UPS Signature Required, Not Home? What Happens Next

If UPS requires a signature and you’re not home, the driver keeps the package, leaves a UPS InfoNotice, and either tries again on the next delivery day or sends the package to a nearby UPS Access Point. At an Access Point, UPS holds it for 7 calendar days for you to collect with a government-issued photo ID before returning it to the sender.

You don’t have to wait for the next attempt. Using the InfoNotice number or your tracking number at ups.com, you can often reschedule, redirect the package to an Access Point, or, for a standard Signature Required package, authorize release where UPS allows it.

What happens when UPS needs a signature and you’re not home?

UPS will not leave a signature-required package unattended unless an approved authorization is in place. When no one answers, the driver records a missed attempt, takes the package back, and leaves a UPS InfoNotice (also called a Delivery Notice) on your door with a notice number and your options.

From there, UPS may make another delivery attempt or offer pickup and delivery management options. UPS typically makes up to three delivery attempts on regular delivery days, though it can also move the package to a nearby UPS Access Point sooner. Our guide to how many times UPS will attempt delivery covers the attempt cycle in detail, and your UPS tracking status shows which path your package is on.

Which UPS signature level is on your package?

“Signature required” covers more than one UPS service, and the shipper’s choice decides what you can do when you miss the driver. The level is shown in tracking and on the InfoNotice.

For standard Signature Required, another adult at the address, such as a roommate or family member, can usually sign. Our article on who can sign for a UPS package explains the rules for each level.

What are your options after a missed signature delivery?

Enter the InfoNotice number or tracking number at ups.com and choose Change Delivery to see which options your shipment allows. Eligibility depends on the shipper’s settings and the signature level, so not every package offers every choice.

1. Wait for the next attempt: Do nothing and be home, or have another adult there, on the next delivery day.
2. Reschedule the delivery: Pick a different day when someone can sign.
3. Redirect to a UPS Access Point: Send the package to a nearby Access Point and collect it with photo ID; this is usually the simplest fix for Adult Signature Required.
4. Pick up at a UPS Customer Center: Request a will-call hold at the local UPS facility where the package is sorted.
5. Deliver to another address: Reroute to a workplace or a friend’s address where someone can sign, if the shipper allows changes.
6. Authorize release: For eligible Signature Required packages, sign digitally so the driver can leave the package on the next attempt.

A free UPS My Choice membership makes these changes easier, because it alerts you before delivery and lets you act before the first attempt. If your area gets Saturday delivery, a reschedule may land on a weekend; our guide to whether UPS delivers on Saturdays explains when that happens.

Can you authorize UPS to leave a signature-required package?

Sometimes, but never for Adult Signature Required. UPS says you may be able to authorize release in advance for some shipments through UPS My Choice or the Sign Digitally link on the InfoNotice, which lets the driver leave the package without a signature on the next attempt.

UPS keeps the final decision. It determines eligibility for release based on the shipment’s requirements and the delivery conditions at the time of delivery, and preferences can be overridden for Adult Signature Required, shipper-restricted deliveries, unsafe conditions and restricted shipment types. If the shipper locked the delivery, the release option simply won’t appear.

How do you pick up a signature package at a UPS Access Point?

When UPS sends a package to an Access Point, it holds the package there for 7 calendar days. After that, UPS returns it to the sender as undeliverable, so don’t wait until the last day.

• Confirm it’s ready: Track the package and wait for the “Awaiting Customer Pickup” status before you go.
• Bring ID: Take a valid government-issued photo ID that matches the recipient name; Adult Signature Required packages need ID showing you are at least 21.
• Bring the tracking or notice number: Staff use it to find the package quickly.
• Check hours: Access Points keep the host store’s hours, which are often longer than a UPS Customer Center’s.

If the package goes back to the sender, contact the seller to arrange a new shipment.

How can shippers avoid failed signature deliveries?

Every signature requirement adds a chance of a missed delivery, so match the level to the real risk. Use Adult Signature Required only where the law or the carrier requires it, such as for alcohol, standard Signature Required for high-value goods, and no signature for routine orders. Tell customers in the shipping confirmation that a signature will be needed so they can plan to be home or redirect early.

If you ship this kind of order often, ParcelPath offers free accounts with up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS, plus Shipsurance coverage for valuable packages. Compare live rates for your next shipment in the ParcelPath rate calculator. Returns of signature items work the same way in reverse; our guide on whether UPS prints return labels covers the label side.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can UPS leave a signature required package if I’m not home?

Not without an approved authorization. UPS says a Signature Required package will not be left unattended unless an approved authorization is in place. For eligible packages you can sign digitally through UPS My Choice or the InfoNotice, but UPS still decides at delivery. Adult Signature Required packages are never released without a signature from someone at least 21 with photo ID.

How long does UPS hold a signature required package?

If UPS sends the package to a UPS Access Point, it holds it for 7 calendar days for you to pick up, then returns it to the sender as undeliverable. Before that, UPS typically makes up to three delivery attempts at your address on regular delivery days. Track the package for the “Awaiting Customer Pickup” status before you go to collect it.

What do I need to pick up a UPS signature required package?

Bring a valid government-issued photo ID that matches the recipient name, plus the tracking number or InfoNotice number. For Adult Signature Required packages, the ID must show you are at least 21, since UPS only delivers those to someone 21 or older. Confirm the status reads “Awaiting Customer Pickup” before heading to the Access Point.

Can someone else sign for my UPS signature required package?

For standard Signature Required, another person at the delivery address can usually sign when the driver arrives. For Adult Signature Required, the person signing must be at least 21 and show a valid government-issued photo ID. If no one eligible will be home, redirect the package to a UPS Access Point or reschedule the delivery through ups.com.

Sources

• UPS: Signature-Required Deliveries
• UPS: UPS Delivery Notice (InfoNotice)
• UPS: Change or Reschedule a Delivery
• UPS: UPS My Choice

This article is part of our UPS shipping guide. For carriers and services beyond UPS, see our roundup of the best shipping services and solutions.

Part of our UPS Tracking and Delivery guide. Related: UPS Tracking Number, UPS Tracking Statuses.