We know the feeling. You’ve just found out that the perfect domain you’ve had your eyes on is taken. Now, you’re itching to know who owns it. In short, there are ways to uncover the owner of a .com.au domain. But if you want the full scoop on how to check domain availability, discover its owner, and even steps to potentially secure it for yourself, read on. We’ve got all that covered in the sections below.
Do a .com.au Domain Search To Be Certain It’s Registered.
Are you sure the domain is taken? Because it would be awful to go through all this work to find out that it’s been waiting for you this whole time. Because you think a .com.au domain name is taken doesn’t always mean it is. Maybe the registry’s database was down when you last looked, maybe you put in a typo by mistake. Whatever the reason, you’re not losing anything by doing a quick .com.au domain search to be certain. This ensures you’re not missing out on a domain that’s actually up for grabs. Just follow that link, type in your dream domain and see.
Your .com.au Domain is Available!
Well, what are you waiting for? Go and secure your domain now! And if you need a hand with the next steps, check out at our article, How to buy a .com.au domain. It’ll guide you through the whole domain name registration process.
Find the Owner of Your Taken .com.au Domain
If you’ve discovered that the .com.au domain you wanted is already taken, don’t lose hope. Finding out who owns it might provide you with some options.
First up, the WHOIS search is your go-to tool. It provides details about domain registrations, including contact details for the registrants. Just in case you don’t know. A WHOIS search (yes, literally “who is”) is a standard search of registry details. All domain name extensions should have their own WHOIS databases, though the sorts of information you can get from them can be different from registry to registry.
Of course, if the domain has a live website, then things get much simpler. Just head over and check for a contact page. Sometimes, the website’s ownership details or contact information are listed right there. Both these methods can give you an idea of who you’re dealing with. Which leads us to the next step.
The .com.au domain I want isn’t available! What can I do?
No worries, mate. All is not lost. There’s a whole bunch of different things you can do to get your ideal .com.au domain that don’t involve inventing a time machine.
Lodge a .com.au Domain Dispute
If the .com.au domain you want is taken, but you think you have a rightful claim to it, you should lodge a domain dispute. Basically, if the domain exactly matches a registered trademark or company of yours, it’s time to talk to auDA (the Australian Domain Authority). They have a process, adapted from the globally recognized Uniform Dispute Resolution (UDRP), which might lead the current domain owner to relinquish it. Go get in contact with them and they’ll take you through the matter. Always worth a shot if you believe you’ve got a valid claim – and considering they require things like an ABN (Australian Business Number) or ACN (Australian Company Number) to register an Australian domain name, there’s a solid chance you do.
Reach Out to the Owner
Sometimes, the simplest way forward is to just get in touch with the current domain owner. If you’re keen on the domain, you can discuss the possibility of buying it from them. Doing a WHOIS search should give the current owner’s contact information, so send them an email or give them a call.
It’s worth remember though, buying an already registered domain can often be pricier than getting a new one. So, go in prepared for a bit of negotiation and potentially higher costs.
Use a Domain Broker Service
Want to keep your identity a secret during the purchase? Or maybe you just don’t want to deal with the haggling. Whatever it is, we get it. Here’s the answer: a domain broker service. They’ll be your expert agent and negotiate your .com.au domain purchase for you. It’s a handy way to approach the domain owner without revealing your personal details. And they might even be better at it than you (I mean, it is their day job).
If sounds like a good idea for you, we’d suggest checking out someone like BrandShelter or googling for someone similar.
Find Your.com.au Domain on the Aftermarket
Not everyone who buys a .com.au domain, plans on using them. Plenty of folks are just speculating; picking up names with the hope that one day someone will need it and want it to buy it. And those types of sellers should have already listed on domain aftermarket sellers like Sedo and Afternic. So go search for it there and see if your dream domain is there.
Of course, if the domain is for sale, it probably says so when you visit the page. You know the sort. Which is just a fancy way of saying it has a for sale sign on it, and the contact details of who you need to contact to buy it.
Let the .com.au Expire
Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. And doing that could be an easy way to get the domain you’re looking for, especially if the current owner is not doing anything with it. You just wait for the domain to expire and pick it up when it’s released by the registry.
Unfortunately for those of us who value the economy of movement, this approach is actually more difficult than it looks. auDA doesn’t share their domains’ registration and expiration dates with the public, so you won’t know exactly when the domain will come free.
But if you think it’s likely to happen, all you need to do is set a reminder if the website is still there every day (or week, or month. You can decide how important it is for you). It’s still risky because if it’s a super valuable .com.au extension, it might be snapped up the instant it drops by some
Use a .com.au Domain Backorder Service
Much like with negotiating domain sales, there are experts in the art of snagging domains that expire. Backorder service providers have their systems to give the best possible shot of getting a domain the instant it becomes available. So, if you really want that domain, it might be worth paying them to make it so.
Go Get Your .com.au Domain
Right, there you have it. All the different ways you can go about finding who has the domain you want, and how to get it from them. Hopefully, it’s all you need to get the .com.au domain you really need. Of course, if you do all that and still come up short, it’s still not the end of the world, because auDA launched their brand new .au domain for Australia last year, which is still Aussie as, just shorter. So, go have a look to see if the name you want is available there.
