DHL tracking status

DHL “Delivery attempted”: what it means

The short answer

Take action

A DHL driver tried to deliver your package and could not, often because nobody answered. DHL Express's US help says the driver tries one more time, and you can change the delivery in On Demand Delivery before then.

When to act: If no second attempt or new date shows after 2 business days, file a complaint and we send it to DHL.

Also shown as: “Delivery Attempt Could Not be Completed” · “Delivery attempted but no response at Consignee address” · “We stopped by” · “Notice Left”

What to do now

Check your door for a DHL card. It can say a neighbor has the package, where it was left, or when the driver returns.
On DHL Express, use On Demand Delivery to choose what suits you: another day, no signature, a neighbor, or pickup at a Service Point. Some options may not show.
If you are away, DHL's vacation hold lets you move delivery up to 30 calendar days ahead, where it is offered.
On DHL eCommerce UK, use 'Track & divert your parcel' to pick a safe place, a neighbor, a ServicePoint or another day.
If you were home, save a camera clip or note the time of the attempt, plus a screenshot of the line.
Still not sorted? File your complaint here. We write it with you and send it to DHL, so you do not have to chase it yourself.

Start my complaint

Missed delivery or a card left with another courier

What does “Delivery attempted” mean?

DHL's tracking guide files these among the statuses that need attention. 'Delivery attempted but no response at Consignee address' means nobody at the address took the package. 'Delivery Attempt Could Not be Completed' is broader: the delivery failed, and any reason sits under 'Show details'. DHL Express's US tracking help says the driver attempts one more time after a first miss. The line does not mean the package is going back yet.

A card normally follows. DHL Express UK says the courier leaves one, and the receiver can then collect from a Service Point or arrange another delivery, also to another address. On DHL eCommerce UK, the message reads 'We stopped by', and the card says whether a neighbor has it, it was left safe, or the driver returns the next working day. A card left on a Saturday means a new try on Monday. On DHL eCommerce in the US, the attempt is made by USPS, and 'Notice Left' is one of the partner events DHL lists.

Why does DHL show it?

Nobody was home or available to sign
A service that needs a signature at the address
The address could not be found or reached
The receiver refused the package

How long does it last?

On DHL Express in the US, one more attempt follows. DHL Express UK's FAQ mentions no automatic second try: it says the receiver collects from a Service Point or arranges another delivery. On DHL eCommerce UK, the driver returns the next working day, and sometimes the package goes to a local ServicePoint instead. DHL lists repeated failed attempts as a reason for returning a package to the sender, so act before the second try.

Other DHL statuses

Shipment on holdKeep an eye on it
Clearance EventKeep an eye on it
ExceptionKeep an eye on it
Departure Origin DHL eCommerce FacilityNormal
En route to DHL eCommerce Distribution Center or awaiting processingKeep an eye on it
On Hold Awaiting for Payment of Shipment Related FeesTake action
Tracking not updatingKeep an eye on it
Delivered but not receivedTake action
Awaiting Collection by ConsigneeTake action
Returned to ShipperTake action
Collection eventKeep an eye on it

All DHL statuses →

Who is responsible for a late or missing package from DHL?

When you buy online from a business, DHL is the seller's courier and the seller is DHL's customer, so putting a late, lost or missing order right, with a replacement or a refund, is in most cases for the seller. DHL's own documents fit that: its eCommerce FAQ calls the merchant its contract partner and says only the merchant can claim for a lost or damaged package, and its Express claims guide says that in almost all situations only the shipper can claim. If you are in the UK, the Consumer Rights Act (section 29) also keeps the goods at the seller's risk until they reach you or someone you named, unless you booked the courier yourself and the seller did not offer it as an option.

If you sent the package yourself, your contract is with DHL, under the terms you accepted when you booked. DHL Express's US domestic terms limit its liability to $100 or the package's actual value, whichever is lower, and its international terms set a limit per kilogram unless you arranged more cover. Both say DHL is not liable for loss caused by delay, apart from a limited money back guarantee on some international services, and that claims must reach DHL in writing within 30 days of the date it accepted the package. Those are DHL Express terms. Sending through DHL eCommerce UK or Evri Premium falls under that service's own terms.

Questions about “Delivery attempted”

How many times will DHL try to deliver?

DHL Express's US help says the driver attempts one more time after a missed first delivery, while its UK FAQ only says the receiver collects or arranges another delivery. DHL publishes no number that covers every country and service, and it lists repeated failed attempts among its reasons for returning a package.

DHL says delivery attempted, but I was home. What can I do?

DHL eCommerce UK says drivers can sometimes miss you. Save a camera clip and a screenshot of the line. If no second attempt or new date follows, file a complaint on Complain.biz and we send it to DHL.

Can the DHL driver come back today?

Usually not. DHL eCommerce UK says the driver may already be outside your area, and that the next try comes the following working day. A Saturday card means Monday.

Can I pick up my DHL package instead?

Often, yes. DHL On Demand Delivery offers pickup at a Service Point or Locker, and DHL asks you to collect within 7 days of arrival. DHL eCommerce UK offers a ServicePoint or its depot, and holds a package at a ServicePoint for 10 days.

Based on

DHL Express US: tracking help, missed delivery and returns
DHL: Shipment Tracking Status Explained
DHL Express UK: Parcel Delivery and Courier FAQs
DHL eCommerce UK: Frequently Asked Questions
DHL eCommerce UK: Delivery Notifications guide
DHL Express: On Demand Delivery, delivery preferences
DHL Express: On-Demand Delivery options
DHL eCommerce: Shipment Protection quick reference
DHL eCommerce and USPS: press release on the exclusive last-mile agreement
Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 29
DHL eCommerce: Tracking and Shipment Status FAQ (US)
DHL Express Claims Guide (UK)
DHL Express U.S. Domestic Terms and Conditions of Carriage
DHL Express Terms and Conditions of Carriage (UK)