RV, Camper and Van Owners / In shop only
Camper Van and Sprinter Owner Repair
Converted van owners face one problem no other group does: the build is usually worth more than the van and usually undocumented on the policy. Everything else about van repair is straightforward. That single issue accounts for most of the money lost on van claims.
A stock Sprinter is a straightforward repair. A Sprinter with forty thousand dollars of conversion in it is a straightforward repair plus an insurance problem, and the insurance problem is entirely solvable in advance.
It is also almost never solved in advance, which is why this page exists.
How do I protect my build value on a claim?
Document it now, before anything happens. Photograph every system, keep receipts, produce a written schedule with values, and send it to your agent so it is on the policy rather than in your glovebox.
After a collision the sequence works against you. The van needs teardown to assess structure, teardown means removing the conversion, and once it is in pieces proving what was there is close to impossible. We photograph and itemise at intake precisely because that is the last moment it is easy.
- Photograph every system: solar, batteries, inverter, water, heater, cabinetry
- Keep receipts and produce a written schedule with values
- Send the schedule to your agent so it is on the policy
- Update it whenever you add something significant
- Photograph the interior wide, not just component close ups
Does the conversion have to come out for a structural repair?
Frequently yes, and that removal and reinstallation is real labor that belongs on the estimate. A Sprinter is a unibody, meaning the body panels carry structural load, and correcting them needs access to structure that a conversion sits against.
It also changes how the structure behaves. Cabinetry bonded to sidewalls, a bed platform tied into the floor, a roof rack through bolted to the rails and several hundred pounds of water and battery low down all alter how the vehicle responds to both impact and correction.
Why is ADAS recalibration mandatory afterward?
Because sensors are aimed relative to the structure that was just corrected. Modern Sprinters carry radar behind the fascia, cameras in the windshield mount, blind spot sensors in the rear quarters and ultrasonics around the perimeter.
Move the structure and the aim is wrong. A radar a fraction of a degree off is worse than no radar, because it reports confidently and incorrectly. Recalibration runs $285 to $1,800 at 1 to 7 hours and it is on every structural van estimate we write.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will insurance pay for my camper van conversion?
Only if it is documented. Photograph and itemise everything with values and send the schedule to your agent now. Undocumented build value is the single largest loss on van claims.
Do you work on DIY conversions?
Yes, regularly. What we will do is flag anything we find that is unsafe, particularly on 12V wiring, LP and lithium installations, because those are where DIY work most often goes wrong.
How much does van collision repair cost?
Structural van collision work runs $1,500 to $40,000 and up at 10 to 200 labor hours, plus $285 to $1,800 for ADAS recalibration where the vehicle is equipped.
Can you rebuild the conversion after structural work?
Yes. Components are catalogued during removal and reinstalled afterward. That labor belongs on the estimate and we itemise it rather than absorbing it.
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Bring the vehicle to our Yorba Linda facility and we will document the damage properly, work directly with your carrier, and give you a written figure built from published rates and real labor hours.
All work is performed at our Yorba Linda facility. We do not offer mobile, roadside or fleet route service.