What is .auto?
.auto entered the DNS root zone on May 2, 2015, 11 years ago. It came out of ICANN's New gTLD Program, the 2012 application round that grew the root from 22 generic TLDs to well over a thousand.
XYZ.COM LLC operates a large portfolio of 35 TLDs, including .audio, .autos, .baby, .beauty and .boats.
On the technical side, .auto is served by 4 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .auto, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP and WHOIS (the WHOIS server is whois.nic.auto).
Same registry, other endings
34 other TLDs share this operator.
.auto FAQ
What does .auto mean?
.auto is a generic top-level domain named for the word "auto". It doesn't belong to any country.
What country is .auto?
None. .auto is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .auto domain extension?
XYZ.COM LLC operates .auto as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .auto created?
.auto was delegated to the DNS root zone on May 2, 2015.
Is .auto a valid domain?
Yes. .auto is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2015, so .auto addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .auto domain?
.auto names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read XYZ.COM LLC's policy if you're unsure.
Is .auto DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .auto.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed August 12, 2025. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
