By law ICANN-accredited registrars have to send an email authorizing domain transfers to the admin or registrant email address on file, so make sure that you have access to that email. To make sure you receive the email authorizing the transfer, you might need to remove the proxy or domain privacy service.

Tip 3: You’ll Need an Authorization Code

In most cases, before a domain transfer is initiated an authorization code is required for the domain extension, which is called TLDs. This is a security measure to protect your domain from being hijacked. This code is usually located with your current domain registrar in your account, and is sometimes referred to as a EPP code.

There are some cases when the registrar requires that you request the authorization code from them before you will be able to transfer. In this instance, it is best to give yourself time to acquire the code before you request a domain transfer.

Once you have received the authorization code, the domain transfer can be initiated. Remember that after an authorization code has been released it may only be valid for 24 hours. After 24 hours your domain will need a new authorization code. This can be annoying.

Tip 4: Remember to Check Your Email

By this time you should have already checked in the information in Whois, received the authorization code, and requested a transfer for your domain.

Is that everything you need to do? No. You will receive an email, at the address that was included in the Whois information, and the domain transfer will still need to be authorized using the steps included in the email. This step is necessary to make sure that you are the domain’s owner and the transfer request was due to your authorization.

Tip 5: Time to Unlock the Domain

Once the domain transfer has been authorized, the domain will need to be unlocked so that the domain transfer can be initiated by the new registrar. Do this after the transfer order has been submitted and received by the new registrar, so after the domain is unlocked the transfer will start. By completing these steps, you limit the time the domain is unlocked, and prevent someone else from transferring your domain.

Tip 6: Check Your Inbox for an Email About the Initiated Transfer

The email will let you know that the transfer has began and will give you a date when the transfer will be complete, which should be no more than 6 days after you receive the email. After this check your email in case you receive an email from the registrar saying there were problems with the transfer.

Before the transfer is approved, your old registrar may request an email confirmation. To make sure the process finishes as quickly as possible, respond to any email that is sent by either registrar and follow whatever steps are included in the email.