How to Transfer a Domain Name to InMotion Hosting

• What does it mean to transfer a domain?
• Important details to understand
• Obtaining the Authorization Key
• Steps to Transfer a Domain
• Check the Transfer

What does it mean to transfer a domain?

When you say you want to “transfer a domain” we are referring to changing the company that you pay yearly for the domain’s registration- the domain registrar. Domain transfers do not affect your website code or structure, but they affect your domain registrar (the company where your domain is registered). If you want to have all your domains and hosting in one place so you can pay for them and manage them all in one place, you will want to transfer a domain to InMotion Hosting. More information about this can be found in our article, the difference between transferring a domain name and changing the nameservers.

If you’re looking for information on how to transfer your website to InMotion Hosting, please see our New Customer Website Getting Started Guide.

Important Details to Understand Before Transferring Your Domain:

• You need to have a cPanel-based account.
  
• Get the Authorization code (sometimes called AUTH, or EPP code) from your registrar.
  
• Remove Domain Privacy if you have it on your domain.
  
• If you plan to change your nameservers, please do so either before or after requesting a domain transfer, not during the transfer process. It is not recommended to update your nameservers during the transfer process (which can take up to 10 days to complete).
  
• Make sure the domain is unlocked with the old registrar prior to making the request. “Unlocking” a domain name is the removal of the lock on your domain name that prevents the domain from being transferred. This must be done with your current registrar.
  
• Make sure you have access to the administrative email address listed in the WHOIS info for your domain prior to making the request. You will be sent an email to this email address, and failure to receive this email will result in a failed domain transfer. Please contact your current registrar to manage your whois details. For more information about WHOIS and other terms used when working with domains and domain name servers(DNS), please see The Complete Guide to DNS.
  
• While we can host any domain, we can only transfer .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, and .us domains.
  
• If the domain you would like to transfer was just registered, please be aware that you will need to wait a minimum 60 days from the initial registration before you can change registrars.
  
• If your domain name is set to expire within 14 days, you will need to first renew the domain with its current registrar. This is to help prevent a loss of your domain name in the event the transfer request fails the first time.

Obtaining the Authorization Code

The authorization code is the passcode that allows your domain to be transferred from one domain registrar to another. You will need to speak with your existing domain registrar or go through your domain registrar’s documentation to see how you can get the authorization code. The authorization code is also known as the auth code, EPP code, or transfer code. When you are planning to transfer a domain name, then you will need to have an authorization code before the domain transfer can be completed.

Steps to Transfer a Domain Name

1. Login to AMP.
2. Roll your mouse over the DOMAINS menu, then click the DOMAIN TRANSFERS link.
   
3. You will get the option for a step-by-step walkthrough or an advanced option.
   

   NOTE! If you get an error stating, “Domain is expired and must be renewed with the current registrar before transferring” Then you will need to contact tech support to have the domain manually transferred via email request. This is an error with the WHOIS lookup in AMP (Account Management Panel).

4. The Advanced option will immediately ask you for the authorization code. You should only use this option if you are confident that you meet all the requirements for the domain to be transferred. The walkthrough starts by checking to see if your domain is unlocked and eligible to be transferred.
5. Step 2 checks on the status of domain privacy for your domain. Privacy would need to be removed before you can transfer the domain.
6. Step 3 checks on your nameserver settings. You can elect to use InMotion’s nameservers. If your domain will be hosted by InMotion’s servers, then you should be using InMotion’s nameservers.
7. Step 4 asks for your authorization code. This is where the advanced option starts.
8. Step 5 verifies that you can access the Administrator email listed on the domain’s WHOIS information. In some cases, this email is not directly accessed. The existing domain registrar will need to provide a way for you to get any messages (to the domain administrator) should this be the case.
   
9. Step 6 is an order form. If you have existing credits for a free domain transfer, then they will appear here. A domain transfer adds 1 year to the domain’s registration. There is no way to add multiple years in the AMP interface and there is only an option to pay by credit card. You would need to contact our Customer Service team for any requests for different payment options.
10. Step 7 is the confirmation email from OpenSRS. This is the email that is sent to the Administrator email in order to confirm the transfer process.

The transfer process has now begun. Remember that domain transfers can take up to 10 days. You will be notified via email when the domain transfer process completes.

How to Check the Status of your Domain Transfer

1. Login to AMP.
2. Roll your mouse over the DOMAINS menu, then click the DOMAIN TRANSFERS link.
   
3. Scroll down to the Existing Domain Transfers sections, and you will see the status listed.

Hosting Unlimited Domains

Did you know that with a dedicated server, you can host unlimited domains? With a dedicated server, you get all the features you need to manage your websites. But you also get the support you need when you need it.