What a written paving quote should state
The area and the thickness
The square footage being paved and the asphalt (or concrete) thickness after compaction. Without both numbers, two quotes cannot be compared and the work cannot be checked afterwards.
The base and the prep
Whether the old surface is removed, how deep the excavation goes, and what base material is laid and compacted. Most driveways that crack early fail at the base, and it is the line most often left off a cheap quote.
Drainage, edges and cleanup
Grading so water runs off, how the edges are finished, and hauling away the old material. If it is not on the quote, assume it is not in the price.
Payment terms and warranty
The deposit, when the balance is due, and what the warranty covers and for how long, in writing.
Red flags on a driveway quote
- A crew knocks on your door saying they have leftover asphalt from a job nearby and can do your driveway today at a discount. Consumer protection offices warn about this pitch every year.
- Cash only, or most of the price up front before any work starts.
- No written contract, or a one-line price with no square footage, thickness or base detail.
- No business address, phone number or local license where your city or state requires one.
- A sealcoating quote sold as a repair for a driveway that is breaking up at the base.
Before you hire, check the company's license where your state or city licenses paving contractors, and your state attorney general's or county consumer protection office for complaints.
Check the price
Upload a photo or PDF of the paving quote and QuoteScore scores it 0 to 100 against real quotes and pricing benchmarks, line by line. It is free, needs no account, and takes about 30 seconds.
- Paving: 48% of 61 paving quotes we have scored came in overpriced.
Live figure from our public dataset: every paving quote scored so far, asphalt, concrete and sealcoating together.
Score my driveway quote
QuoteScore is a pricing check, not a paving contractor or legal advice. Your written contract decides what you owe.