domain name transfer advice please (.com)

[beastman]

I have a domain that I only use for email (I actually use Gmail using my domain email address) and it needs renewing. I am really skint at the moment and I am looking to save some money and transfer it to cheaper provider. It looks like moving it to a US provider would be about half the costs with someone like namecheap and it would seem a logical thing to do but I don't want to bugger it up. Can anyone advice any pros/cons?

thanks.

 

[beastman]

There aren't really any cons. The main thing to watch out for is what happens with your DNS hosting. Most domain registrars provide free DNS hosting when you register a domain, but if you transfer the domain out, they will likely cancel the DNS hosting, and you will no longer be able to receive emails. Or, a less likely but possible problem is the new registrar will change the DNS servers to their own when they receive the domain but don't set the MX records up for your email.

So if you are using your current registrar's DNS servers, you need to make sure your new registrar has DNS servers correctly configured ready for you to use.

thanks for all the replies.....bit more confident in doing this now. I just don't wont to lose my email whilst there is a transition. With regard to DNS hosting, I take it that isn't such an issue when I don't have a website? I recall changing my MX records for my email on my control panel with my current domain provider......like this:

https://support.google.com/a/answer/174125?hl=en&ctx=cb&src=cb&cbid=11ysq3ji4ghcp&cbrank=0

Is this is what I would have to do with the new domain registrar and how its is all timed for a smooth transition?

 

[beastman]

As you don't have a website, the only thing you probably have to worry about are the MX records. Ideally you want to pre-configure nameservers at the registrar you're moving to with the MX records, then there will be no problem, but it depends on who you transfer to as to whether they offer that.

Thanks. Its getting a touch tricky this.

You could have some other DNS records, but I assume you'd know if you did.

No just MX records/cname records as far as I know (from lookimng at my domain control panel)

Did you ever set up DKIM for your email or anything like that?

Definitely no.

Did you verify your ownership of the domain when you set your email up with Google by using a text record?

Don't think so!

I think on balance unless I can find a cheapo provider that offers easy pre-configuring of the name servers I'd probably best stick with my existing setup as knowing my luck my email will go missing.