Legal Definitions - actual delivery

Definition: Actual delivery is the act of giving real and immediate possession of something to the buyer or the buyer's agent.

For example, when you buy a car, the actual delivery occurs when the seller hands over the keys and you take possession of the car. This is different from symbolic delivery, where an article that represents the item is delivered, such as the key to a warehouse or a bill of lading for goods on shipboard.

Actual delivery can also be conditional, meaning possession passes subject to the happening of a specified event. An example of this is when a seller delivers a product to a buyer, but the buyer must pay for it before taking possession.

Unconditional delivery is when possession and title immediately pass, taking effect immediately. An example of this is when you buy a book from a bookstore and pay for it at the same time. The bookstore hands over the book, and you take immediate possession and ownership.