How to choose a solar panel installer
A comprehensive guide, including questions to ask a solar installer.
Choosing the best solar installer for your home shouldn’t be a leap of faith. You’re about to spend serious money on something that’ll sit on your roof for 25+ years, so taking a little care is who you choose is time well spent.
The good news is, you don’t need to become a solar expert to make a smart, safe choice. This guide to choosing the right solar panel installer will help you move forward confidently – knowing your installer is qualified, compliant, and capable of designing an optimised system for your home.
Step 1: Find a local solar installer
Before comparing quotes, reading reviews or scrolling through ads, the safest place to start is the MCS installer list. Here, you can search by location – or, if you already have an installer in mind, you can check they’re MCS accredited via the same link.
MCS (the Microgeneration Certification Scheme) is the UK’s most established quality assurance scheme for small-scale renewable installations, including solar panels. Installers on the MCS register have been independently assessed to make sure they meet strict standards for technical competence, system design, installation and ongoing consumer protection.
Important: MCS and Flexi-Orb are the two recognised solar certification bodies. Do not proceed with an installer that is not certified. Only MCS or Flexi-Orb-certified installations qualify for export payments under the Smart Export Guarantee – a key part of what makes solar financially worthwhile. Certification also ensures minimum standards for design, installation and consumer protection. Without it, you could be left without payments, protections, or clear recourse if something goes wrong.
Step 2: Check real customer experiences
Once you’ve shortlisted a few MCS-certified installers, reviews are your next sense check. We’d recommend starting with Trustpilot. It’s one of the most transparent review platforms, easy to use, and companies tend to respond to negative reviews more here – which makes it easier to see how they respond when things don’t go exactly to plan.
Strong installers tend to be praised for:
- Clear, knowledgeable, and pressure-free communication
- Installations that ran on time and as expected
- Being tidy, respectful and professional in people’s homes
- Good aftercare – especially when customers had questions or concerns later
No installer with a long track record will have a completely spotless review history — and that’s okay. What matters more is how often issues come up and how the company responded. A thoughtful, practical response to a complaint is often a stronger signal of reliability than a perfect score from fewer reviews.
Step 3: Evaluate your shortlist
By now, you should have a shortlist of technically compliant installers with good customer service skills. This next step should give you a deeper understanding of what each installer offers. Here’s what a reputable solar installer’s website should demonstrate:
- Evidence of previous work: A dedicated case study or project section is a strong indicator of experience. Unlike reviews, case studies tend to show the full picture – including the type of property, the system design, and how the installation was approached. This makes it easier to assess the standard of their work and whether they have experience with homes like yours.
- Transparency about their process: Reputable installers usually explain how they work, from initial survey through to installation and aftercare. They will also break down the technology choices on offer, and why you may select one over another – for example string systems vs optimised.
- Breadth of products and services: Working with an installer who also offers a good export tariff and future add-ons like batteries or EV chargers can make future upgrades simpler and more joined-up, even if you don’t need them right now.
- Realistic, well-explained claims: Be cautious of bold savings or performance promises without context. Trustworthy installers tend to explain assumptions and limitations, rather than relying on headline figures.
Step 4: Ask the right questions
Now that you’ve narrowed down a shortlist, it’s a good time to get in touch. Here’s 5 questions to ask a solar panel installer:
- Can you talk me through the system design you’d recommend and explain why it’s right for my property?
- Is scaffolding, electrical work, monitoring, and aftercare included in the quote?
- What warranties and guarantees are provided and how long do they last?
- What happens if I have questions or issues after installation?
- Do you offer or support future upgrades like battery storage, EV chargers or export tariffs if I want them later?
While you do so, look out for the following:
Good signs: They’re talking about ‘bespoke’ design. This means they’ll account for your roof size, angle and orientation, shading, and your households energy use (to name a few). They will also have a range of products to choose between, with long term benefits clearly explained.
Bad signs: They push a fixed “package”, system size, or brand without a survey or design. This might be cheaper in the short term, but will prevent you from optimal savings and earnings in the long run, potentially lengthening your return on investment timeline.
