Managing Domain Renewals: Auto-Renew and Registrar Lock

Domain names are lease-based assets that require timely renewals to maintain ownership. On the Hovixa platform, you have granular control over how these renewals are handled and how the domain is secured against unauthorized transfer attempts via the Registrar Lock protocol.

1. Configuring Auto-Renew

Auto-Renew ensures that your domain is automatically invoiced and renewed before the expiration date, provided you have a valid payment method or account credit. This prevents the domain from entering the "Redemption Grace Period," where recovery fees can be significantly higher than standard renewal costs.

How to Toggle Auto-Renew:

1. Log in to the Hovixa Client Portal.
2. Navigate to Domains > My Domains.
3. Locate your domain and click the wrench icon or Manage.
4. In the sidebar, click on Auto Renew.
5. Click the button to Enable Auto Renew or Disable Auto Renew.

Note: If disabled, you must manually pay the renewal invoice at least 48 hours before the expiration date to ensure DNS continuity.

2. Understanding the Registrar Lock

The Registrar Lock (technically known as the clientTransferProhibited status) is a security feature that prevents your domain from being transferred to another registrar without your explicit consent. When enabled, any request to move the domain will be automatically rejected at the registry level.

Managing the Lock:

1. From the Manage Domain page, select Registrar Lock from the sidebar.
2. Enable: Keep this active at all times to prevent domain hijacking.
3. Disable: Only disable this if you are actively planning to transfer the domain to another provider. Remember to re-enable it if the transfer is cancelled.

3. The Domain Expiration Timeline

It is critical to understand what happens if a renewal is missed:

• Expiraton Date: DNS services stop. Your website and email go offline.
• Grace Period (0-30 days): You can still renew the domain at the standard price.
• Redemption Period (30-70 days): The domain is held by the registry. Renewal is still possible but requires a high "Redemption Fee" (often $100+).
• Pending Delete: The domain is released back to the public and can be registered by anyone.

4. Technical Implementation Details

• Invoice Generation: Domain renewal invoices are typically generated 30 days before expiration to give you ample time to settle the payment.
• EPP/Auth Code: If you are transferring a domain away, the Registrar Lock must be Disabled before you can request your EPP/Auth code.
• Multi-Year Renewals: You can choose to renew many TLDs for up to 10 years in advance to lock in current pricing and eliminate the risk of annual expiration issues.

Security Best Practice: Always pair an enabled Registrar Lock with ID Protection (WHOIS Privacy) to hide your personal contact details from public databases, reducing the risk of targeted social engineering attacks.