How to Transfer Your Domain Away from InMotion Hosting

If you need to transfer your domain out of InMotion Hosting to a new registrar, you’ll need an EPP authorization code. EPP stands for Extensible Provisioning Protocol. This guide walks you through the timing checks to run before you start and shows you how to request that code so your new registrar can complete the transfer.

Before You Transfer Your Domain Out

Two timing restrictions can block a domain transfer before it even starts. Knowing these now will save you a failed transfer attempt.

60-day lock after registration or ownership changes. Under ICANN’s Transfer Policy, a domain cannot be transferred within the first 60 days of its initial registration. The same policy also applies a 60-day lock any time the domain’s registrant (ownership) information is updated. If InMotion Hosting records show a recent ownership change, the domain will not be eligible for transfer until those 60 days have passed.

14-day expiration window. If your domain is within 14 days of its expiration date and has not been renewed, the losing registrar will likely reject the transfer request. Renew the domain first, then initiate the transfer. This prevents you from losing the domain during the transfer process.

How to Transfer Your Domain Out

Work through these steps in order. The nameserver check in step 2 is easy to miss: once InMotion Hosting releases the domain, you cannot update nameservers on your end.

1. Confirm your domain is not within 14 days of expiration. If it is, renew it through AMP before continuing. If you need help logging in to AMP, see Locked Out of AMP? Here’s How to Reset Your Password.
2. Verify that your nameservers are already pointing to the locations you want. Once the transfer begins, InMotion Hosting can no longer update your nameservers.
3. Contact InMotion Hosting Customer Support to request your EPP authorization code. Support is available 24/7 by live chat or support ticket. [VERIFY: confirm whether customers can retrieve the EPP code themselves through AMP without contacting support. If a self-service path exists, add a step pointing to it and demote this contact-support step to a fallback. Also confirm current support contact methods, live chat, ticket, and whether phone support is available.]
4. Provide the EPP code to your new registrar. The new registrar uses it to authenticate the transfer request and pull the domain into their system.

Important: If the domain’s registrant (ownership) information was changed at any point, including minor contact detail updates, ICANN’s Transfer Policy can subject the domain to a 60-day transfer lock from the date of that change. Check the domain’s lock status with InMotion Hosting support before submitting a transfer request to your new registrar.

Troubleshooting

Transfer rejected by the receiving registrar

The most common causes are an active transfer lock or a domain within the 60-day registration or ownership-change window. Contact InMotion Hosting support to check the domain’s current lock status and confirm when the lock expires.

EPP code not accepted by the new registrar

EPP authorization codes can expire or be invalidated if domain information changes after the code is issued. Contact InMotion Hosting support to request a fresh code, then retry the transfer with the new registrar.

Conclusion

Once you hand the EPP authorization code to your new registrar, the transfer typically completes within several days, depending on the registrar. If the transfer is rejected, the most common causes are an active transfer lock, an expired domain, or an incorrect EPP code. Contact InMotion Hosting support to verify the domain’s lock status or to request a new code.