Door-to-Door Shipping from China: What Your Quote Should Include
A complete door-to-door quote from China should cover the whole chain: pickup at the supplier, export clearance, main carriage (sea, air or rail), destination handling and import clearance, and final delivery to your named address. It is a service scope, not an Incoterm — the term (usually DDP or DAP) layered on top decides who pays duty and who is importer of record. The quote must state the named delivery address and any remote-area or residential rule, the unloading condition (curbside versus inside delivery, liftgate need), and whether duty and tax are included (DDP) or paid by you (DAP). Confirm exception fees explicitly: storage if you miss an appointment, redelivery, waiting time at pickup, and demurrage if the container is held. A quote that lists each of these is one you can budget; a single 'door-to-door USD X' line with no breakdown should be pushed for detail before you accept.
- Door-to-door is a service scope; the Incoterm (DDP/DAP) still decides who pays duty.
- The quote must name the delivery address and state remote-area/residential rules.
- Clarify unloading: curbside vs inside, and whether a liftgate is needed.
- Confirm duty treatment — included (DDP) or buyer-pays (DAP).
- Pin down exception fees: storage, redelivery, waiting time, demurrage.
On this page
The chain a door-to-door quote should cover
From the supplier's dock to your warehouse, a managed door-to-door move strings together several legs. Each is a cost the quote should address, even if one provider sub-contracts it.
- Pickup at the supplier and delivery to the origin warehouse or CFS.
- Export declaration and documentation at origin.
- Main carriage by sea, air or rail to the destination gateway.
- Destination terminal handling and (if DDP) import clearance and duty.
- Final road delivery to the named address, including unloading.
Door-to-door versus DDP: scope versus term
These are often used together but are different. Door-to-door describes the physical service: goods move from one door to another under one coordinator. DDP is the commercial term that says the seller/forwarder pays duty and delivers cleared. A door-to-door shipment is typically quoted as DDP (duty included) or DAP (delivered, buyer clears and pays duty). Always state which, because 'door-to-door' alone does not tell you who pays the import bill.
Destination taxes and who pays them
If the quote is DDP, duty and tax are included in the price and the forwarder is the importer of record (where authorized). If it is DAP, you pay duty and tax on arrival, either directly or through your broker. Never assume a door-to-door quote includes duty — confirm the term in writing, and confirm the forwarder can lawfully be importer of record in your country, because some markets require a local entity.
If a market requires a local importer of record that the forwarder cannot provide, a 'DDP' door-to-door quote may not be honored at the border. Insist on DAP (or FOB with your own broker) in that case.
Address and unloading conditions
The 'door' must be specific. A quote priced to a city dock can balloon when the real address is rural, residential, or needs a liftgate and inside delivery. State the exact address and access constraints up front: is it a commercial dock with a forklift, or a residential unit needing a tail-lift? Curbside delivery ends at the kerb; inside delivery and unpacking are separate services that cost extra. The quote should name the rule so the driver is not refused and you are not re-billed.
- Exact delivery address and whether it is commercial or residential.
- Dock height, forklift availability or liftgate requirement.
- Curbside versus threshold versus inside delivery.
- Any time-window or appointment constraint.
Exception fees to confirm before booking
Most door-to-door disputes are about fees that were not discussed. Ask for them explicitly so they appear in the quote, not as a surprise invoice.
- Storage if you miss the delivery appointment or clearance is delayed.
- Redelivery charge after a failed attempt.
- Waiting time at pickup beyond a free allowance.
- Demurrage/detention if the container is held past free time.
- Return or abandonment handling if goods are refused.
A quote checklist
| Item | Included? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup at supplier | ||
| Export clearance | ||
| Main carriage | ||
| Destination handling | ||
| Duty & tax (DDP?) | ||
| Final delivery + unloading | ||
| Exception fees stated |
Next steps
Send your exact delivery address, access constraints, commodity and desired term and we will quote a door-to-door price with every leg and exception fee itemized, so the number you accept is the number you pay.