Door-to-door delivery means the cargo is collected from the seller's premises and carried to the address specified by the buyer by a single organiser. Collection, export customs, main carriage, transit, destination customs and final delivery run under one plan. It is not an Incoterms rule but a commercial term describing the scope of service; in the sales contract it is usually covered by DAP or DDP.
What does a door-to-door service cover?
The "door" refers to the physical address at each end: the factory or warehouse where the cargo is loaded and the facility or construction site where it is delivered. The chain in between usually consists of the following links:
- Collection of the cargo from the seller's address (pre-carriage, pick-up)
- Export customs clearance and preparation of documents
- Main carriage: road, sea, RoRo, air or a combination of these
- Bonded transport through transit countries where necessary
- Customs clearance in the country of destination (depending on the agreement)
- On-carriage and delivery at the buyer's address, with unloading if required
Shortened forms are also common: port to door is used for port-to-door, and door to port for door-to-port.
Is door to door an Incoterms rule?
No. There is no rule called "door to door" in Incoterms® 2020 published by the ICC. The term describes the scope of the transport or forwarding contract concluded with the logistics company. The division of risk and costs between seller and buyer must be stated separately with an Incoterms rule. Writing only "door to door" in a contract leaves unanswered the question of who bears the risk when damage occurs.
| Incoterms rule | Relation to door to door | Destination customs |
|---|---|---|
| DAP | The seller arranges carriage to the buyer's address and delivers before unloading | Buyer |
| DPU | The seller also takes on unloading at the address | Buyer |
| DDP | The seller takes on everything, including import duties and taxes | Seller |
| EXW or FCA | The buyer purchases a door-to-door service from its own organiser | Buyer |
Who takes on what?
Who buys the door-to-door service depends on the Incoterms rule. In a DAP or DDP sale, the seller buys the service and includes the freight in the price. In an EXW or FCA sale, the buyer chooses its own forwarder. Whichever party the organiser works for, the following points need to be clarified in the contract:
- Who will do the loading and unloading, and who provides the crane or forklift?
- Who will pay destination customs duties and VAT?
- Who will take out cargo insurance, and with what cover?
- Are there any access restrictions at the delivery address: site entry permit, tonnage or height limits?
Why is it preferred?
- Single point of contact: In the event of delay or damage, buyer and seller are not caught between different companies.
- Fewer handover points: Because planning is done by one party, idle waiting time at the port or border is reduced.
- Total cost visibility: Freight, customs, port and on-carriage can be compared in a single quotation.
- Control on long, multi-country routes: Transit documents and customs papers such as the T1 are followed by the same team; when a document turns out to be missing at a border crossing, the issue is handled from a single point.
- Single tracking channel: Vehicle location and estimated arrival information reach the buyer and the seller from the same source.
Common mistakes
- Writing "door to door" in the quotation without specifying whether destination customs is included.
- Stating a different delivery place in the transport contract from the Incoterms place in the sales contract.
- Mistaking the carrier's liability limit for cargo insurance; the CMR limit often does not cover the value of the goods.
How does Voltim Global help?
In its door-to-door delivery service, Voltim Global manages collection, customs, main carriage and site delivery in a single file. Since March 2024, more than 450 shipments have been made from Russia to Akkuyu NPP; most were carried on the Tuapse–Taşucu RoRo line, and some by road via Upper Lars–Georgia and Iran.