Thousands of domain transfers take place every year. If you’re thinking about doing the same, you might be wondering how difficult it all is — and whether it’s really worth the effort.
In this guide, we’ll address these queries and more, to help you work out if you should switch, when to switch, and how to do it.
What is a domain transfer?
A domain transfer is when you move the domain name you own from one registrar (the company that looks after it) to another.
Think of it like switching energy supplier or mobile network — same name, just managed somewhere else. People do it for all sorts of reasons: better pricing, nicer features, or just wanting everything in one account.
When is it a good idea to transfer your domain?
The answer will always depend on your exact circumstances. Entrepreneurs and small business owners may start to think about transferring their domain if they’re dissatisfied with their current registrar.
However, in cases when you’re not 100% happy, transfers aren’t the only option. It may be that you can simply switch up the product or package you have with your current provider to help with anything that’s not quite working for you.
So, it’s always worth contacting your provider to see if they can better meet your needs before you commit.
What are the most common reasons for switching providers?
These are a few reasons why domain owners consider transferring their domains, including:
☐ Pricing: A registrar might offer lower renewal, transfer, or management fees, or provide special promotions and discounts. If this is your reason for considering a transfer, be sure to evaluate the total value of the package you’re getting.
Look at future renewal and transfer fees and look at what’s included in the price – for example, is Domain Privacy included in the new plan?
☐ Better customer support: Some domain owners choose to transfer their domains because they have been disappointed by their current registrar’s level of customer service.
☐ Enhanced features: The new registrar may provide better DNS management, free WHOIS privacy, email forwarding, easier domain management tools, bulk management capabilities, or even other perks like free trials of other web-related tools.
☐ Consolidation: Entrepreneurs with multiple domains may want to transfer their domains so they can manage everything they own from a single account.
☐ Improved security: The new registrar may offer stronger security features such as two-factor authentication, better account protection, or improved domain locking mechanisms.
☐ Reputation and trust: Concerns about the reliability, stability, or business practices of the current registrar may prompt a transfer to a more reputable provider.
☐ Policy or service changes: Changes in terms of service, policies, or the range of supported top-level domains (TLDs) may make the current registrar less suitable.
What does the domain transfer process involve?
The exact steps can vary slightly depending on the domain extension (like .com, .org, .uk) and the registrar you’re moving from. But in most cases, the process looks something like this:
- Log in to your account with your current registrar.
- Make sure your domain is unlocked for transfer.
- Go to the transfer section in your account. Depending on the domain, you’ll either update a transfer tag or request an authorisation code (sometimes called an EPP code).
- If you’re given a code, make a note of it.
- Head over to your new registrar and start the transfer request.
- Confirm the transfer when prompted.
Every registrar uses slightly different wording, but the steps stay broadly the same.
If you’re looking for a step-by-step guide on how to transfer your domain to 123 Reg, check out our article: Transferring third-party domain names to 123 Reg
How long does a domain transfer take?
Transfer times can vary depending on the type of domain. For example, .uk transfers are usually completed almost instantly, while other extensions like .com, .net or .org can take around five to seven days. Delays are rare, but they can happen if details are out of date or if the domain has recently been registered or transferred.
Who handles the technical part of the transfer?
Most registrars handle the behind the scenes, technical part of domain name transfers. At 123 Reg, our team takes care of the technical side and transfers are completed in five to seven days.
Search thousands of domain names with 123 Reg and find your perfect pick
What happens to your website and data during a domain transfer?
A domain transfer is mostly an admin process. It only moves the domain name – not your website files, databases, or emails.
✓ A quick DNS check
If you’re only moving your domain (not your website) from one registrar to another, it’s worth checking your DNS settings first.
✓ Before the transfer…
Log in to your current registrar and see where your DNS is managed. Is it on their nameservers (e.g. ns1.registrarA.com) or a third party like Cloudflare (e.g. ns1.cloudflare.com)?
Copy all your DNS records (A, CNAME, MX, TXT, etc.) and save them somewhere safe.
✓ After the transfer…
Make sure your DNS settings are either:
① Still managed by your original registrar (some registrars let you keep DNS management even if the domain leaves, but not all do), or
② Replicated in your new registrar’s DNS manager (if you switch DNS management to the new company).
If DNS settings are lost or not set up, your website and email could go down until fixed.
Feeling confused by DNS? Don’t worry, if you move your domain to 123 Reg, the support team can talk to you about DNS and any further checks and steps you need to go through to ensure the move goes smoothly.
If you want to move your website as well as your domain, the 123 Reg Support team can help with this move, too.
For more, check out: What is DNS – How Websites Get Found Online
Will my website or email go down during a transfer?
In most cases, no. A domain transfer is just an administrative change — your website files and emails stay put. As long as your DNS settings are correct, your site and inbox should keep running as normal.
It’s still a good idea to double-check your settings before starting, just to avoid any hiccups.
Can I cancel a domain transfer once it’s started?
Sometimes transfers can be stopped if you act fast, but once they’ve been confirmed and are in progress, they normally need to finish before any further changes can be made. It’s best to check with both your current and new registrar as soon as possible.
Do I lose any time I’ve already paid for?
No — with most domain extensions, any time you’ve already paid for stays with your domain. When you transfer, the remaining period is carried over and added to your new registrar, so you don’t lose out on months you’ve already bought.
How much does it cost to transfer to 123 Reg?
At 123 Reg it’s free to transfer .uk and .co.uk domains. All other domain transfers have varying prices. For example, it costs £4.99 to transfer a .win, £9.99 to move a .work, £11.99 to transfer a .info, £16.99 to switch a .net and so on. The most costly domains to transfer are .auto, .car, .cars, .protection and .security.
Wrap up
✓ People usually transfer a domain when they’re unhappy with their current registrar, want better pricing, improved features, stronger security, or just want to manage everything from one account.
✓ Before making the switch, it’s worth exploring if your current provider can address your needs, as sometimes changing packages can be an alternative solution.
✓ The transfer process varies slightly between UK and non-UK domains but generally involves unlocking your domain, obtaining necessary codes, and initiating the transfer with your new registrar.
✓ While the technical aspects are managed by the registrars, and the transfer itself doesn’t move website files or data, it’s really important to double-check and back up your DNS settings to avoid website or email downtime.
✓ Support teams, like those at 123 Reg, are available to guide you through DNS management and ensure a smooth transition, whether you’re moving just your domain or your entire website.
If you’re ready to make the switch, visit our Domain Transfer page to get started!
