This guide uses facts already published on the RKG site: free measured site visits, fixed written quotes, access and drainage checks, engineered sub-bases, edge restraints, staged payments, £10m public liability insurance and 10-year written product guarantee references.
Quick answer
Pause if a driveway quote is mostly a surface price with little detail about the preparation underneath. The visible finish matters, but the quote should also explain what is being removed, how the base is built, where water will go, how edges are restrained, what is guaranteed and when payments are due.
Red flags to check before comparing prices
| Red flag | Why it matters | What to ask for |
|---|---|---|
| Vague measured area | Paths, aprons, thresholds and awkward edges can change cost and scope. | A written note of the areas included and excluded. |
| No excavation or waste detail | Old concrete, tarmac, lawn or sunken blocks can change removal and disposal work. | What comes out, expected depth and how waste is handled. |
| Thin sub-base wording | The sub-base decides whether a drive stays stable after daily use and wet weather. | Base material, compaction approach, membrane and preparation assumptions. |
| Missing drainage route | RKG guides repeatedly flag falls, permeable surfaces, channel drains, soakaways and front-drive drainage rules. | Where rainwater will go, especially on slopes or front drives. |
| Edges not specified | Tarmac, resin, shingle and block paving all need the right restraint or border detail. | Kerbs, block borders, hidden edging or other restraints written into scope. |
| Guarantee and insurance unclear | Trust signals are only useful when they are attached to the written job terms. | Written guarantee details and confirmation of insurance cover. |
Pressure-led pricing is not a specification
A discount, short deadline or verbal promise does not replace a clear scope. RKG's published quote process focuses on a measured visit followed by a fixed written quote, so the homeowner can compare preparation, drainage, surface choice, finish, guarantee and payment stages before deciding.
Use the site visit to remove uncertainty
If a quote looks thin, the answer is not always to reject it immediately. Ask for clarification while the contractor is still on site: parking layout, access restrictions, levels, thresholds, existing surface condition, drainage concerns and material choices should be checked against the property, not guessed later.
Related checks before you decide
Use this page with the driveway quote checklist, site visit checklist, sub-base preparation guide, drainage solutions guide, edging and border guide and guarantees and insurance checklist.