GoDaddy Help

What is GoDaddy Auctions®?

Domains often have value that extends well beyond their initial registration price. Depending on how memorable it is or how well it ranks on Google, a domain that initially costs a few bucks can be worth a lot of money to the right buyer. Domain auctions exist to give domain owners an opportunity to sell their domain for a profit and give buyers a chance to get a name that can take their website to the next level.

Select a question to see its answer:

What is the domain aftermarket?

The domain aftermarket is the secondary market for domains where buyers can attempt to acquire domains that are already registered, have recently expired or will be expiring soon. It's also where sellers can list domains for purchase using different listing options.

Registrars that offer aftermarket services are a great place to get noticed by businesses and investors looking for domain names. GoDaddy Auctions®, for example, allows you to list your domain names for sale, set buy-it-now prices, put domains up for auction and manage negotiations.

Domain investors use domain marketplaces as a fast and easy way to put domains in front of interested buyers. Registrar network integrations like Afternic DLS, allow domain investors to reach an even broader audience of domain registrants. Marketplaces that offer other services, like domain parking and advertising, can be a good place to reach potential buyers in a market you are trying to target.

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What is GoDaddy Auctions®?

GoDaddy Auctions® is a marketplace for domain sellers and potential buyers. Sellers can list their domains for sale in the marketplace, and GoDaddy Auctions® charges a percentage of the sale price once the domain is sold. The seller can also add optional features to increase the exposure of a listed domain. There are currently no additional fees when buying through GoDaddy Auctions®, however certain domain purchases may include the cost of a one-year renewal or transfer. All prices on GoDaddy Auctions® listings are shown in USD, regardless of the currency you'll be paying in.

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What are the fees to list a domain?

GoDaddy Auctions® members can list domains for free.

Free listings include:

  • Accepting offers from potential buyers and sending a counteroffer.
  • Setting a Buy Now price.
  • Starting a 7-Day Public Auction.

Sellers can also increase the visibility on their domains with additional listing add-ons:

  • Feature a listing on the GoDaddy Auctions® Home Page for $19.98 USD per listing.
  • Feature a listing on a Category Page, such as Real Estate or Technology, to target buyers looking for a specific domain for $9.99 USD per listing.
  • Set a Reserve Price on the Auction Listing (7-Day Public Auctions only) for $4.99 USD per listing.

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What are the commission rates if a domain is sold?

When the domain is sold, GoDaddy keeps a portion of the funds as a commission and a transaction fee to pay the seller. The commission rate is dependent on where the domain’s nameservers are pointed to at the time of sale (US$15 minimum).

  • Domains using GoDaddy brand aftermarket nameservers that point to a GoDaddy For Sale Lander: Reduced flat, 15% commission rate.
    • Domains not using GoDaddy brand aftermarket nameservers: Standard flat, 25% commission rate.

    GoDaddy brand aftermarket nameservers will end with the following:

    • afternic.com
    • smartname.com
    • uniregistrymarket.link
    • dan.com
    • undeveloped.com
    • internettraffic.com
    • cashparking.com

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    Which domains can I list on GoDaddy Auctions®?

    The GoDaddy Auctions® Membership Agreement, states the domain seller is responsible for ensuring that a listed domain does not violate or infringe upon third-party trademarks. GoDaddy Auctions® reserves the right to remove listings that are found to be in violation of the stated terms.

    You can't list domains expiring within the next 90 days, inactive domains, or internationalized domains. With the internationalized domains, it's possible to get them listed as long as they are converted to a Punycode. Also, certain domains with premium or tiered pricing, can only be listed if the renewal amount is priced at the base tier or non-premium level.

    You can list domains registered with any registrar, and any parked domains. Parking isn't required for listing.

    GoDaddy Auctions® supports listings for hundreds of domain extensions. Visit our GoDaddy Auctions page and select Advanced Search to see the full list of extensions offered. The most popular domain extensions are:

    • .biz
    • .cc
    • .co
    • .com
    • .info
    • .me
    • .net
    • .org
    • .tv
    • .us

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    What listing types does GoDaddy Auctions® offer?

    We have multiple listing types available for sellers and buyers. Check out our overview of listing options for more details.

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    Can I keep the domain registered where it is and still list it at GoDaddy Auctions®?