Remember: at this stage, you’re not locked in. Many installers offer a free survey, which will evaluate your property type, suggest what system would work best for your home, and provide you with the quotes, savings and generation estimates. You are well within your rights to walk away, or take as long as you need to make a decision.
Step 5: Compare quotes with confidence
When comparing quotes, focus on:
1. What’s included in the price?
Installation, scaffolding, electrical work, monitoring, and aftercare should all be clearly listed or included.
2. Are the systems comparable?
Try to compare costs for like-for-like systems; and be aware about upgrades that may cost more but might be worth it for you. For example, an optimised system will cost more than a string system – but will lead to greater savings in the long term.
3. Warranties and guarantees
Check what’s covered and for how long for.
4. Environmental credentials
Consider how each installer sources their products and whether their approach aligns with your environmental values.
If you’ve worked through these steps and one installer stands out as clear, credible and well-prepared – well done. You’ve taken the time to understand what matters, asked all the right questions, and have put your investment in a strong position.
From here, you can move forward knowing you’ve done all the right due diligence, and enjoy reduced bills, greater control over your energy, and a lower-carbon home.
Our solar case studies
David’s story: A future-proofed home with solar panels and a heat pump
“The impact of burning fossil fuels has been shown to be harmful for the planet and ultimately unsustainable. If technology can be used to get electricity from other sources, it’s the way forward.
It’s a comfort to know that the electricity being used in my house really is renewable, not just being generated by fossil fuels somewhere else.”
Steve’s story: Solar panels and Tesla Powerwall
“I used to think that conditions needed to be optimal for solar panels to work properly in the UK. But going through the process I found out that solar panels would work well on our East facing roof, and they don’t even need direct sunlight to generate.
Our installation took place in the winter, and from the very first month our solar panels and battery have covered most of what we are using at home.”
Simon’s story: upgrading to a smarter, solar-powered home
“The system made a huge difference to our energy costs, particularly at a time when the energy market became extremely volatile.
The common question people ask is if the figures “really” match the prediction… in this case, it couldn’t be any closer!”
Choosing a solar installer FAQ
Start by using the MCS installer list to review certified installers operating in your area. From there, look at real customer reviews, evidence of previous installations, and the breadth of services they offer.
The right installer should take time to understand your home, design a system specifically for it, and clearly explain costs, savings, and aftercare.
Here’s 5 questions to ask your solar panel installer that will indicate how tailored and credible their approach is:
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Can you talk me through the system design you’d recommend and explain why it’s right for my property?
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Is scaffolding, electrical work, monitoring, and aftercare included in the quote?
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What warranties and guarantees are provided and how long do they last?
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What happens if I have questions or issues after installation?
- Do you offer or support future upgrades like battery storage, EV chargers or export tariffs if I want them later?
A good installer should welcome these questions and answer them clearly.
In the UK, solar installers must be certified to legally install systems that qualify for export payments and consumer protections.
Installers should be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or Flexi-Orb – the two recognised solar certification bodies. Certification confirms the installer meets required standards for system design, installation quality, and consumer protection.
If an installer isn’t certified, the installation won’t qualify for Smart Export Guarantee payments, and you may be left without key protections or clear recourse if something goes wrong.
Solar panel installation is quick – for most homes, installation typically takes 2-3 days, depending on system size, roof type, and access. The full process, including survey, design, and paperwork, usually takes a few weeks.
At a minimum, installers must be MCS or Flexi-Orb certified. This ensures they meet strict standards for system design, installation quality, and consumer protection.
Further accreditations such as NAPIT, Which? Trusted Trader, and Safe Contractor approval are positive indicators of professional standards and customer care, but do not replace the need for MCS or Flexi-Orb certification.
Solar panel installation costs vary depending on system size, your roof, and whether you include extras like battery storage, but prices have fallen significantly in recent years.
A typical, high quality 10-panel solar system starts from around £6,120. Adding a home battery can bring costs to around £13,600.
These prices may vary based on roof access, electrical upgrades, or system size. A free personalised quote will confirm the exact solar panel costs for your home, and it’s completely obligation-free, so a great way to explore your options.
Read more: How much do solar panels cost?
