The CFPB found that solar dealer fees add 25-35% to your loan balance — and your installer is contractually prohibited from telling you. Enter your loan amount to see what's really happening.
Enter your solar loan amount to see hidden fees
Average residential solar loan: $25,000 - $45,000
Dealer fees (also called "channel fees" or "origination fees") are charges that solar lenders add to your loan balance — typically 25-35% of the system cost. These fees are not disclosed to you as a separate line item. Instead, they're baked into your total loan amount.
According to the CFPB's August 2024 report, these fees "can increase loan costs by 30% or more above the cash price" of a solar system. Your installer knows about these fees but is often contractually prohibited from discussing them with you.
The Solar Loan Transparency Act (H.R.4489) was introduced in Congress to require lenders to disclose dealer fees to consumers — the same way mortgage lenders must disclose all fees under the Truth in Lending Act. As of 2024, this bill has not yet passed.
Key Fact
If a mortgage broker added 30% to your home loan without telling you, they would face federal prosecution. In solar lending, it's standard practice.
Source: CFPB Solar Financing Report, August 2024