[web007]

That's not usually a problem. You can transfer a registration with N years remaining, the new company will charge a one year registration and you now have N+1 years covered.

The only time it becomes a problem is if your new registrar doesn't support N+1 year registration - your 8-year example means you need to find someplace that supports 9- or 10-year regs.

[Tijdreiziger]

Read the first part of my comment again. Some (many?) registrars don't actually register the domain for N years at once with the registry, even if you pay them for N years.

[toast0]

If they don't pay the registry, wouldn't it not show up in whois? If it doesn't show up with the expected expiration date in whois shortly after registration/renewal, I'd be demanding it get fixed.