GoDaddy Domain Backorder

A GoDaddy domain backorder is when a reservation of sorts is placed on a domain name that is currently registered to someone else. If that domain ever expires, the person who placed a backorder on the domain will have a chance to register the domain before it becomes available to the public.

For more information, see: What is domain backorder and monitoring?

If there is a certain domain name that you want to buy, but find that after trying to purchase it that it is unavailable because someone else already owns it, then you may want to try a domain backorder. Doing so will give you the best possible chance at being able to get the domain name later when it becomes available.

To find out if the domain name you want is available for purchase, start with a domain name search. This will tell you whether the domain you want is currently available to buy or not.

Start by purchasing a domain backorder credit. You can then apply that credit to the domain name of your choice when it expires. If you are the only person who placed a backorder on the domain, then the domain will then become yours at no additional cost.

However, if the domain goes to auction, your initial payment will be used as an opening bid to try and buy the domain name. If you prefer not to bid in the auction, you can move your backorder credit to a different domain name of your choice.

View step-by-step instructions.

Unfortunately, they are not guaranteed. However, a backorder ensures that every attempt is made to acquire and register the domain for you if it ever expires. The backorder process gives you the best chance at securing the domain name that you want.

As part of this service, you will be notified when the domain becomes available. Free daily monitoring tools also allow you to keep updated on the status of the domain name you are trying to acquire. Email updates are sent to you within 24 hours of any changes in the monitored domain.

To set up daily monitoring for your domain backorder, view Setting up domain monitoring.

Domain monitoring is a service that keeps track of the status of domain names you are interested in purchasing. You are then notified via email if there are changes to certain settings of those domain names.

Among the changes domain monitoring keeps track of and provides notifications for include:

• Expiration Date: Notifications are provided if domain expiration dates change in the event the existing registrar renews or cancels a domain name.
• Registrar: If a domain name has a change in registrar, this may be an indicator of a domain transfer.
• Nameservers: If the nameservers of a domain change, this indicates a change in DNS management.
• Status: Changes in status may include settings such as whether a domain is locked or unlocked and whether it has expired.

These are all important indicators for domain monitoring because they may help determine when the domain name you are trying to acquire will become available.

The answer to when a domain name is going to become available to you or someone else again for purchase all depends on the current owner of the domain. That is to say, it depends on how long the current owner has registered their domain name for, as well as whether the current owner is planning to renew the registration of the domain name or let it expire.

To know when a domain name is currently set to expire, start by searching the WHOIS Database. Enter the domain name you are interested in acquiring and the WHOIS Database will tell you the dates through which the domain name is currently registered and set to expire. That will give you an idea of how long it will be before the domain name you want is going to become available.

When a domain name expires or is let go by the owner, this is when the domain name will become available again to the public for purchase. However, if someone has placed a domain backorder on that expiring domain, they will be able to secure it first before it ever even becomes available to the public. This is why backordering a domain is a good idea if you’re trying to keep a close eye on a domain name that you’re trying to buy in the future.

After completing your purchase, you will then be able to monitor the backorder itself and its progress. The status of the domain name is checked daily and you will receive an email notification if there are any changes to the status.

When the domain registration expires, an attempt is made to acquire the domain before it becomes available to the public. If successful, and you were the only backorder on the domain, you will then become the new domain registrant. If multiple backorders were placed on the domain name, the domain name will then go into auction to the highest bidder.

Yes, it is possible for multiple people to place a backorder on the same domain name. If someone else also wants the same domain name as you do, you will be notified about it. In this situation, the domain name would then go into an auction for everyone who has placed a backorder on the same domain name to bid on it. At this point, the name would then go to the highest bidder. However, you do not have to participate in the auction if you do not want to and have the option to pass if you prefer. If you elect to not participate in the auction, you can apply your backorder credit to a different domain name of your choice.

While many domain name types are eligible for backorder placement, there are a few exceptions where they may not be. Among these instances include:

• If the name is a premium domain name: Premium domain names are ones that are considered to be short, catchy, and memorable which are already to a person, organization, or entity. Unfortunately, these domain name types are not currently eligible. For more information about premium domain names, see What is a premium domain name?
• If the domain extension itself is not supported: Domain name backorders may be applied to domain names that have either a .com, .net, .info, .org, .biz, .us, or .me extension type. Domain names with a different extension than these would not be eligible for a domain backorder.

No, you are not able to purchase privacy on backordered domains. However, if your attempt to secure the domain you want is successful, you are able to add privacy to the domain once it has moved into your account by upgrading domain protection.

If your domain backorder is successful, the domain will be registered to you within 45 days. In addition, as part of your initial purchase, one year of domain registration is also included.

By default, your domain will auto-renew yearly, but you can turn this feature off or back on at any time. To learn how to turn off this setting, view Turn off auto-renew.

During the checkout process, you are prompted to create an account. You can login to your account to view your backorder. Here you will see status updates on the domain, as well as the expiration date of the domain you are trying to secure.