To find a reliable solar panel installer near you, search the official MCS installer register by postcode or region, confirm the company’s certification directly with MCS, check it belongs to a consumer code such as RECC, and compare at least three itemised written quotes. MCS certification is also required if you want to be paid under the Smart Export Guarantee.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is the UK’s quality mark for small-scale renewables. Its public search tool lets you pick your technology (solar panels, battery storage, heat pumps), then search close to your address or across a whole region. That gives you a shortlist of companies that actually cover your area, which is what “near me” should mean for a roof job.
Here is the five-minute method:
Open the MCS “Find an installer” tool and select solar PV. Add battery storage too if you want one.
Search by your postcode or region. Note down five or six names. Do not rely on whoever has the best-looking advert.
Confirm each company independently. Use the MCS search again by company name or MCS number, or call the MCS helpdesk on 0333 103 8130. If a company says it is certified, MCS can confirm it before you sign.
Check the consumer code. MCS-certified installers must belong to an approved consumer code, such as the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC). Ask which one and what it covers.
Look at TrustMark too. TrustMark is government-endorsed and useful as a second check, particularly if you are also having insulation or other upgrades done.
If you live in Scotland, Home Energy Scotland (0808 808 2282) can also point you to certified local installers.
MCS certification
Listed on the MCS register for solar PV
MCS "Find an installer" tool, or MCS helpdesk
Consumer code
Member of RECC or another approved code
Ask for the membership number and check it
Written performance estimate
Estimated annual output for your roof, in kWh
Must be included with the quote
Itemised quote
Panels, inverter, battery, scaffolding, electrical work and DNO notification priced separately
Request a line-by-line breakdown
Insurance
Public liability and a workmanship warranty in writing
Ask for the documents, not a verbal yes
Reviews
A high volume across more than one platform, with recent ones read
Check Google and Trustpilot, newest first
Local track record
Recent installs in your area, ideally on similar roofs
Ask for two local references
A badge on a website proves nothing on its own. Citizens Advice makes the same point: if an installer says it belongs to a quality scheme, check it is listed on that scheme’s own website.
Prices vary by roof, region and system size, but published averages give you a sanity check. The Energy Saving Trust puts the average UK install at around £6,100. MCS-certified installation data from February 2026 points to about £7,279 for a typical three-bedroom home. Both figures reflect 0% VAT on domestic solar and batteries, which runs until 31 March 2027.
Expect the spread between quotes for a near-identical system to be wide. A 20 to 30% gap is common, and it rarely tracks quality. That is why comparing local quotes matters more than finding the one “best” company.
Neither is automatically better.
Either way, the checklist above decides it.
If any of these appear, stop and check the company on the MCS register before you speak to them again.
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A trustworthy written quote names the panel brand and wattage, the inverter type and brand (see our guide to solar panel inverter types), the total system size in kWp, the expected annual output, scaffolding, electrical certification and DNO notification, battery size and usable capacity if included (our solar battery sizing guide explains what to ask), warranty lengths for panels, inverter and workmanship, and the payment schedule. If a quote leaves any of that out, ask for it in writing.
For a wider framework on vetting, read how to choose a solar panel company.
The fastest way to see what a fair local price looks like is to compare several vetted quotes for your own roof. SolarForYou lets you compare quotes from MCS-certified installers in your area, so you can judge price, warranty and system design together before you commit
Use the MCS “Find an installer” tool to search by postcode or region, then confirm each shortlisted company with MCS directly. Check it belongs to a consumer code such as RECC, read recent reviews on more than one platform, and compare at least three itemised written quotes.
Yes, if you want to be paid through the Smart Export Guarantee. MCS certification is also required for some government funding schemes, and many insurers and buyers’ solicitors expect an MCS certificate when a house with solar panels is sold.
Search for the company by name or MCS number on the MCS website, or call the MCS helpdesk on 0333 103 8130. Do not rely on a logo on the installer’s own website, because certification can lapse.
Published averages run from about £6,100 to £7,300 for a typical home system in 2026, with 0% VAT on domestic installs until 31 March 2027. Final prices depend on system size, roof, inverter type, scaffolding and whether a battery is included.
At least three from MCS-certified installers. Prices for near-identical systems often differ by 20 to 30% between reputable companies, so comparing quotes shows what a fair local price is for your roof.
