Start with the document, not the sales conversation
Before signing, check what the written quote and contract actually state. If an important promise only exists in a phone call, sales presentation or informal message, ask the installer to confirm it in writing.
What you are looking forA useful quote should make it reasonably clear what is being supplied, what assumptions are being used, what is excluded, what you will pay and what happens if the proposal changes.
The UK solar quote checklist
Work through these areas one by one. The goal is not to become a solar engineer. It is to identify information that is missing, combined, vague or difficult to compare.
1
Price and payment structure
- Total price and whether VAT is included.
- Deposit amount and when later payments fall due.
- Finance amount, term, interest rate and fees if finance is offered.
- Optional extras separated from the core installation price.
- Any stated circumstances that can increase the final price.
2
System size and equipment
- Total solar array size in kWp.
- Number and rated power of the panels.
- Panel make and model.
- Inverter make, model and rated power.
- Optimisers or other major equipment where relevant.
3
Battery details, if included
- Battery make and model.
- Usable capacity, not only headline capacity.
- Whether the battery price is shown separately or bundled into the system total.
- Battery warranty conditions and stated cycle or throughput limits where applicable.
- Whether backup or emergency-power capability is actually included.
4
Generation and savings assumptions
- Estimated annual generation in kWh.
- Roof orientation, pitch and shading assumptions.
- Your stated household electricity consumption.
- Assumed self-consumption and export levels.
- Any electricity-price, export-tariff or inflation assumptions used in savings or payback figures.
5
What is included — and excluded
- Scaffolding and access equipment.
- Electrical work, consumer-unit work or cable routes.
- Roof work, mounting system and making good.
- Monitoring hardware, apps or subscriptions.
- DNO/grid paperwork, commissioning documents and handover information.
- Any work that may become an extra charge.
6
Warranties and aftercare
- Panel product and performance warranty periods.
- Inverter and battery warranty periods.
- Installer workmanship warranty.
- Who provides each warranty: manufacturer, installer or third party.
- Who you contact if equipment fails after installation.
Quick pre-sign check
- Exact total price
- Deposit and payment stages
- System size in kWp
- Panel count and models
- Inverter model
- Battery details and price
- Annual generation estimate
- Key assumptions
- Included works
- Possible extras
- Warranty wording
- Installer certification details
- Cancellation terms
- Any deadline or discount pressure
Check the installer and consumer-protection information
For a UK residential installation, do not rely only on a logo printed on a quotation. Check relevant scheme and business details independently before committing.
MCS
Check whether the installer is MCS certified for the relevant technology and whether the proposal identifies the business clearly enough for you to verify it.
Consumer code
Check whether the installer is a member of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) or another applicable consumer code, and read the consumer guidance before signing.
Written terms
Make sure the written quote, performance estimate, contract terms and cancellation information are available before you pay a deposit or sign.
Compare more than one written quote where practical.Several independent UK consumer resources recommend comparing installers and written proposals. Multiple quotes can make differences in equipment, assumptions, scope and pricing easier to spot.
Red flags worth slowing down for
A red flag does not automatically prove that a quotation is unsuitable. It means there is something worth clarifying before you commit.
Same-day pressure
Be cautious if a discount or special price depends on signing immediately or if you are discouraged from comparing other quotes.
Vague equipment
Descriptions such as “premium panels” or “5 kW inverter” are difficult to verify or compare if the manufacturer and model are missing.
Headline savings without assumptions
Ask what electricity prices, self-consumption, export and other assumptions sit behind any savings or payback figure.
Unclear exclusions
If scaffolding, roof work, consumer-unit changes, DNO work or access problems are not addressed, ask whether they can create extra charges.
Bundled battery pricing
If solar and battery costs are combined, comparing the solar element with a non-battery quote becomes harder. Ask for a clearer breakdown where practical.
Verbal promises only
If an important warranty, performance promise, inclusion or discount is not written down, ask for it to be added to the formal documentation.
Do not let a review delay a deadline.If you are already within a contractual, deposit, cancellation or cooling-off period, check the applicable deadline directly. Do not wait for Solar Quote Guard or any third-party review before taking time-sensitive action.
Questions you can send back to the installer
You do not need to send every question. Use the ones that match what is missing or unclear in your quote.
- Please confirm the exact make, model and quantity of the panels, inverter and battery included in this price.
- Please confirm the total system size in kWp and the estimated annual generation in kWh.
- What shading, orientation, consumption and tariff assumptions were used in the generation or savings estimate?
- Please confirm everything included in the quoted price, including scaffolding, electrical work, monitoring, DNO/grid paperwork and commissioning.
- Which items or site conditions could create additional charges after I accept the quote?
- Please confirm the equipment warranties and the installer workmanship warranty, including who provides each warranty.
- If a battery is included, can you show its separate price or explain how the bundled price is structured?
- Please provide the written contract terms, cancellation information and any deposit-protection details that apply before I sign.
What this checklist cannot tell you
A document review can identify gaps and questions. It cannot prove that a roof, electrical system, structural design, equipment choice or installation method is technically suitable for your property.
Use qualified professionals where professional judgement is required.Solar Quote Guard does not certify an installer, validate a design, guarantee energy production or savings, confirm legal or regulatory compliance, approve finance, or replace a site survey.
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