Three solar quotes that look similar can vary by $8,000 to $15,000 in true cost once you account for dealer fees, equipment tier, and warranty depth. Here is the checklist for comparing proposals in 2026.
By Solar Installers Near Me Research Team • Published
Direct answer
To compare solar quotes accurately in 2026: (1) verify every proposal uses zero federal residential credit, since Section 25D expired December 31, 2025; (2) ask for the dealer fee in dollars, not as a percentage, since fees run 19 to 35% of system cost; (3) verify equipment tier and warranty depth, since inverter warranties vary from 10 to 25 years; and (4) check installer credentials, including their active contractor license number. The lowest headline price is rarely the lowest true cost. Source: CFPB Issue Spotlight on Solar Financing, 2025.
The six-section checklist
Section 1: Verify zero federal residential credit baseline
Section 2: Find the true financed cost (dealer fee in dollars)
Section 3: Compare equipment tier and warranty depth
Section 4: Evaluate production guarantee terms
Section 5: Verify installer credentials and accountability
Section 6: Compare proposals side by side on equal terms
The checklist
Section 25D expired December 31, 2025 under H.R.1. Any proposal that subtracts a 30% or 26% federal credit from a 2026 system cost is using expired law. Ask: "What is the estimated payback period with zero federal residential credit?" If the installer cannot produce that number, the analysis is built on an outdated assumption. Also verify the electricity rate they used matches your actual utility bill, and ask for the payback at zero percent annual rate escalation (flat rate) as a conservative baseline.
Dealer fees run 19 to 35 percent of system cost and are buried in the loan principal without a separate line item. Ask: "What dealer fee does your lender pay you, stated in dollars?" Compare the cash price to the financed total -- the difference is part dealer fee and part legitimate financing cost. If the company cannot or will not disclose it, request a cash purchase price and compare it yourself. On a $28,000 system with a 25% dealer fee, you are financing $35,000 for $28,000 in value.
Panasonic exited the US residential solar market in April 2025 and is not a viable panel option. Maxeon is in financial restructuring (Singapore judicial management, April 2026); verify their warranty backstop before accepting Maxeon panels. JA Solar carries a 12-year product warranty vs the 25-year standard. SolarEdge has been under financial stress mid-2026; the extended warranty option requires confidence in the company's continued operation. Enphase IQ8 microinverters carry a 25-year warranty. Get all warranty terms in your contract, not just a product spec sheet.
A production estimate tells you what they expect. A production guarantee is a legal commitment to compensate you if the system underperforms. Not all proposals include guarantees. Ask: Is there a guarantee? What specifically triggers a payout -- inverter failure only, weather-normalized underperformance, or something else? Who monitors daily production and who gets the alert if output drops? A guarantee is worthless if no one monitors and you would not catch underperformance yourself for months.
Ask for the contractor license number that appears on your permit. Look it up on your state contractor board's website. Verify it is active, in the correct trade category, and in the installer's name. Ask whether the company employs its own installation crew or subcontracts the work. Ask for three local references who had systems installed in the last 18 months, and call them. Years of operation in your local market matters: a company that opened a regional office 8 months ago has no local track record.
Once you have zero-credit payback periods, true financed costs (dealer fee in dollars), verified equipment specs, and confirmed installer credentials for each proposal, you can compare on equal terms. The lowest true cost from the most credentialed installer with the strongest warranty depth is the recommendation to advance. The headline price number is rarely that proposal.
Equipment accuracy flags
Accuracy flag: Panasonic panels
Panasonic exited the US residential solar market in April 2025. If a proposal includes Panasonic panels, the manufacturer no longer supports this product line in the US. Verify supply chain and warranty service with your installer before accepting.
Accuracy flag: Maxeon panels
Maxeon entered judicial management (restructuring) in Singapore in April 2026. Their panels are technically sound, but verify who backstops the warranty and what the current ownership structure means for long-term service before accepting Maxeon equipment.
Accuracy flag: JA Solar panels
JA Solar offers a 12-year product warranty, versus the 25-year standard in the industry. The performance warranty may extend further, but the product warranty is shorter. Understand what this means for the replacement coverage window if a panel fails physically.
Accuracy flag: SolarEdge inverters
SolarEdge has been under publicly reported financial stress in mid-2026. The base warranty is 12 years; a 25-year extended warranty is available at additional cost. The value of the extended warranty depends on the company's continued solvency. Factor this into your decision.
Equipment status verified . Verify current status with your installer before making a purchasing decision.
Have proposals already? Get an independent review before you sign.
An independent advisor compares your quotes using the same standards in this checklist -- dealer fee disclosure, equipment verification, payback without the federal credit, and installer credential check. No commission on any option.
Q and A
An independent assessment compares your quotes on the exact terms this guide covers: zero-credit payback, dealer fee disclosure, equipment warranty depth, production claim verification, and installer credential check. No commission. No shared lead.
