Painful consequences of not renewing a domain name – cases, risks and best practices

Forgetting to renew a domain name may seem like a small mistake, but the consequences can be severe. From banking giants to global brands, many companies have experienced website outages, angry customers, and reputational damage due to expired domains. This article revisits real-world cases, explains how the domain lifecycle works, and offers practical tips for IT managers to ensure it never happens to you.

Why missing a domain renewal can be so costly

The expiry date of a domain is not just a formality. Once the date passes, the domain stops working and users may be redirected to a registrar’s parking page or encounter errors when trying to access your site.

The results can be dramatic:

• loss of website and email functionality,
  
  
• customer confusion and frustration,
  
  
• reputational damage,
  
  
• recovery fees or even permanent loss of the domain.
  
  

Real-world cases of domain expiration

Regions Bank (2013)

An American bank with 2,000 ATMs and 1,300 branches in 15 states forgot to renew its domain name. Customers trying to log in to their accounts saw only a registrar’s parking page filled with ads.

Although the domain was quickly renewed for 10 years, DNS propagation issues meant that many clients experienced connection problems for up to several dozen hours. Chris Cox, head of the bank’s e-commerce department, had to issue a public apology on YouTube.

Yatra (2012/2013)

The Indian travel portal went offline after its domain expired. The downtime lasted several days before service was restored.

Dallas Cowboys (2010)

The official NFL team site showed unrelated content for about 48 hours due to a missed renewal.

Other high-profile examples

Even tech giants and global brands like Foursquare, Microsoft, Sorenson Communications and Marketo have all experienced domain outages because of forgotten renewals.

How the domain lifecycle works

Understanding the domain lifecycle helps explain why timely renewal is so important:

• Active period – the domain works normally until the expiration date.
  
  
• Grace period – usually up to 30 days after expiration, renewal is still possible at standard cost.
  
  
• Redemption period – lasts 30–45 days, renewal requires an extra redemption fee in addition to the renewal price.
  
  
• Pending delete / auction – once redemption ends, the domain is deleted or auctioned to the highest bidder.
  
  

👉 Learn more in our article: How is it done? The life cycle of domain names

Best practices to prevent domain expiration

• Enable auto-renew – the simplest way to ensure domains are renewed on time.
  
  
• Verify contact info – keep WHOIS and registrar details updated so renewal notices reach you.
  
  
• Set multiple alerts – use monitoring tools with email/SMS reminders.
  
  
• Register for longer periods – secure domains for up to 10 years if available.
  
  
• Assign responsibility – document the renewal process and make sure someone in your team is accountable.
  
  

Conclusion: never lose your domain again

Domain expiration can happen to anyone — from startups to major corporations — but the costs of downtime, customer frustration and reputation loss can be significant. By setting up auto-renew, using long-term registrations, and assigning clear responsibility, you can avoid becoming the next cautionary case study.

FAQ

1. What happens if I don’t renew my domain name on time?
   

   Your website and email stop working. The domain enters grace period, then redemption, and may eventually be deleted or auctioned.

2. How long do I have to renew an expired domain?
   

   Usually ~30 days of grace, then ~30–45 days of redemption (with extra fees). After that, the domain is lost.

3. Can my domain be taken by someone else if I forget to renew it?
   

   Yes. After deletion or auction, another party can register or buy it immediately.

4. How can I check my domain’s expiry date?
   

   Log into your registrar’s panel or use a WHOIS lookup tool.

5. What’s the safest way to avoid losing a domain?
   

   Enable auto-renew, register domains for multiple years, set extra alerts, and keep contact details up to date.

6. Why do even big companies forget to renew domains?
   

   Most often due to miscommunication, outdated contact data, or lack of clear IT responsibility.

7. What should I do if my domain has already expired?
   

   Act fast: renew during grace if possible. If in redemption, pay the additional fee. After deletion, it may be gone for good.