ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) regulates domain registrations and sets prices. Visit www.internic.net to learn your rights as a consumer.
Domain Registration
The registrar can be a company other than the hosting company. While HostLayer can host any domain name (as long as the DNS is pointed to us), we cannot register every domain.
If you register a domain directly with HostLayer, you should always contact HostLayer for domain-related help.
To register a domain now, visit https://my.thehostlayer.com/domainchecker.php
When registering a new domain, be sure to provide a valid email address for your WHOIS as you will be required to verify your WHOIS information via email. If verification is not received within 15 days, the domain name will be suspended.
It is recommended that you use an email address independent of the domain you are registering since you will need access to this email address to verify your WHOIS information.
Domain Registration Renewal
Renew your domain registration early, before the expiration date. You can renew your domain from billing portal.
- Login to Client Area
- Click on My Domains from Domains Section
- Click on Manage Domain
- Click Renew Now
Domain Expiration
If you fail to renew your domain, your registration will be interrupted, at which point your name servers will be changed by the registrar. This means it will take a few days before you can see your site is down, and after you finally pay to renew, it will be a few more days before you can see your site is back up. We will send domain renewal reminders prior to the expiration date by email to the email address you listed with us.
Domain Redemption
The rules of redemption are different for every registrar, please see below for how your domain will be handled based on how it was registered with HostLayer.
eNom Domain Redemption
After 30 days of being expired, domains enter the redemption period. Once a domain enters the redemption period there is a $90.00 fee plus the normal price to renew the domain name, as we must pay a fee directly to eNom in order to restore the domain on your behalf. HostLayer will require you to pay this cost or register a different domain. This redemption period can last until the next expiration date or until the registrar auctions the domain to a higher bidder — whichever comes first. The registrar may also release the domain so that it can be registered again, but they will not announce when they do this, and they cannot be forced to do this.
Domain Transfers
You must always initiate the domain transfer with the new company. The process takes approximately 5 to 7 days to complete. It is important to keep in mind that there are several obstacles that can make a valid domain registration transfer fail.
- If you have been with your current registrar for less than 60 days, then you are not allowed to transfer yet; however, if you just renewed your domain, you may still transfer because this means you were with the current registrar for more than a year.
- If your domain status is "Locked," you will need to ask your current registrar to unlock your domain.
- If your WHOIS information is incorrect or private, you must have your valid email listed as the Admin Contact Email so you can receive a confirmation notice from the current registrar.
- If an invalid EPP code ("Auth key") was provided, you must get the EPP code from the current registrar and provide it to the new registrar. If you change any contact information or name servers with the previous registrar, you must get a new EPP code, because it may have changed.
- If your domain name is in redemption, you must pay the current company before you may transfer.
Normally, when you transfer your domain registration to a new registrar, you get an additional year added to your expiration date. However, if a domain expires, is renewed and then transferred between registrars within the first 45 days after the expiration date, the domain will not retain the original renewal year once the transfer completes (meaning your expiration date stays the same). This is a registry restriction and applies to all registrars.
