What happens when a domain name expires?

When a domain name expires it passes through a series of stages before it's gone for good. The process varies by registrar and TLD, but typically: first comes a 30-day 'expired' grace period where the domain stops resolving (website goes down, email stops) but the owner can still renew at the standard rate. Then a 30-day 'redemption' period where renewal is possible but at a significantly higher fee (often $80-200 extra). After that, the domain is released to the public and anyone can register it -- including competitors or domain squatters who will then sell it back at a premium.

The damage starts before all that: your site goes down the moment the registration lapses, email bounces, SSL certificates (which need a valid domain) stop working, and search engines begin deindexing your pages. A domain that's been squatted can take years to recover -- if recovery is possible at all. The entire failure is preventable with a single calendar reminder set 60-90 days before the renewal date.