GoDaddy Domain Transfer Cost: What You Will Pay and What to Expect

Domain transfers come with fees that often surprise business owners. Here's a clear breakdown of what GoDaddy charges for domain transfers and what you actually get for that cost.

If you're moving from a specific platform, see our guide on how to transfer a domain from Squarespace to GoDaddy.

When you transfer a domain from another registrar to GoDaddy, you pay a transfer fee. For most common TLDs like .com, .net, and .org, this fee is roughly equivalent to one year's renewal price.

What's included in the transfer fee:

• The transfer itself
• One additional year added to your domain's expiration date (ICANN requirement)

So if your domain has 6 months left and you transfer it to GoDaddy, you'll end up with approximately 18 months of registration after the transfer completes.

Typical transfer cost for .com: Similar to the annual renewal price, which varies based on current promotions.

GoDaddy does not charge a fee to transfer a domain away to another registrar. The receiving registrar typically charges a transfer fee (which usually includes a year of registration, as above).

What you need to transfer away from GoDaddy:

1. Unlock the domain (disable domain lock in GoDaddy settings)
2. Get the authorization/EPP code from GoDaddy
3. Initiate the transfer at the receiving registrar
4. Approve the transfer via email (GoDaddy sends a confirmation)

The transfer process typically takes 5–7 days.

Redemption fee: If your domain has expired and entered the redemption period, GoDaddy charges a significant redemption fee (often $80–$160) on top of the renewal price before you can transfer.

Premium domain transfer: Some domains are classified as "premium" and carry higher transfer fees.

Privacy protection: If you have domain privacy enabled, you may need to temporarily disable it to receive the authorization code.

Before initiating a transfer, review our guide on what to consider before transferring your domain registrar to avoid common pitfalls.

Consider transferring your domain if:

• You're consolidating all your domains at one registrar
• You're moving to a registrar with better pricing or support
• You want to manage your domain alongside your hosting and email

VSF Technology handles domain transfers for businesses in Tampa Bay and nationwide. We manage the entire process — unlocking, authorization codes, DNS configuration, and verification — so your domain moves without downtime.

Contact VSF Technology to get started with a domain transfer.