Incoterms for Spain Exports
Understanding delivery terms for road freight from Spain to Europe, Great Britain, and Switzerland.
What are Incoterms?
Incoterms (International Commercial Terms) are standardized trade terms published by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). They define the responsibilities of buyers and sellers for the delivery of goods, including who pays for transport, insurance, customs duties, and at what point risk transfers from seller to buyer. The current version is Incoterms 2020.
For road freight from Spain, the most commonly used Incoterms are EXW, FCA, DAP, and DDP. The choice of Incoterm directly affects who arranges transport, who handles customs, and who bears the risk during transit.
Common Incoterms for Road Freight
EXW — Ex Works
The seller makes goods available at their premises. The buyer arranges and pays for all transport, export customs, and import customs. Risk transfers to the buyer at the seller’s premises.
Common when: The buyer has their own logistics provider and wants full control over the shipment from Spain.
FCA — Free Carrier
The seller delivers goods to a carrier nominated by the buyer at a named place (e.g., the seller’s warehouse in Barcelona). The seller handles export customs clearance. Risk transfers when goods are handed to the carrier.
Recommended for: Most Spain-origin LTL and groupage shipments. Trans-road typically collects under FCA terms.
DAP — Delivered at Place
The seller delivers goods to a named destination, ready for unloading. The seller arranges and pays for transport and bears risk until arrival. The buyer handles import customs clearance and duties.
Common when: Shipping within the EU (no customs). Also used for GB/CH when the buyer handles their own import clearance.
DDP — Delivered Duty Paid
The seller delivers goods to the buyer’s premises, cleared for import, with all duties and taxes paid. Maximum responsibility for the seller. The buyer only needs to unload.
Common when: The seller wants to offer a complete door-to-door service including customs duties. Requires the seller to have import registration in the destination country.
Which Incoterm Should You Use?
Within the EU (Spain → Germany, France, Italy, etc.)
No customs clearance needed. FCA or DAP are most common. FCA is simpler — the buyer’s carrier collects from Spain. DAP means the Spanish seller arranges delivery to the buyer’s door.
Spain → Great Britain (post-Brexit)
Customs clearance required at both ends. FCA is recommended — the seller handles Spanish export, the buyer handles UK import through their broker. DDP is possible but requires the seller to have a UK EORI and VAT registration.
Spain → Switzerland
Similar to GB — customs required. FCA is standard. The buyer’s Swiss customs agent handles import. DDP requires the seller to have Swiss import registration, which is uncommon for occasional shippers.
How Trans-road Works with Incoterms
We collect shipments under FCA terms from anywhere in Spain — your warehouse, factory, or distribution center.
For DAP shipments, we handle full transport from Spain to the buyer’s named destination within the EU.
For GB and CH shipments, we manage the Spanish export declaration and coordinate with the buyer’s import agent at destination.
We do not offer DDP to GB/CH as standard, but can coordinate with customs brokers if DDP is required by your sales contract.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Incoterm is best for LTL from Spain?
FCA (Free Carrier) is the most practical Incoterm for LTL shipments from Spain. The seller handles export clearance and makes goods available for collection. Trans-road then handles transport to the destination. This gives clear separation of responsibilities.
Do I need to specify an Incoterm when requesting a quote?
Yes. The Incoterm determines what’s included in the transport price. An FCA quote covers collection in Spain and delivery to destination. A DAP quote includes the same. For GB/CH shipments, specifying FCA vs DDP determines whether customs duties are included.
Can I change the Incoterm after booking?
The Incoterm is a contractual agreement between buyer and seller — it should be agreed before booking transport. However, if both parties agree to change terms, we can adjust the transport scope accordingly. Additional costs may apply.
What Incoterm does Trans-road recommend for new exporters?
FCA for most situations. It gives the seller control over export from Spain while letting the buyer manage import at destination. This is the cleanest split of responsibilities, especially for GB and CH where import procedures differ from EU intra-community trade.
Get a quote for your Incoterm
Specify EXW, FCA, DAP, or DDP — we’ll quote accordingly.