When should I transfer a .com or .net domain to Dynadot?
The short answer
Start well before expiry, after checking transfer locks and access to the authorization code. An eligible transfer normally adds a year, but recent post-expiry renewals and maximum registration terms can change the result.
In more detail
Dynadot recommends beginning a transfer at least two weeks before expiry. Its guide also identifies a 60-day restriction after registration or a previous transfer. Check the domain's actual transfer status, unlock it when eligible and obtain the EPP authorization code from the current registrar.
If an expired .com or .net was renewed, check the registry's 45-day auto-renew grace period. ICANN describes this as following the automatic renewal after the original expiry, not starting when you paid the registrar. Transferring during this period can reverse the auto-renewed year, so two payments may add only one year. Ask the current registrar about your exact dates and any refund. Maximum registration terms can also limit the extension.
For a business website, prepare a short migration record: current expiry date, registrar account owner, nameservers, essential DNS records and an email address you can access. Confirm whether the existing DNS service will remain available after the transfer. A registration transfer is not a plan for moving website files or mailboxes.
Transfer when the expected renewal cost and management tools justify the move and you have time to verify it. If expiry is imminent or an account lock is unresolved, protect continuity first instead of rushing to capture a promotion.