The Redemption Grace Period (RGP) is the second phase of the post-expiration lifecycle, kicking in after the 45-day Auto-Renew Grace Period (AGP).
Sequence after a domain expires:
- Day 0–45: Auto-Renew Grace Period — renew at regular price.
- Day 45–75: Redemption Grace Period — recover via redemption fee.
- Day 75–80: Pending Delete — queued for return to public pool. Original registrant can no longer recover.
- Day 80+ — anyone can register it.
During the Redemption Period, the registry holds the domain in a kind of escrow. The original registrant CAN recover it, but the price includes:
- The normal renewal fee ($13-$25 for most TLDs)
- The redemption fee — $80-$150 typically, sometimes higher for premium TLDs
The redemption fee is set by the registry and paid by your registrar to the registry. Your registrar cannot waive it; it's a real cost.
To recover: contact your registrar (in Modusdom's case, just sign in to your account — the option is one click). Pay the fees. The domain reactivates within minutes.
To avoid redemption entirely: turn on auto-renew, keep your card on file current, and use a registrant email you read daily.
