The Auto-Renew Grace Period lasts for 30 days after a domain expires, during which you can renew at its normal standard price. Once this ends, the domain enters an auction and, if unclaimed, a Restoration Period requiring a much higher penalty fee. Recovering a domain after Day 30 becomes progressively more expensive and eventually impossible.
The ICANN Domain Lifecycle at NameSilo
What happens after a domain expires:
| | |
| | Parking page shown; renew at standard price |
| | Last day to renew at standard price |
| | Domain removed from account; cannot renew |
| | Transferred to winner, or returns to you |
| | Restore for a significant fee |
| | |
| | Returns to public availability |
The Grace Period (Days 1-30): Act Now, Pay Standard Price
The first 30 days after expiration are your window to renew at the normal renewal price.
Day 1: NameSilo applies parking nameservers immediately. Visitors see a parking page, not your website. If you still see your site loading normally, that is DNS caching, not your site still being live.
The common trap: Users see their website loading and assume nothing has changed. Meanwhile, customers on uncached connections already see the parking page.
Renewing during Days 1-30 costs the standard renewal price. No penalty. Day 30 is the hard deadline.
The Auction Period (Days 31-40): Domain Removed From Your Account
On Day 31, the domain is removed from your account. You lose all management access and cannot renew it.
The domain is listed for auction for 10 days. On Day 41:
If a valid bid exists: The domain transfers permanently to the winning bidder.
If no bids exist: The domain returns to your account and enters the Restoration Period.
The Restoration Period (Days 41-64): The Expensive Phase
If the auction ends with no bids and your domain returns, you can restore it, but not at standard prices.
The restoration fee is a penalty imposed at the registry level. For .com domains, Verisign charges this fee. NameSilo passes it through without markup. Restoration typically costs $80 or more depending on the TLD, and some extensions charge more or do not include a renewal year.
This is why a domain that costs around $11 to renew shows a $75 recovery fee. The extra cost is entirely registry-mandated.
Pending Delete (Days 65-69): No Recovery Possible
Once a domain reaches Day 65, all recovery options are closed. The domain is queued for deletion and listed on drop-catch platforms. If you want it back, you must use a service like Catch.club and attempt to register it the moment it releases.
Common Mistakes
Ignoring renewal emails because the site still loads: DNS caching can keep your site appearing live for days after expiration. New visitors already see the parking page. Check your NameSilo dashboard to confirm status.
Waiting until Day 30: Treat Day 15 as your personal deadline.
Assuming the restoration fee is a registrar markup: It is a registry-level penalty, not a NameSilo charge.
What This Means for You
Enable auto-renew in your domain settings and keep account balance sufficient. NameSilo sends reminders 30 days and 7 days before expiration, a removal notice on Day 31, and auction results on Day 41. Review the full expiration process for TLD-specific timelines. If a domain you want becomes available, search here. Frequently Asked Questions
What is a domain grace period?
Days 1-30 after expiration. Renew at standard price.
What is a domain redemption fee?
A registry-level penalty to restore a domain after the auction period.
Can I renew a domain in restoration?
Yes, but the restoration fee applies on top of renewal.
How long after expiration can I renew at a standard price?
Up to Day 30. After that, fees escalate.
Why is the restoration fee so high?
It is a registry penalty (e.g., Verisign), not a registrar charge.
What is pending delete status?
Days 65-69. Domain cannot be renewed or restored.
Can I buy a domain that is in restoration?
No. Only the original registrant can restore during Days 41-64.
How do I set up auto-renew at NameSilo?
Domain Manager, select domain, enable the Auto-Renew toggle.
.png&w=2048&q=75)
.png&w=3840&q=75)
.png&w=3840&q=75)