You should be in full control of your domain name and the registrant details that are associated with it. Not having this up to date and in your control can be painful later on. Before moving your website, figure this out and make sure the registrant details are in your name and e-mail.
Once you’ve got the domain name in your control. You need to decide whether or not you want to transfer domain registrars or simply switch the domain name servers (DNS) on the domain name. Here are the differences:
- Transfer Domain Registrars – This is where you’re switching domain registration providers. All the settings of the domain name itself will remain intact. Your billing and support will change to the new domain registrar.
- Switching Domain Name Servers – This is where you will be keeping the existing domain registration provider, but you’ll be switching the DNS on the domain name to point to the new hosting provider.
If you don’t have any issues with your existing domain registrar, I suggest leaving your domain name and simply switching the domain name servers to the new hosting provider.