    Yes! You can sell domains that are registered with any registrar on GoDaddy Auctions®. We do recommend transferring the domain to GoDaddy first, which includes a one-year extension to the current registration period. Transferring the domain to GoDaddy before listing also ensures automatic transfer to the buyer, faster handling of the transaction, and faster payout to the seller.

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    Can I sell domains on multiple websites?

    Having your domains listed via GoDaddy Auctions® will only show them on the GoDaddy marketplace. To list your domains on multiple other sites, we recommend using List for Sale Learn more about the service.

    If you list the domain as a 7–day Public Auction, you can only list it with GoDaddy Auctions®. Listing domains in a 7–day Public Auction on GoDaddy Auctions® while offering them on other sites violates the Universal Terms of Service you agreed to when you created your GoDaddy Auctions® listing.

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    Why is my domain listing Pending Review?

    To maintain the quality and integrity of the marketplace for our members, all GoDaddy Auctions® listings are reviewed for:

    • Trademark infringement
    • Confirmation of domain ownership
    • Registration expiration

    We'll send you an email notifying you if your listing was approved or denied when the review is complete.

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    Can I extend the time for my listing?

    No, you can't extend the time of your auctions listing on GoDaddy Auctions®. There may be cases where several bids are submitted in the final moments of an auction, and GoDaddy Auctions® may extend the length of the auction to allow potential buyers the opportunity to respond.

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    Can I cancel my bid or offer on GoDaddy Auctions®?

    No, bids and offers can't be canceled. We take the integrity of domain auctions seriously and want to make sure both buyers and sellers are protected. Each bid submitted on GoDaddy Auctions® is a binding contract, and your bid commits you to purchasing the domain if you place the winning bid. Offers must be accepted within 7 days to be valid—otherwise the offer/counter offer will expire.

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    How does the seller move the domain to the buyer's account?

    After a domain auction concludes on GoDaddy Auctions®, the seller must move the domain name to the buyer's account. The process is usually completed automatically, but there may be exceptions.

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    When will I get the domain I won at auction?

    The timing of when you get the domain you won depends on a few different factors, and the process is slightly different for expired domain auctions.

    • Expired domain auctions: Check the Won section under Bidding List in your auctions account. Under the Status column, the date following Expired domain ready on: is your estimated delivery date. If there's no date here, your delivery date will be the same as other auction types.
    • All other auction types: Domains are typically moved into the buyer's account 1-15 days after the auction ends. Domains currently registered with GoDaddy will generally process faster than domain registered elsewhere due to the transfer process.

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    There are many factors that impact when you'll receive the funds for a domain sold at auction, including the type of listing you used and how quickly the domain transfer is processed. Here are some guidelines and tips to ensure the process goes as quickly as possible.

    • Make sure you set up your payee account, and verify the details are accurate and up to date.
    • Keep an eye out for emails requiring you to take action. Some auction transactions may require a manual transfer of the domain, and we'll send those details to your email.
    • Funds are usually disbursed within 48–72 hours after the domain has been delivered to the buyer.

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    Why didn't I win my auction?

    There are several reasons why you may not win an auction.

    • Offer not accepted: Sellers aren't required to accept an offer, and the highest or only offer submitted doesn't automatically win when the auction expires. If the seller doesn't accept or counter your offer within 7 days, the offer is no longer valid.
    • Reserve price not met: If the seller sets a reserve price and the auction ends without meeting the reserve, the domain doesn't sell to the highest bidder. To win auctions that include reserves, you must meet or exceed the reserve price. You can tell if a seller has set a reserve price, but you can't view the price itself.
    • Auction length extended: GoDaddy Auctions® may extend the length of an auction to allow potential buyers the opportunity to bid. If several bids are submitted in the final moments of an auction, another bidder might outbid you. A clock icon displays next to domains with extended auction time.
    • Renewal: In an expired domains auction, the original registrant may renew the domain, making it no longer available for purchase.

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    Related steps

    More info

    • Check out our Domain Broker Service for a different option to acquire a domain that's already registered.
    • GoDaddy doesn't send any tax documents pertaining to the purchase or sale of domains through GoDaddy Auctions® or List for Sale, such as 1099 forms. All earnings must be self-reported by the seller. GoDaddy is not able to offer legal or tax advice, and we recommend reviewing your specific situation with a tax professional.