Timeline for an expired domain to be released for public registration

After a domain expires, the time period before the domain is released to the public varies depending on the registrar that manages the domain name and the TLD (top-level domain).
 
If your domain was registered by DiscountASP.NET/Everleap, our registrar partner is Tucows/OpenSRS. After a domain expires, registrars will provide a grace period where the registrant can reclaim the domain. Past the grace period, the registrant may or may not be able to reclaim the domain. Most registrars, including Tucows/OpenSRS, reserves the right to retain some expired names for their own portfolios, may place advertising on parked pages for the domains, or list them in auctions. There are no specific rules or guidelines regarding which domains are retained and which are queued for deletion, nor for how long Tucows/OpenSRS will keep a domain active before it is deleted.
 
For these reason we do not recommend waiting for a domain to be deleted and available to the public before attempting to re-register the domain.
 
Expired domains may still be retrievable, but depending on how much time has passed since expiration, additional Redemption Period fees may need to be paid. These fees are not imposed by DiscountASP.NET/Everleap, but by the registrar. Please contact us if you wish to retrieve an expired domain and we can advise you of any available options.
 
NOTE: Tucows/OpenSRS cannot address your requests or questions about claiming an expired domain directly. Please contact DiscountASP.NET/Everleap for any information regarding domain names that we registered on your behalf.

Phases of Expiration

Day 0: Domain Expires

When a domain expires, the domain will stop resolving to DiscountASP.NET/Everleap. 

Day 3: Parked Page

Tucows/OpenSRS may update the DNS and point the domain to a parked page that contains advertisement to monetize the domain. Tucows/OpenSrS also reserves the right to start accepting backorders for the domain from any interested party.

Day 0-40: Grace Period

During the Grace Period, the domain name is still considered to be owned by the registrant, and the Whois information continues to display the registrant's information or Whois Privacy, if applicable. 

Reclaiming the domain during the Grace Period
During the Grace Period, the registrant can reclaim the domain name by simply renewing it. If the registrant renews the domain name during this Grace Period, the original nameservers will be restored. The domain cost is the standard domain renewal rates that are normally charged by DiscountASP.NET/Everleap.

During the Grace Period, Tucows/OpenSRS reserves the right to list the domain for auction. However, if the original registrant renews the domain name, the domain will be removed from the auction listings. If a third party desires to buy this domain name, they will need to contact the registrant.

Day 40-70: Redemption Period

After the 40 day Grace Period, the domain enters the Redemption Period where the domain may be queued for deletion and eventually dropped, auctioned off, or Tucows/OpenSRS may choose to add the domain to their own portfolio. If the domain is added to Tucows/OpenSRS portfolio, the domain name then enters a 30-day Redemption Period. 

If Domain Not Auctioned
If the domain name is not in the live auction, the domain name is still considered to be owned by the registrant. The Whois information will display a Contact Privacy address. If a third party desires to buy the domain name, they will need to contact the registrant. However, the domain name cannot change ownership during the Redemption Period. The original registrant will first need to reclaim the domain name, and then they can sell the domain, if they choose do so.

If Domain in Live Auction
If the domain name is queued to enter the live auction, the domain cannot be reclaimed by the original registrant. Live auctions typically run from Day 41-45.

Reclaiming Domain in Redemption Period 
If the domain name was not sent to the live auction, the registrant can reclaim their domain name during the 30-day Redemption Period; however, the cost is higher than a simple renewal as there are additional Redemption fees on top of the usual domain renewal costs.

Day 70+

Dropped domains
After the Redemption Period, if the domain name has not been auctioned off and acquired by another party, it is dropped and made available for re-registration by the general public. 

Tucows/OpenSRS portfolio
If the Tucows/OpenSRS Portfolio business unit, decides to renew the domain name during the Redemption Period, it is added to their Portfolio and the expired domain displays a customized page that contains contextual ads. 

Depending on the domain name's value, Tucows.OpenSRS may decide to retain the domain name or to sell it. Whether the domain name is made available for sale is at the discretion of the Portfolio Manager. 

Note: Tucows/OpenSRS reserves the right not to sell the domain name at any price.