Does FedEx require a signature? (Valuables, Smartpost, Home Delivery + more)
Subsidiaries disclose: We may receive commissions for links in this article.
When you’re shipping valuables (like jewelry) or age-restricted items (like alcohol), you need to make sure that the shipment goes to the right person. Fortunately, FedEx has come up with a range of signature options.
Some require the signature of someone nearby, such as a neighbor, while others require the signature of an adult at the delivery address. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about these services!
Will FedEx 2022 require a signature?
FedEx requires signatures for deliveries in 2022 of high-value shipments, dangerous goods, drugs, and age-restricted items such as alcohol and firearms. FedEx offers four types of signature options: No Signature Required, Indirect Signature Required, Direct Signature Required, and Adult Signature Required. Direct and indirect signature services cost $5.90, while adult signature services cost $7.15.
You probably still have a lot of questions about FedEx’s signature requirements, so be sure to read on for more helpful facts and tips!
Does FedEx really need a signature?
FedEx doesn’t always require a signature to deliver.
However, a signature is required for several reasons. These include…
- The shipper selected the signature requirement when creating the shipping label
- The shipment contains high-value cargo, dangerous goods, or pharmaceuticals
- The shipment contains age-restricted items such as alcohol or firearms
Note that FedEx’s signature option is available for Express and Home Delivery services, but not for SmartPost.
When do you have to sign for a package on FedEx?
You only need to sign for the package if required by the sender or FedEx policy.
To find out if your shipment requires a signature, please review the tracking information you received via email.
If your shipment requires an indirect signature, you can sign it electronically through the FedEx Delivery Manager tool.
However, if the shipment requires a direct or adult signature, someone must be present to sign it. If no one is home, the courier will leave the house number and/or retry the delivery.
What are the different FedEx signing options required?
FedEx offers four different options for signature requirements. Below, we provide more details on each type. They are listed in order of least to most restrictive:
No signature required
Many FedEx shipments do not require recipient signatures. Even so, FedEx will try to get a signature from someone who specifies the delivery address.
If there is no one to sign, the delivery driver may leave the package in a safe place without obtaining a signature.
Indirect signature required
One step to never needing a signed package is to indirectly sign the required package.
If you choose this service, FedEx will get a signature from someone at the shipping address or someone nearby (such as a neighbor or building administrator).
For packages that require an indirect signature, the recipient can choose to authorize the shipment to be released without anyone present.
This change can be requested for FedEx Express packages through the online FedEx Delivery Manager or by signing a FedEx house number plate.
Direct signature required
With this option, someone at the recipient address must sign for it. In other words, these deliveries are made to the address on the mailing label, not to a single recipient.
If no one is at home to sign, FedEx may retry the delivery on another day.
Adult signature required
This service requires FedEx to obtain a signature from a person at the shipping address who is at least the age of majority in the country of destination.
In the US, recipients must be at least 21 years old.
A government-issued photo ID is required. If there are no eligible recipients for that address, FedEx may retry delivery.
What if you can’t sign for FedEx Express?
Sometimes, you can’t be at home all day waiting for a FedEx delivery that requires a signature. Fortunately, there are ways to bypass this requirement.
For example, if you know a package that requires a signature is coming, you can leave a note to the delivery driver allowing you to leave the package.
This note must mention the tracking number, shipping address, and the signer’s name and signature. It’s also not a bad idea to include your mobile number.
You can use the FedEx Delivery Manager tool to sign indirect signature packages online.
If FedEx has already attempted a delivery and left a number plate, you can sign the number plate and leave it to the FedEx driver to find it when they retry the delivery.
This applies to all signature delivery options, with the exception of the required adult signature.
What happens if you miss a FedEx signature-required delivery?
If your shipment requires a signature and no one can sign for the package, the driver will not deliver the package. Instead, they leave house numbers on the recipient’s door or mail slot.
If you sign this sticker and leave it, the driver will deliver the item the next day.
Sometimes FedEx will not retry the delivery, but will send the package to a nearby FedEx location for pickup.
In this case, the driver will leave the pickup address, hours of operation, and package availability on the door plate.
Pickup requires a house number and government-issued photo ID.
If you want to avoid missing deliveries in the future, sign up for FedEx Delivery Manager.
Using this tool, you can request that your package be held at a FedEx location until you are able to pick it up. You can also use it to electronically sign indirect signature packages.
How much does FedEx charge for signature services?
Including the signature, this requirement is an add-on service that requires an additional fee. Below is a table of these fees.
FedEx Delivery Signature Options | cost |
Adult signature required | $7.15 |
Direct signature required | $5.90 |
Indirect signature | $5.90 |
No signature required | free |
How much does FedEx require a signature?
FedEx Direct Signature Required automatically applies to packages with a declared value of $500 or more.
Note that signature fees are waived for high-value items.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether FedEx reuses tracking numbers, whether FedEx delivers to your door, and whether FedEx delivers to Canada.
in conclusion
Allowing you to sign packages that require a signature can be a bit of a hassle, but the service ensures that valuables, restricted items, and dangerous items don’t fall into the wrong hands.