Written quote (devis): what it should contain in France

What a devis must include

A properly issued devis is not a one-line summary. French consumer law sets out what it must contain:

• The contractor's name, address, and SIRET (company registration number)
• Any professional certifications, including RGE numbers if applicable
• A description of the work to be done
• The materials to be used, including brands and specifications where relevant
• Quantities and unit prices
• The total price excluding TVA (HT)
• The TVA rate being applied (varies by type of work)
• The total price including TVA (TTC)
• The validity period of the quote
• Payment terms

If a devis is missing these items, you're not looking at a legally compliant document. You can ask for a revised version before signing.

What happens when you sign

Once you sign the devis and return it to the contractor, it becomes a contract. The contractor is legally bound to do the work at the stated price. You are legally committed to pay it. Any changes to scope after that point should be agreed in writing, as a separate document or an amendment (avenant) to the original devis.

If a contractor tries to charge more than the signed devis without an agreed avenant, you have recourse. Keep a copy of everything you sign.

The cooling-off period

For contracts signed at your home (for example, if a contractor comes to survey the property and you sign on the spot), French consumer law gives you a 14-day withdrawal right under the loi Hamon. During this period you can cancel without giving a reason and without penalty. The contractor should inform you of this right on the document itself. If they don't mention it, that's worth noting. A full explanation of your consumer rights around quotes and contracts is available on the official French public services portal at service-public.fr.

Contracts signed at the contractor's premises or via email don't carry the same automatic cooling-off right, though you may still have a short window depending on circumstances.

Devis gratuit

In most trades in France, quotes are free of charge (devis gratuit). Some contractors charge for a detailed technical survey before quoting, particularly for complex installations. This should be agreed and clearly stated before the survey happens. An invoice for a survey is separate from a devis for the work itself.

The difference from a verbal estimate

French contractors often give a verbal ballpark figure over the phone or on site. This has no legal standing. Only the signed written devis is binding. A contractor who says "oh, it'll be around five thousand euros" and then invoices seven thousand is not necessarily acting improperly: the verbal figure was not a devis.

What this means on the Cote d'Azur

It's common in this region to receive quotes in French, with technical abbreviations, brand names you don't recognise, and TVA rates that vary by work type. The applicable rate depends on what's being done and to what kind of property. Ask the contractor to explain each line before you sign. A legitimate contractor will do this without hesitation. If they're reluctant to explain what's in the document they want you to sign, that's a warning sign.

Never let work start without a signed devis in your possession. Verbal agreements are common practice here, but they offer you no legal protection if a dispute arises later.

Related terms

• RGE certification: contractors must include their RGE number on the devis for subsidy applications
• MaPrimeRenov': the devis must be submitted as part of the grant application before work starts