Tranferring Domains

Updated May 05, 2024 ·

Overview

You can’t instantly “move” a domain between registrars or DNS providers. It depends on what you’re changing.

Registrar transfer

Moving your domain registration from one registrar to another (e.g., Namecheap → AWS Route 53 Registrar).

• Has a 60-day lock after registration or transfer (ICANN rule)
• Rarely needed for lab work

When you transfer again, the new registrar will add 1 extra year to your current expiration date, and you’ll pay for that year. Your existing time isn’t lost.

Frequent transfers mean paying extra renewal fees each time, at the destination registrar’s rate, which means it has nothing to do with:

• The price you originally paid
• The “market price” average
• Your old registrar’s renewal cost

Example:

• Your domain expires Jan 2027 at Cloudflare
• You transfer to Route 53 in Aug 2026
• Route 53 charges Route 53’s transfer/renewal fee for 1 year (for .com right now, that’s USD $12 at Route 53)
• New expiry becomes Jan 2028

So if you hop registrars a lot, you’re essentially paying for an extra renewal every time you move, priced according to the destination registrar’s rates for that TLD.

Nameserver change

Pointing your domain to a different DNS host (e.g., Cloudflare → Route 53 Hosted Zone).

• No 60-day lock
• Can change anytime from your registrar dashboard
• Usually takes minutes to a few hours, but can be up to 24 hours for full propagation

From Namecheap to Cloudflare

Cloudflare charges for a 1-year domain registration when you transfer a domain in. This is the same as their regular registration cost, plus any taxes or ICANN fees.

• .xyz domains usually cost around $7 to $9 per year
• No extra “transfer fee” is added
• The cost is just the standard renewal paid at the time of transfer

Prices may change, so check Cloudflare’s official registrar pricing for the exact amount.

From Namecheap to Amazon Route 53

Route 53 also requires a 1-year registration fee when transferring a domain, which covers the first year of renewal.

• .xyz domains typically cost $12–$14 per year
• No separate “transfer fee” is charged
• You simply pay for the first year’s registration during the transfer

Check AWS Route 53 domain pricing for current rates.

Comparison

Summary Table

Transfer Destination	Approx. Cost (1st Year, .xyz)
Cloudflare Registrar	$7–$9
Amazon Route 53	$12–$14

To confirm pricing:

1. Visit Cloudflare’s Registrar Pricing page
2. Visit AWS Route 53’s domain pricing page