What happens after I backorder a domain?
Note: As of August 8, 2024, backorder credits will no longer be available for purchase. Existing credits can be used until August 8, 2025, after which the credits will be removed from your account.
A domain backorder is a service that attempts to acquire a currently registered domain when it becomes available. Placing a backorder doesn't guarantee that you'll acquire the domain. The current registrant might renew the domain, or we might be unsuccessful in our attempt to capture it for you. The full backorder process varies depending on where the domain is currently registered and if it goes through GoDaddy Expiring Domain Auctions.
To use this service, you need to have purchased backorder and set it up.
- When a GoDaddy registered domain or domain registered with a partner registrar before it expires, it enters a 10-day public auction that you must actively participate in.
Here's how the process works:
- If you placed the first backorder, we submit an opening bid of $25 USD on your behalf, and we email you about the auction. If someone outbids you, you can place a higher bid, apply the backorder credit to another domain name or keep the backorder on the same domain to try again the next time it expires.
- If you didn’t place the first backorder, you can begin placing bids in the auction.
- When the auction ends, there are three possible scenarios that can happen:
- If you win the auction, but the current registrant renews the domain name, it won't be moved to your account.
- If you win and the registrant does not renew the domain name, we'll move it into your account within 45 days of expiration with a one-year registration. Customers who won an expired domain auction that started on or after the 30th of October 2023 through a backorder, will be asked to pay an additional $15 USD.
- If you didn't win, you can apply the backorder credit to another domain name or keep the backorder on the same domain to try again the next time it expires.
- GoDaddy will attempt to capture the domain after the registry releases it on the available date (calculated using the current expiration date, renewal grace period and redemption period, if applicable). We'll continue attempting until we, or another registrar, captures the domain. If we capture the domain:
- And you're the only customer with a backorder on the domain name, we award the domain name to you without an auction. You’ll be asked to pay an additional $15 USD for us to deliver the domain to you.
- And there are multiple backorder holders, we invite everyone to a private auction where only backorder holders can participate. If you placed the first backorder, we submit an opening bid of $25 USD for you, and we email you about the auction. If someone outbids you, you can place a higher bid, apply the backorder credit to another domain name or keep the backorder on the same domain to try again the next time it expires.
- And if you didn’t place the first backorder, you can begin placing bids in the auction. If you win the auction, we'll move the domain into your account within 45 days with a one-year registration. Customers who won an expired domain auction that started on or after the 30th of October, 2023 through a backorder, will be asked to pay an additional $15 USD.
Related steps
- Wonder how to set up a backorder? Visit this page to learn more.
- Backorder not successful? Apply the credit to a different domain at any time.
More info
- Learn more about backorder and monitoring and how these services can help you acquire registred domain.
- Here's what happens when a domain registered with GoDaddy expires.
