How to check a solar installer before you sign
Licensing, insurance, references, contract terms, financing and warning signs for a solar installer, with where to look in your state.
A solar system is a large, long-lived purchase bolted to your roof and wired into your house. Before you sign, spend an hour or two checking the company. The data on this site shows that an installer reported systems to a public program, but it does not verify licensing, insurance or quality, so these checks are on you. This is general information, not legal advice.
1. Confirm the licence
Requirements differ by state, so check yours. In California, solar installation is done by a contractor holding a C-46 solar contractor licence or another qualifying licence, and you can look up any contractor on the Contractors State License Board website. In Arizona, the Registrar of Contractors licenses solar contractors. In Texas there is no separate statewide solar licence, but electrical work must be done under a Texas electrical contractor's licence from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. In New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Mexico and Wisconsin and elsewhere, ask the company which licences and registrations it holds, then verify them with the state or local contractor or electrical licensing agency.
Match three things: the legal name on the licence, the licence number on your contract, and the status (active, not suspended or expired). A licence held by a different company, or by an individual who is not involved in your job, is a reason to ask questions.
If the company sells under one brand but installs through a subcontractor, ask for the subcontractor's name and licence too, and ask who is legally responsible for the work and the warranty. Also check the licensing agency's record for open disciplinary actions, which many state lookups display next to the status.
2. Ask for proof of insurance
Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance and proof of workers' compensation coverage, and check that both are current. Ask the insurer or agent named on the certificate to confirm it if you have any doubt. If an uninsured worker is hurt on your roof, or a mistake damages your home, you want coverage to sit with the contractor rather than you.
Where your state requires a contractor bond, ask for the bond details as well. Bonds are not the same as insurance and usually pay only in limited circumstances, so ask the licensing agency what yours covers.
3. Look at the track record
- How long has the company operated, and under what names? Companies sometimes change names.
- Can it connect you with customers whose systems are two or more years old? Ask how the system has performed and how service calls were handled.
- Search your state attorney general or consumer protection office and court records for complaints, and read online reviews while remembering they can be incomplete or manipulated.
- Use this site's profile as one signal: it shows how many systems the installer reported in the public data and when the latest one was installed. It is not a rating, and absence from the data means little on its own.
4. Get the equipment and warranties in writing
The contract should name the make and model of panels, inverters, optimizers and any battery. Ask for three separate things: the equipment warranties from manufacturers, the installer's workmanship warranty (including roof penetrations and leaks), and the production guarantee if one is offered. Then ask the question that matters most: if your installer closes, who honours the workmanship warranty? A long warranty from a company that may not exist in ten years is worth less than it looks.
5. Read the contract line by line
- The price, the system size in DC watts and exactly what is included.
- A payment schedule tied to milestones rather than a large upfront deposit.
- What happens if permits or utility interconnection are delayed or denied.
- Your cancellation rights. The FTC's Cooling-Off Rule gives a right to cancel certain sales made at your home or other places away from the seller's permanent business location, and many states add their own rules for home improvement contracts. The contract should say how and by when you can cancel.
- If financing is involved, the interest rate, fees and total cost. Check whether the loan is with the installer or a separate lender, and whether it adds a dealer fee to the price.
- Any clause about a lien on your home, or a fixture filing, which are common with leases and some loans. Understand what it means before you agree.
6. Warning signs
- Pressure to sign today to get a special price.
- Promises that solar will cost nothing, or guarantees of savings that you cannot verify.
- Claims to work for the government or your utility.
- No written design or production estimate.
- Refusal to show a licence number or insurance certificate.
- Requests to sign a document electronically on a phone without time to read it.
7. Incentives and tax statements
Incentives, tax rules and net metering policies change. The IRS says on its residential clean energy credit page that the credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, so be sceptical of any quote that assumes it. Check current federal, state and utility programs on official sites such as the Department of Energy's homeowner's guide, and ask a tax professional about your own situation rather than relying on a salesperson's summary.
A short checklist
When you read a loan agreement, look for the annual percentage rate, any dealer or origination fee, whether the rate is fixed, whether there is a prepayment penalty, and when the first payment is due. A "0%" or "no interest" offer can still carry a fee that raises the price. Calculate the total of all payments and compare it with the cash price. Ask a trusted financial or tax professional if you are unsure.
- Licence verified on the state site.
- Insurance certificate received.
- Two references contacted.
- Equipment and warranties named in the contract.
- Payment schedule and cancellation terms understood.
- Financing total cost calculated.
Next, compare prices with how to compare solar quotes per watt. If something goes wrong, the DOE guide lists where to report fraud, including the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
General information only, current as of the date above. The information on Solar Price Atlas is not a recommendation or a guarantee of anyone's work. A license record shows registration status on the date shown, not workmanship, insurance coverage at the time of your job, or suitability for your project. Confirm license, insurance and permits directly before you hire. Rules and programs change; check the official sources linked in this guide.