How to buy a domain that is already taken
First confirm the name is really taken, then find the owner through a WHOIS lookup or a marketplace listing. Make a short, polite offer, agree the price in writing, and pay through escrow so your money is held until the domain reaches you. A .com usually moves with an authorisation code. A .pk name is different: PKNIC fixes the registrant name at registration, so ask PKNIC about the ownership route before you pay.
Check that the name is really taken
Many names that look taken are only parked or unused. Before you chase an owner, search the exact spelling on our domain search at /domains/. If it shows as registered, open the website. Is it a live business, a blank page or a for-sale notice?
A live business rarely sells. A blank or parked page is a better sign. Also try other extensions at /extensions/ and look at /domain-name-ideas-pakistan/ for close alternatives. A slightly different name you can register today may serve you better than a long negotiation.
- Search the exact name and spelling first
- Visit the site and note what it does
- Check .com, .pk and .com.pk before deciding
Find the owner
Start with a public WHOIS lookup. PKNIC offers a WHOIS search on its home page for .pk names. Many owners hide their details behind a privacy service, so you may see only a proxy email. That email is still a valid way to make contact.
Next, look for a contact page, an email in the site footer, or a 'domain for sale' banner. Some owners list names on a marketplace instead. Browse ours at /#browse to see whether the name is already offered. If you cannot trace anyone, message us on WhatsApp and we will tell you what we can and cannot do.
- Public WHOIS lookup
- Privacy-proxy email, if shown
- Website contact page or footer
- Marketplace listings at /#browse
Approach politely and set price expectations
Keep your first message short. Say who you are, which name you want, and that you would like to make an offer. Do not reveal your business plans or how much the name matters to you, because that can push the price up.
Owners set their own prices, and there is no fixed rate for a taken name. Work out your budget first, and use /domain-value/ to understand what drives value. Offer a figure you can live with, expect a counter-offer, and be ready to walk away. Never pay before the terms are agreed in writing.
Use escrow so neither side takes a risk
The biggest danger in a private sale is paying and getting nothing, or handing over a domain and not being paid. Escrow solves both. A neutral party holds the money until the buyer confirms the domain has arrived.
On our marketplace, payment is held in escrow while the seller moves the name. You pay in rupees by bank transfer, Raast, JazzCash or Easypaisa, and we handle sales on WhatsApp. If you buy outside our platform, still insist on an escrow arrangement and write down the name, price, payment method and transfer deadline. Learn more at /buy-domain/, and see /sell-domain/ if you are the owner.
- Agree name, price and deadline in writing
- Pay only into escrow, never straight to a stranger
- Confirm receipt before the money is released
Transfer steps for .com and .pk
For a .com, the seller unlocks the domain at their registrar and gives you an authorisation (EPP) code. ICANN's transfer policy says a registrar must provide the code and remove the lock within five calendar days of the holder's request, unless the holder can do it in their own account. If the registrant details change, the policy also requires a 60-day transfer lock, though a holder may be able to opt out beforehand. ICANN published an updated policy in February 2024, so check the current text. Details are at /com-domain/.
A .pk is different. PKNIC fixes the registrant name at registration, so a buyer cannot simply swap the name. Ask PKNIC what route applies before paying, then read /pk-domain-transfer/ and /pk-domain/. PKNIC charges on a two-year basis, at Rs 2,100 per year for Pakistan-based registrants (from 1 August 2026) and USD 15.99 per year for overseas ones. See /pk-domain-price/ too.
Common questions
Can I buy any domain that is already registered?
Only if the owner agrees to sell. Many owners refuse, so have a few alternative names ready.
Is it safe to pay the owner directly?
It is risky with someone you do not know. Use escrow so your money is held until the domain is in your hands.
Can I take over a .pk domain from another person?
PKNIC fixes the registrant name at registration, so ask PKNIC what route applies before you pay anyone. We can point you to /pk-domain-transfer/ for the basics.
How long does a .com transfer take?
It depends on the sellers and registrars involved. Under ICANN's policy, a registrar that does not respond to a transfer notice within five calendar days is treated as approving it, and the seller must first supply the authorisation code.