What Is a Requote and Why Does It Happen?

Few things frustrate traders more than clicking 'buy' and being told the price has changed. That experience — a requote — is a normal part of certain broker execution models, but it's often confused with slippage. Understanding the difference helps traders choose the right broker and execution type for their strategy.

Why Requotes Happen

A requote occurs when a broker cannot execute your order at the price you requested, usually because the market moved between the moment you clicked and the moment the order reached the broker's dealing desk. Instead of filling at a different price automatically, the broker asks you to accept a new quote or cancel the trade.

Requote vs Slippage: Key Differences

The two terms are often used interchangeably but describe different mechanisms.

Which Brokers Are More Prone to Requotes

Requotes are mainly associated with instant execution and dealing desk brokers, since the broker must confirm your exact price before filling. ECN and STP brokers using market execution typically don't requote — instead, your order fills at the best available price, which is where slippage (positive or negative) comes in instead.

How to Avoid Requotes

Traders can reduce requote frequency by choosing brokers with market execution models, trading during liquid session hours rather than around major news releases, and avoiding extremely fast-moving market conditions when precise entry pricing matters most.

Conclusion

Requotes are a feature of certain execution models, not necessarily a sign of a bad broker — but they can be a meaningful cost for traders who need precise entries, particularly around news events. Understanding your broker's execution type helps set the right expectations before you trade.

FAQ

Are requotes a scam or manipulation? Not inherently — they're a documented feature of instant execution models, though excessive or one-sided requoting can be a red flag worth investigating.

Do ECN brokers ever requote? Rarely — ECN/market execution models typically fill at the next available price (slippage) rather than requoting.

Can I dispute a requote? You can decline the new price and cancel the order, but you generally cannot force execution at your original requested price.