A good solar quote is not just a price. It is a written explanation of what will be installed, what has been assumed, what is excluded and who is responsible after the panels are on the roof.
This matters because two quotes can both say "solar and battery" while describing very different jobs. One might include scaffolding, a named inverter, clear workmanship cover and DNO paperwork. Another might rely on broad sales wording and leave several costs to be confirmed later.
This guide focuses on the structure of the written proposal itself. For a quicker pass-or-pause checklist, use the separate solar quote checklist after you have one or more real quotes in front of you.
The quote should identify the system, not just the package
Start by checking whether the proposal makes it clear what you are actually buying. A vague package name is not enough. You want the quote to show the total system size, panel count, panel wattage and the inverter that will connect the system to your home.
If optimisers, micro-inverters, bird protection, monitoring, battery storage or EV charger integration are included, they should be listed rather than assumed. If they are not included, that should be clear too.
| Quote section | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| System size | Total kWp, panel count and panel wattage | Price comparisons are weak if one quote is simply a smaller system. |
| Panels | Brand, model, efficiency and warranties | "Premium panels" is marketing unless the product is named. |
| Inverter | Make, model, capacity and warranty | The inverter may need replacing sooner than the panels. |
| Battery | Usable kWh, separate cost, warranty and tariff logic | Storage should be justified by your usage, not bundled by default. |
| Installation scope | Scaffolding, roof access, electrical work and monitoring | Missing assumptions can become later extras. |
| Paperwork | MCS, DNO and export tariff documents | These affect handover, export payments and future evidence. |
| Aftercare | Fault process, contact route and workmanship cover | The sale is not the same as long-term support. |
Ask what is included and what is excluded
A quote can be accurate and still incomplete for your home. Roof condition, access, consumer-unit work, cable routing, monitoring setup and bird protection can all affect scope. The safest wording is not "everything included"; it is a clear list of what is included, what is excluded and what is subject to survey.
If scaffolding is included, ask whether it covers the whole installation or only standard access. If electrical work is included, ask whether that includes consumer-unit upgrades or only standard connection. If a survey could change the price, ask what types of findings would trigger a change.
The paperwork section matters more than it sounds
Energy Saving Trust recommends looking for installers certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme and getting quotes from at least three installers. It also notes that your installer should register the solar panel system, and any battery storage, with the local Distribution Network Operator.
For export payments, Ofgem explains that Smart Export Guarantee licensees can choose tariff rates, contract length and some other terms. That means export income should not be treated as one fixed number that all suppliers pay.
Your quote does not need to teach you every acronym, but it should say who handles the MCS paperwork, who handles the DNO process and what information you will receive after installation.
A simple example
Imagine two quotes:
- Quote A: £7,200 for "solar package with battery". It names no inverter model, says scaffolding is "standard", and gives one headline warranty number.
- Quote B: £7,650 for 10 named panels, named inverter, 5kWh usable battery, included scaffolding subject to roof survey, 2-year workmanship guarantee, DNO handling and handover documents.
Quote A may still be fine, but you cannot compare it properly until it answers the same questions as Quote B. The better quote is not always the cheapest one. It is the one whose scope you can understand.
Before you sign
Before accepting a quote, ask for the final specification and payment schedule in writing. Check the installer name, company number if relevant, consumer-code membership, cancellation process, deposit amount, start date assumptions and aftercare route.
If the installer is confident in the work, writing down the details should not be difficult.
Sources
- Energy Saving Trust: Solar panel installation
- Ofgem: Smart Export Guarantee
- National Grid: DNO acceptance letter FAQs
- RECC: Renewable Energy Consumer Code
Disclaimer
This article is general buyer research only. It is not financial, legal, tax, technical, engineering or regulated professional advice. Always verify quote details and current requirements directly with the installer and relevant bodies before signing or paying a deposit.