Four quotes for EV charger subpanel in detached garage - trenching included, huge spread

Got four quotes back for installing an EV charger in my detached garage, all including the 50A subpanel and trenching about 75 feet through the yard to the main service. The prices are all over the place: $950, $1200, $3000, and $3200. I'm in the Chicago area my whole career and these jobs usually run around $1500-2000 from what I've heard on r/electricians. The low one is from a big outfit with 40 years experience, licensed bonded insured, and solid reviews - seems legit but too good to be true maybe. The high ones might be tacking on some Tesla tax or something. What kinda issues could bite me if I pick a cheap one, like skimpy wire or code shortcuts on the 240V run? Anyone dealt with this spread before?

paid the big bucks for mine and they still botched the conduit run, had to call em back twice.

check if the low bid includes proper 6/3 NM-B for that 50A circuit and separation of neutral ground in the subpanel.

fuck the PE firms scooping up all the good electricians, driving up prices while the small guys undercut and cut corners.

i went cheap once on a similar job, wires undersized, had to redo it myself.

those high quotes probably factoring in the hassle of digging through your concrete pad or whatever.

big company might be worth it for the warranty, small ones disappear when shit hits the fan.

trenching in clay soil sucks, bet the low ones ain't accounting for that properly.

watched a dustin stelzer video on subpanel installs, he says always verify the bid includes permits.

$950 sounds like they're skipping the gfi protection or something shady.

call back the low bidder and ask for a breakdown, see if they spec out THHN in conduit vs romex.

the spread screams scope creep on the high end, negotiate down.

everyone's getting screwed by material costs now, copper ain't cheap.

in the contractors network fb group, guys say low bids often mean no cleanup or temp power during dig.

lol my buddy took the $900 quote and the guy showed up in a prius with no trencher.

we're all in the same boat with these wild bids, feels like gambling.

disagree, $950 with good reviews? take it and run, just inspect the work yourself.

use sharkbite for the quick connects if you're diy checking, but pros should sweat it proper.

saw a post in electricians network about a $1000 ev job that fried the panel week one.

haha, the high quote guys probably include a free coffee and ego stroke.

damn these prices, i just paid 2500 for mine last month.

get it in writing what gauge wire and if they test for continuity after.

material theft during trench is real, low bids don't cover security.

big firm means better liability coverage if they zap something.

asked around r/askelectricians, consensus is verify the subpanel brand like square d or siemens.

low bid here in il was missing the disconnect at the garage.

prices like that make me wanna learn to wire it myself.

we feel your pain on the quote hunt, it's exhausting.

don't cheap out, one bad install and your insurance drops you.

the $3200 one might include upgrading your main if it's undersized.

go with the mid range, $1200 sounds balanced.

my ev charger bid was 1800, included trenching with pvc conduit.

big corps overcharge to cover their fleet of fancy trucks.

check for arc fault breakers in the bid, chicago might require em.

same struggle, took me three tries to find a fair quote.

lol imagine if they all show up and argue over whose bid wins.

warning: cheap trenchers hit utilities, my buddy nicked a gas line.

low bids often use apprentices only, no journeyman oversight.

proud of the guy who quoted 950 and delivers, rare these days.

we're all battling these insane spreads, solidarity.

took the high one once, they upsold me on led lighting too.

fuck utility locates, half the low bids skip em and pray.

controversial take: all bids over 1500 are ripping you off for ev.

inspect the ground rod install, cheap ones skimp on that.

had a laugh when my low bidder brought the wrong amp breaker.

we get it, quotes suck to compare.

go 1200, ask for milwaukee tools proof or something silly.

high quotes from unions maybe, worth the premium?

frustrated with my last ev job, took 1200 and still waited weeks.

measure the trench depth yourself, code is 24 inches min.

these pe backed firms are killing small electrical ops.

i feel ya on the quote anxiety.

shitty how bids vary so much, always shop around tho.