These are the general guidelines that need to be followed before a domain name can be transferred:

1.  Domain privacy services need to be disabled.
2.  Verify that your administrative email address in the domain registration record is accurate.
3.  Your domain needs to be unlocked.
4.  Acquire your domain's transfer authorization code (also referred to as an EPP or auth code) from the current registration service provider.

If your domain is registered with any of the registration service providers below, click on its link for step-by-step tutorials:

• GoDaddy
• Network Solutions
• 1&1
• Enom

Domain transfers will be outright rejected if:

• the domain name is locked (this tutorial will show you how to unlock your domain name)
• the domain name was registered or transferred in the past 60 days
• the authorization code provided is invalid (this tutorial will show you how to obtain the authorization code)
• the domain name is in redemption
• there is an unresolved domain dispute (a form of registrar lock)
   

Once your domain name has been prepared for transfer, you can initiate the transfer using the steps outlined below.

Initiate your domain transfer through Hover.com

1.  Visit http://www.hover.com and click on the Domain transfers link.
   
   
   
   Or, If you are an existing customer, sign in to your Hover account at https://www.hover.com/signin and click on the + Add New button and then click on the + Transfer a domain to Hover link, as pictured below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Type the domain name to be transferred in the text box and click on Check Domain.
   
   
   
   
3. A step-by-step transfer process screen will appear.  The question mark icon will link you to a help tutorial.
   
   Depending on your registration service provider, there will be up to 3 steps listed:
   
   1. Domain privacy status.
   2. Admin email confirmation.
   3. Domain lock status.
   
   If the step has a red X in the status then this indicates that the step needs to be completed to continue.  A green check indicates that the step has been completed.
   
   In the example below, we are going to click on Send test email to confirm the admin email address.
   
   
   
   
4. A confirmation email has been sent, as pictured below.
   
   
   
   
5. Open your email, find a message with "Please confirm your contact address" in the title, then open it and click on the confirmation link.
   
   
   
   
6. The admin email has been confirmed.  Once each step has a green check under status, click on Continue.
   
   
   
   
7. If you are not already signed into a Hover account you will see the following screen:
   
   
   
   If you already have an account, enter your Username and password then click Sign In.  New customers need to provide their name, a contact email address, then pick a username and password for their Hover account.  If you are a new customer, click Create Account after typing in all the required details.
   
   
8. Fill out your name and address as you would like them to appear in your domain registration records.
   
   
   
   
9. Scroll down and put a check next to "Do not publish my contact information for this domain in any online directories or Whois" if you want you information to remain private.  Click Continue.
   
   
10. Billing information needs to be filled in next.  Please ensure that you type in all fields as they appear on your credit card statements.  We perform name and address verification for anti-fraud purposes.  If your name and address do not match the credit card company's records, your payment may be rejected.
    
    
11. Your domain's transfer authorization code needs to be entered in the text box, then click on Initiate Transfer.
    
    
    
    
12. Your order ID and billing summary will be displayed.  Click Continue.
    
    
    
    
13. Your domain status will be pending until the transfer has been completed.