Royal Mail tracking status

Royal Mail “In transit or We've got it”: what it means

The short answer

Keep an eye on it

Royal Mail has your parcel and it is moving through its mail centres towards your local delivery office. The tracking only changes at each scan, and some services are only scanned again at delivery, so a few quiet days can be normal.

When to act: If it is still not there 3 working days after its due date, file a complaint and we send it to Royal Mail.

Also shown as: “We've got it” · “On its way” · “In transit” · “We have your item at [town] MC and it's on its way.” · “Your item has reached [town] MC and will now be sent to your local delivery office.” · “We have your item at National Parcel Hub and it's on its way.”

What to do now

Work out the due date. Royal Mail aims to deliver 1st Class and Tracked 24 the next working day, 2nd Class within three weekdays and Tracked 48 within two to three working days. Also check the delivery date the seller gave you.
If it is a Signed For item, expect no new scans until delivery.
Look up delays for your area on Royal Mail's service update page.
Keep a screenshot of the tracking history, with the due date and your order number, in case it does not arrive.
Still not sorted? File your complaint here. We write it with you and send it to Royal Mail, so you do not have to chase it yourself.

Start my complaint

What does “In transit or We've got it” mean?

We've got it means the item has been scanned into Royal Mail's network. On its way and In transit mean it is travelling between Royal Mail sites. Items are processed at the nearest distribution centre and then sent to a local mail centre, so the route is not always a straight line.

How often the status changes depends on the service. Tracked 24 and Tracked 48 are scanned along the way. Signed For is only scanned when Royal Mail receives it and when it is delivered, so the status can stay the same for days. If a scan is missed, the tracking catches up at the next scan.

Why does Royal Mail show it?

The service only scans at the start and at delivery, such as Signed For
A backlog at a mail centre
A missed scan, which the next scan corrects
Busy weeks before Christmas
A Redirection on the address, which adds a working day
The item was mis-sorted and is being re-routed

How long does it last?

For most services the next update is Ready for delivery at your local delivery office, followed by delivery on the next round. For services that only confirm delivery, the next update may be when it is delivered.

Other Royal Mail statuses

Fee to payTake action
DelayedKeep an eye on it
Delivery attemptedTake action
Tracking not workingNormal
Delivered but not receivedTake action
Item retentionKeep an eye on it
We're expecting itKeep an eye on it
Ready for deliveryNormal
Returned to senderTake action

All Royal Mail statuses →

Who is responsible for a late or missing parcel from Royal Mail?

If you bought it online from a business, the seller is usually responsible until the parcel reaches you. Under UK consumer law (the Consumer Rights Act) the goods stay at the seller's risk until they are in your hands, or with someone you named to take them, unless you chose and booked the courier yourself. The Act does not mention safe places, so if you asked for a Safeplace, the seller may say the parcel was delivered.

If you sent the parcel yourself, your contract is with Royal Mail, under its terms for the service you bought. Standard cover for loss or damage is up to £20 for 1st Class, 2nd Class and Signed For, up to £75 for Tracked 24 and Tracked 48, and up to £750 for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm.

Questions about “In transit or We've got it”

What does We've got it mean on Royal Mail tracking?

Your item is in Royal Mail's network. Royal Mail updates the status as it moves, and for services that only confirm delivery, the next update comes when it has been delivered.

How long does Royal Mail tracking stay on In transit?

It depends on the service. Royal Mail aims to deliver 1st Class and Tracked 24 the next working day, 2nd Class within three weekdays and Tracked 48 within two to three working days, but the status can stay the same between scans.

Does In transit mean out for delivery?

No. In transit means the item is travelling between Royal Mail sites. When it reaches your local delivery office, the status changes to Ready for delivery.

Why is my Royal Mail parcel going away from me?

Royal Mail processes items at the nearest distribution centre and then sends them to a local mail centre, so the route is not always a straight line.

Based on

Royal Mail: What does my tracking message mean? (postage tracking terms explained)
Royal Mail: My tracking message looks wrong
Royal Mail: My item hasn't arrived yet, what should I do?
Royal Mail: Service updates (delayed mail centres and delivery offices)
royal-mail-tracking library README: Royal Mail tracking event codes and messages (secondary)
Royal Mail: Retail compensation policy for loss
legislation.gov.uk: Consumer Rights Act, section 29 (goods stay at the seller's risk until delivered)
Royal Mail: Non-account terms and conditions (holding periods, tracked product terms)
Royal Mail: UK delivery services and compensation cover