Unattended Delivery – Meaning & Definition | Freight Academy

GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 8, 2026

Unattended Delivery

A driver leaves a parcel at a predefined location—the customer's doorstep, a garage, or a safe drop point—without waiting for the recipient.

Last updated: 8 June 2026Published: 19 June 2025

Source: https://www.dhl.de/de/privatkunden/hilfe-versand/informationen-zur-zustellung/abstellgenehmigung.html

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A driver leaves a parcel at a predefined location—the customer's doorstep, a garage, or a safe drop point—without waiting for the recipient. Unattended delivery saves time and reduces failed delivery attempts, but shifts liability risk to the shipper if the package is damaged or stolen. Most carriers require prior customer consent and clearly define acceptable drop-off locations in their terms. Unlike signed delivery, proof of receipt depends on photographic or GPS evidence.

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