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Registering or transferring a domain: what is the difference?

Registering a new name and moving an existing domain to another provider are different actions. Choose the right route and avoid surprises for your website and email.

Registration: securing an available name

If you do not yet have a domain, start by finding an available name. Choose an extension and register it using the correct holder details. Availability and the final price are checked when ordering. Review renewal costs and the registration period too. Hosting and mailboxes are separate services: a domain name alone does not contain a working website.

Transfer: keeping your existing domain

A transfer keeps the domain name the same while changing the provider managing its registration. For .nl, you use a transfer token from the current registrar. Other extensions can have their own conditions and procedures. Ask what information is required and when the transfer can happen. Treat a token carefully and never publish it in a message or screenshot.

The website does not move automatically

A domain transfer does not copy website files, databases or existing mailbox content. If you also want to change hosting, make a separate plan. Record where the website will run and which DNS settings it requires. Changing the provider managing a domain does not necessarily mean you need to move all your other services too.

Check costs and responsibilities

Compare registration or transfer prices with future renewal costs. Check the stated period and any conditions for the extension you choose. Keep holder and contact details current. Agree who monitors renewals and who can access the customer portal. A business website should not depend on an old email address that nobody reads anymore.

Choose the route that fits your situation

Starting a business or a new website? Use our domain checker. Already have a domain and want Drechthosting to manage it? Explore domain transfers. If you also need your website or email moved, discuss those separately with us. Looking at registration, hosting and email individually helps you arrange exactly what you need.

SIDN: transferring a .nl domain ↗

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