Registering a New Domain

Domains Updated 22 May 2024

TekLan is a Nominet-accredited domain registrar, which means we register .uk, .co.uk, and .org.uk domains directly through the registry with no middlemen. We also offer a wide range of international TLDs.

Searching for a Domain

  1. Go to the domain search in the client area.
  2. Type the domain name you want and click Search.
  3. The results show availability and pricing for the name across multiple TLDs.

Choosing a TLD

Your TLD (top-level domain) is the part after the dot. Some things to consider:

  • .co.uk - the most recognised UK domain, good for most UK businesses
  • .uk - shorter UK option, increasingly common
  • .com - the global standard, best if you serve an international audience
  • .org or .org.uk - typically used by charities, community groups, and non-profits
  • .io - popular with tech companies and SaaS products
  • .xyz or .online - lower-cost options for projects, portfolios, or testing

Registering both example.com and example.co.uk is common practice to prevent others from registering a close variant of your brand.

Registering the Domain

  1. Select the domain(s) you want and add them to your basket.
  2. Choose the registration period (1 year minimum, up to 10 years for most TLDs).
  3. At checkout, enter your registrant contact details. These are used for the WHOIS record and Nominet registration - use accurate information.
  4. Complete payment. The domain is registered immediately.

What Happens After Registration

Once registered, the domain appears in your client area under Domains. If you also have TekLan hosting, nameservers are pointed to our servers automatically and your domain will resolve to your hosting account within minutes - no manual DNS setup needed.

If you registered the domain without hosting, you will need to point it manually. See the pointing your domain guide.

WHOIS Privacy

By default, registrant details are visible in the public WHOIS database. We offer WHOIS privacy protection to hide your personal information behind generic contact details. See the domain privacy guide for how to enable it.

Already have a domain elsewhere? You can transfer it to TekLan and manage everything in one place. See the domain transfer guide.

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More Domains guides

Setting Up DNS Records

A plain-English guide to A, CNAME, MX, and TXT records - when to use each and how to add them.

Pointing Your Domain to Your Hosting

How to update nameservers or add an A record so your domain resolves to your TekLan hosting account.

Transferring a Domain to TekLan

How to transfer an existing domain from another registrar to TekLan, including unlocking the domain and getting your auth code.

Transferring a Domain Away from TekLan

How to unlock your domain, obtain the auth/EPP code, and initiate a transfer to a new registrar.

Renewing Your Domain

How auto-renewal works, how to renew manually, and what happens if a domain is not renewed on time.

Domain Privacy and WHOIS Protection

How to keep your personal contact details out of the public WHOIS database using domain privacy.

What Happens When a Domain Expires

The expiry, grace, and redemption periods explained - and what you need to do to recover an expired domain.