Original CasasCápsula conceptual illustration; not a specific manufacturer’s model or shipment.
A capsule-home quotation can say “DDP to Spain” and still leave unanswered who will place the unit on its supports. Separate delivery of goods from installation of a home. The three letters help allocate trade responsibilities; the work required at your plot also needs a description.
This guide develops one specific part of our import checklist: reading the delivery point and preparing a comparable enquiry. It does not calculate taxes or replace review of an international contract.
DDP and DAP: the distinction to understand
ICC Academy explains that import formalities fall to the buyer under DAP and to the seller under DDP. Both rules place delivery at the agreed destination, with the goods available on the arriving vehicle, ready for unloading. Check the allocation of unloading risk separately from any unloading cost already included in carriage.
That is why “door to door” does not answer the crane question on its own. Identify who contracts each operation and the precise endpoint of delivery. A transport cost paid by the seller does not automatically describe every subsequent operation.
A country is not a sufficiently precise delivery point
A port warehouse, the entrance to a property and the module’s final support position are different destinations. As an editorial enquiry aid, write “chosen rule + address and precise point + Incoterms® 2020”, alongside an access sketch reviewed by the operators. This is not a ready-to-sign contractual clause; it needs adapting to the transaction.
If the truck cannot enter, does delivery end before the track? Who arranges a different vehicle? What happens if the crane is unavailable when it arrives? Request a written explanation of the scope and conditions covering these situations. Resolving them before dispatch is more useful than debating what “to your home” meant afterwards.
A table separating carriage from a completed home
| Stage | Clarification we would request |
|---|---|
| Destination | Address, precise point and planned vehicle access |
| Import | Who handles it, required documents and quotation inclusions |
| Unloading | Who contracts the crane, operations covered and included costs |
| Placement | Whether positioning on the project’s supports is included |
| Completion | Responsibilities for anchors, connections, tests and outstanding work |
This matrix helps complete an offer. It does not amend the contracted rule or independently assign legal duties. Use “clarification pending” when an answer is missing; an empty cell does not mean a free service.
Identify the customs contact
ICC itself cautions that a foreign seller may encounter difficulties handling import clearance. Before accepting DDP, request an explanation of who will manage clearance and the supporting documents. If the instructions also tell you to handle and pay for it separately, ask the parties to reconcile them with the quoted term. Comparing the headline price cannot resolve that contradiction.
For a business purchase, ask the professional handling the transaction about its documentation and tax treatment. This guide neither establishes tax recoverability nor proposes one VAT or duty rate for all capsule homes.
DDP does not decide when ownership passes
The official introduction to Incoterms® 2020 separates these rules from ownership transfer, payment and product specifications. Keep the model, accepted drawing and contractual milestones with the quotation. The delivery term does not replace those records.
Ask shortlisted suppliers to quote the same configuration and endpoint, listing excluded work. A more complete offer may justify a different price; the important issue is identifying what remains to be contracted before the home can be used. Installation, connections and permissions require their own checks and documents.
Continue comparing
- Importing a capsule home: seven checks
- The complete cost beyond the catalogue
- Preparing site delivery and acceptance
Considering a purchase or development? Tell us the country, intended use and question you still need answered. These questions help us prepare useful information; submitting one does not imply a quotation or supplier representation.
Sources and scope
- ICC Academy: DAP y DDP, 25/02/2025
- ICC: Incoterms® 2020, reglas para cualquier modo de transporte
- ICC: introducción y límites de las reglas Incoterms® 2020
Primary sources reviewed on 23 October 2026. Comparison lists and examples are CasasCápsula editorial work. Commercial statements are attributed to their supplier. This article contains no sponsorship or affiliate links.