Key facts
- .com is a generic top-level domain (gTLD) under ICANN policy
- Transfers need an auth (EPP) code, also called a TAC
- Registrars may refuse a transfer within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer
- A gTLD transfer normally adds one year to the expiry date
- Expired names pass through a 30-day redemption period before release
- Most registrars redact personal data in public WHOIS/RDAP since GDPR
When a UK business needs a .com
A .com makes sense if you sell outside the UK, if your customers are international, or if your brand name is valuable enough that you don't want anyone else using the .com version. Some businesses use the .com as their main address; many UK firms keep the .co.uk as the main site and redirect the .com to it.
If the .com you want is already taken, check what's on it. A competitor or an unrelated business with the same name can cause confusion. Our .uk vs .com comparison helps you decide which to lead with.
Some UK businesses find their .com is held by a company abroad with the same name. That's legitimate, and there's usually nothing to be done about it. In that case lead with the .co.uk and make sure customers know it.
How .com rules differ from .co.uk
| .com | .co.uk | |
|---|---|---|
| Policy body | ICANN | Nominet |
| Transfer | Auth code, approval, usually within 5 days | IPS tag change |
| Year added on transfer | Normally yes | No |
| Transfer lock | Can be refused within 60 days of registration or transfer | No equivalent lock |
| After expiry | Grace, then 30-day redemption, then pending delete | Suspended at day 30, released after day 90 |
Transferring a .com
To move a .com to the dijitul client portal: remove the transfer lock at your current registrar, request the auth code (ICANN is renaming it the Transfer Authorization Code, or TAC), enter it when you start the transfer, then approve any confirmation email. Most complete within five days.
Watch the 60-day rule. A registrar may refuse a transfer within 60 days of registration or a previous transfer, and many apply a 60-day lock after a change of registrant. ICANN approved revised transfer rules in 2026, but they're not in force yet, so the current rules still apply. Our auth code guide covers where to find the code.
Renewal and expiry on a .com
ICANN rules require registrars to send reminders before a .com expires. If it isn't renewed, the registrar's grace period applies (often up to 30 to 45 days, depending on the registrar). Then comes a 30-day Redemption Grace Period, when the name can still be restored but the registrar charges a restore fee. After about five days pending delete, it's released to the public.
Restore fees are set by the registrar and are usually far more than a renewal, so auto-renew is the cheap option. See domain renewal.
Keep the registrant email current. Reminders are only useful if they reach someone, and the reminder schedule ICANN requires is no help if it goes to an address nobody reads.
Privacy on a .com
Since GDPR, most registrars redact personal registrant data from public WHOIS and RDAP results. Some also offer a privacy or proxy service that replaces your contact details with theirs. Either way, you remain the owner. More on domain privacy.
Make sure the registrar still has a working contact address for you behind any privacy layer. Transfer approvals and renewal reminders depend on it.
How dijitul helps
Search and register .com names at clients.dijitul.uk. One .com registration or renewal a year is included with dijihost Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT. We'll set up the DNS in Cloudflare, or the redirect to your .co.uk if that's your main site.
How it works and what it costs
Domains are priced live in the client portal. DNS management and 10 mailboxes are included with dijihost Complete Hosting at £1 a day + VAT. On their own, DNS and email set-up is £45 an hour + VAT or a fixed quote.
Tell us what you have
Your domains, who they are registered with, where your DNS and email live today, and what you want to change.
Plan the change
We list every DNS record and mailbox first, so nothing is forgotten, and agree a time to switch.
Make the switch
Transfers, nameserver changes, DNS records and mailbox moves, done carefully with low TTLs and a rollback plan.
Check it works
We test the website, email delivery, SPF, DKIM and DMARC from the outside before calling it done.
Look after it
Renewals, records and email stay looked after, and you can call a person when something changes.
Frequently asked questions
Do UK businesses need a .com?
Not always. If you trade mainly in the UK, a .co.uk or .uk is enough as the main address. A .com is worth registering if you sell abroad or want to stop someone else using your brand name. Redirect it to your main site.
Where do I find the auth code for a .com?
Your current registrar provides it, usually in the domain settings of their control panel or on request. Remove the transfer lock first. The code is also called an EPP code or Transfer Authorization Code. Give it to the receiving registrar to start the transfer.
Why was my .com transfer refused?
Common reasons are that the domain was registered or transferred within the last 60 days, the transfer lock is still on, the auth code is wrong, or the registrant details changed recently. Check those first, then ask your current registrar.
Does transferring a .com change its expiry date?
Yes, normally. A gTLD transfer adds one year to the expiry date, so you don't lose the time already paid for. This is different from .uk names, where an IPS tag change does not add a year.
Can I get back a .com that has expired?
Usually, if you act quickly. During the registrar grace period it can be renewed. During the 30-day redemption period it can be restored for a restore fee set by the registrar. After that it is released to the public.
Is my name shown publicly on a .com?
Since GDPR, most registrars redact personal data from public WHOIS and RDAP lookups. Some offer privacy or proxy services that replace your contact details entirely. You remain the legal owner whichever applies.
Related
Find and register your domain
Live prices, registration and renewals in the dijitul client portal. Or call us and we will do it for you.