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DOMAINS ON THE HORIZON

Expired is not free.
Here is what happens.

What happens when an owner forgets to renew: the stages, how long each one lasts and what it costs.

SUPPORTED TLD
.sk

Room for your next project.

THE SHORT VERSION
  1. Expired does not mean free. The owner gets extra time to pay, often weeks.
  2. Waiting longer costs the owner more. Paying a little late is cheap, paying at the last moment can cost a lot more.
  3. Only at the end can anyone else get it. Then it is first come, first served, or an auction.
THE TIMELINE

From expired to available, step by step.

The same path applies to every extension. Read it from left to right; the exact number of days depends on the registry and the registrar.

  1. 01
    ActiveUntil the expiration date

    The domain is registered and paid.

    Owner
    Renews at the normal price.
    Cost
    Normal renewal
  2. 02
    Grace periodFirst days or weeks

    Expired, but the owner can still renew it. The website and email may stop working.

    Owner
    Can renew, usually at the normal price.
    Cost
    Normal renewal, sometimes a late fee
  3. 03
    Last chanceBefore deletion

    The final stage before the domain is deleted. Only the old owner can still save it.

    Owner
    Can still save it, sometimes with an extra restore fee.
    Cost
    Renewal or a restore fee
  4. 04
    Deletion or auctionA set day

    Locked: nobody can renew or register it. Then the registry deletes it, or sells it in a public auction.

    Owner
    Too late to save it.
    Cost
    Not possible
  5. 05
    ReleasedAfter deletion or auction

    The domain is free again. The first registration wins.

    Owner
    Anyone can register it.
    Cost
    Normal registration or a backorder

It can be sold before it drops

Some registrars auction expired names during the grace period, and some registries auction them instead of deleting them. If someone buys it there, the name never becomes free.

The release is a race

Released names are often caught within seconds by backorder services. If you want a valuable name, be ready on the day or use a backorder.

WHAT IT COSTS

Fees when an owner forgets to pay.

Read from top to bottom: each step comes later than the one before. This applies to every extension; prices are typical, and the registrar’s own price list is what counts.

  1. 1
    Pays on timeBefore the expiration dateNormal yearly price

    The usual renewal at the registrar.

  2. 2
    Pays a little lateFirst days or weeks after expiryUsually still the normal price

    Some registrars add a small late fee.

  3. 3
    Pays very lateLast stage before deletionCan cost a lot more

    Some extensions charge a restore fee, often about 50–200 EUR, on top of the renewal.

  4. 4
    Too late for the ownerDeletion or auctionCannot be saved any more

    The domain is deleted, or sold in an auction.

  5. 5
    Someone else gets itAfter releaseNormal price, a backorder fee or an auction bid

    Whoever is first registers it at the normal price. A backorder service or an auction can cost more.

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

Three things to remember.

01

A date is a forecast

Release dates come from public sources. The owner can still renew, so a name can vanish from the list at any time.

02

Timing matters

Most good names are taken in the first minutes after release. Know the exact day and be ready, or use a backorder.

03

Check before you plan

Open a domain in ScopeFlux to see its current registration status, then confirm with a registrar before you count on it.

QUICK ANSWERS

Common questions.

If a domain is on the list, will it definitely become free?

No. The owner can renew it until the last stage, and a registrar may sell it at auction first. A release date is an estimate from the source, not a promise.

Can I buy a domain before it is released?

Not from the registry. Only the current owner can renew or restore it. Some registrars sell their own expired names at auction during the grace period.

Why does the website still work after the expiration date?

Many registrars and registries keep the name running for a few days or weeks after expiry, to give the owner a chance to notice and pay.

Does ScopeFlux register domains?

No. ScopeFlux only shows what public sources publish. To register, backorder or bid, use a registrar.

Ready to look for a name?

Browse the domains that are getting close to release, filtered by your favourite extensions.

General rules: ICANN renewal and expiration FAQ CZ.NIC auction rules SK-NIC