Glossary
Written quote (devis): what it should contain in France
What is a devis?
Devis is the French word for written quote. French law requires contractors to provide one before starting work. Since the arrêté du 24 janvier 2017, that applies whatever the amount for dépannage (emergency repairs), general repairs and maintenance in the building trades: there is no minimum job value below which a contractor can skip it. Once you sign the devis, it becomes a binding contract: the contractor must do the work described at the price stated. You cannot be charged more unless you agree to additional work in writing.
What must a French devis include by law?
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
- The contractor's insurance details: their insurer's name and address, the policy number, and the geographical area the garantie décennale covers
- 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.
Devis versus facture: what changes once the work starts
A devis and a facture (invoice) can look almost identical: the same job, the same materials, the same TVA rate. The difference is timing and weight. A devis is an offer, written before anyone picks up a tool. A facture is a demand for payment, issued once the work is done or at an agreed stage.
Treating a facture as a stand-in for a signed devis, or assuming a devis is enough proof once the job is finished, is one of the easier ways to lose the paper trail you need if something goes wrong.
| Devis | Facture | |
|---|---|---|
| When issued | Before work starts, as a written offer | After the work is done, or at an agreed acompte (deposit) stage |
| Legally binding | Only once signed "bon pour accord", with a signature and date | Yes: it's a formal demand for payment |
| Mandatory mentions | Business name, address and SIRET; client identity; description of the work and materials; quantities and unit prices; total HT and TTC; TVA rate; validity period; payment terms; garantie décennale insurer, policy number and geographical coverage | Issue date; unique sequential number; business SIRET; client identity; description, quantities and unit prices; TVA rate per line; totals HT and TTC; payment terms |
| TVA shown | Rate applied per line (5.5%, 10% or 20%, depending on the work), plus the building-age and use certification required since February 2025 | Same rate as the signed devis, with any acompte already paid deducted from the balance due |
| What you sign | "Bon pour accord", your signature and the date | Nothing: you don't countersign a facture |
Most contractors ask for an acompte on signing, tracked through a separate facture d'acompte instead of being folded into the final bill. Since February 2025, the client also certifies the building's age and intended use directly on the devis or facture, replacing the separate Cerfa attestation that used to be required to unlock the reduced TVA rates of 5.5% and 10%. Check the mention appears on the devis or, at the latest, on the facture: the reduced rate can't legally be applied without it, and any line that lacks it has to be billed at the standard 20%.
Keep both documents. The devis is your record of what was agreed and at what price. The facture is your proof of what you actually paid, and the one you'll need for any subsidy application, insurance claim, or dispute over work that doesn't match what was signed.
What happens legally when you sign a devis?
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.
What is the cooling-off period after signing a devis in France?
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.
Are written estimates (devis) free in France?
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.
What is the difference between a devis and 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.
How devis culture works on the Côte 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
- Garantie décennale: the 10-year liability insurance whose details must appear on every devis
- MaPrimeRenov': the devis must be submitted as part of the grant application before work starts