Domain expiry checker

What happens when a domain expires

The website and every email address on the domain stop working, usually within a day or two. Most registrars then hold the domain in a grace period (often around 30 days) when the owner can still renew at the normal price, followed by a redemption period with a hefty fee. After that the domain is released, and anyone can register it.

It happens more than you’d think: the card on file expired, renewal emails went to an old address, or the person who registered it has left. The fix is simple: turn on auto-renew, keep the payment details current, and know the date.

And the SSL certificate

An expired certificate doesn’t take the site down, but browsers show a full-page security warning that almost every visitor turns back from. Free certificates (Let’s Encrypt and similar) last 90 days and renew themselves; when that automation quietly breaks, the warning appears without notice.

Agencies: a full account checks the domain and certificate expiry of every client site daily and emails you before anything lapses.