Broken or smashed campervan window? What to do next

Updated: 14 October 2026 · EuroVan Shop

First steps in the first hour

A smashed window can be unsettling, especially if you have just found signs of a break-in. Take things one step at a time. First, check that everyone is safe and keep children and pets away from broken glass or acrylic. Do not reach through the opening or pick up sharp pieces with bare hands.

If you suspect someone is still nearby or there is another immediate danger, move to a safe place and contact the appropriate emergency service. Otherwise, take a moment to look over the vehicle before you start clearing up.

1. Check the damage. Look for loose pieces in the frame and inside the vehicle. Be careful around any damaged blind or mosquito net.
2. Take photos. If it is safe, photograph the damage, the whole window from inside and outside, and any visible signs of forced entry or impact. These images can help with your insurance claim and a replacement quote.
3. Secure the vehicle. Keep valuables out of sight and make sure doors and other windows are secure. Avoid leaving the vehicle unattended with the opening unprotected.
4. Protect the opening. Once you have recorded the damage, put on gloves and follow the temporary protection steps below.
5. Check your policy. Look for the relevant cover and the excess before deciding what to do next.

If the window is broken through, you will need to replace it rather than repair the pane. You can identify a suitable replacement by measuring the opening in the wall, not the damaged window frame.

Temporary protection

Wear gloves while handling broken pieces. Remove loose glass or acrylic carefully, then vacuum up the shards that you can reach safely. Check the area around the frame too, as small pieces may be easy to miss. Do not force out pieces that are still firmly attached.

To cover the opening, use a plastic sheet on the outside of the vehicle. Tape it to the frame or wall with weather-resistant tape. Avoid taping over fresh paint, as the tape may affect the finish. Make the covering secure enough to protect the interior, but treat it as temporary protection rather than a permanent repair.

Keep valuables out of sight while the vehicle is exposed. If you cannot protect the opening safely, or the damage makes the vehicle unsafe to use, arrange for it to be dealt with before travelling.

Insurance claim: cover, excess and police report

A broken window is usually covered by glass cover. If the window was smashed during a break-in, theft and vandalism cover may apply instead. Check the wording of your policy to see which cover applies to your situation, and check the excess. The excess is the amount you may have to pay towards a claim.

After a break-in, insurers often ask for a police report or crime reference. Check your insurer’s requirements and keep any reference details with your photos and claim information. If the window was damaged in an accident, tell your insurer how it happened and follow the claims process set out in your policy.

It can help to have the vehicle details and clear photos ready when you contact your insurer. If they ask for a replacement quote, you can send us the information listed in the quote section below. We do not provide automatic quotes: our team reviews the details you send.

Can it be repaired or must it be replaced?

Most caravan, motorhome and campervan windows are acrylic double-glazed windows. Small scratches can be polished, but a pane that is cracked through cannot be repaired. If the window is cracked through, the window needs replacing.

Do not confuse a surface scratch with a crack through the pane. If the damage has gone through the acrylic, polishing will not restore the window. Take photos of the damage and measure the cut-out before looking for a replacement.

Measuring the cut-out

Every window we sell is listed by its cut-out size: the width and height of the opening in the wall, in millimetres. Measure that opening, not the outside of the window frame. Getting this measurement right is the key to finding a window that fits without cutting the vehicle wall.

1. Find the opening. Look at the hole in the wall where the window sits. Measure from edge to edge of the opening, rather than from the outer edge of the frame.
2. Measure the width and height. Note both measurements in millimetres and record which is the width and which is the height.
3. Check the wall thickness. Measure the wall at the opening and write down the result. This helps confirm that the window is suitable for your wall.
4. Note the corner shape. Check whether the cut-out has square corners or rounded corners. Include this detail when comparing windows or asking for a quote.
5. Keep a record. Write down the measurements and take a clear photo of the opening. This makes it easier to check product details later.

What to measure	How	Why
Cut-out width × height	Measure edge to edge of the opening in the wall, in millimetres.	This is the size used to list our windows and check whether a replacement will fit.
Wall thickness	Measure the thickness of the wall at the opening.	It helps check that the window and its fixings suit the wall.
Corner shape	Note whether the corners are square or rounded.	The shape needs to match the opening.

Choosing a replacement that fits

Match the replacement window’s listed cut-out size to the opening you have measured. A window only fits without new cutting if its cut-out size is the same as the existing opening. A smaller window cannot cover the hole. A larger window needs the opening to be enlarged.

Also check the wall thickness and corner shape before choosing. Our side windows fit walls from 25 to 75 mm thick; thicker walls can be accommodated with longer screws. They are designed for flat walls, such as those on caravans and motorhomes, and curved walls, such as those on panel vans.

Side windows come with an aluminium counter-frame, screws and a fitting guide. Versions listed as “with blind and mosquito net” include a separate interior frame. Check the product details to confirm that the version and features suit your vehicle.

For roof windows, compare the cut-out carefully: 40 × 40 models use a 400 × 400 mm cut-out, the same as a Mini Heki. PANORAMA LED uses 700 × 500 mm, matching a Midi Heki, and PANORAMA SLIM 960 × 655 matches a Heki 2 opening.

Browse the replacement caravan and motorhome windows and compare the listed cut-out sizes with your measurements. If you are unsure which option matches, send us your measurements and photos before ordering.

Getting a quote for your insurer

To request a quote, contact us with enough information to identify the damaged window and the opening. Please include:

• Photos of the damage.
• Photos of the whole window from inside and outside.
• The cut-out width and height in millimetres.
• The wall thickness.
• The corner shape: square or rounded.
• The vehicle make, model and year.

Send these details through our broken window insurance quote page. Our team replies within 24 hours on working days with a quote. This is not an automatic quote: the team checks the information you provide. You can then pass the quote to your insurer if they have asked for one.

Fitting the replacement

Fitting a replacement in an unchanged opening takes about an hour with two people. Before starting, check that the new window’s cut-out matches the opening and that the supplied parts are present. Follow the fitting guide supplied with the window and work with a second person to handle and position it.

1. Remove the temporary covering and clear the opening of loose pieces.
2. Check the opening, wall thickness and corner shape against the replacement.
3. Position the window and fit the aluminium counter-frame and screws as directed in the fitting guide.
4. Check the window is seated correctly and that any blind or mosquito net is fitted as intended.

For a fuller walkthrough, read our window fitting tutorial. If the opening does not match the replacement, stop and check the measurements before making any changes to the wall.

Frequently asked questions

Can I drive with a broken campervan or caravan window?

Protect the opening before travelling and do not drive if the damage makes the vehicle unsafe to use. If you cannot secure it safely, arrange for the window to be dealt with before setting off.

Can a cracked acrylic double-glazed window be repaired?

Small scratches can be polished, but an acrylic double-glazed window that is cracked through cannot be repaired. A cracked pane means replacing the window.

What size should I measure for a replacement window?

Measure the width and height of the opening in the wall, in millimetres, not the window frame. Also note the wall thickness and whether the corners are square or rounded.

Will a smaller or larger replacement window fit the existing opening?

A replacement fits without new cutting only if its listed cut-out size is the same as the existing opening. A smaller window cannot cover the hole, and a larger window needs the opening to be enlarged.

What information do I need to request an insurance quote?

Send photos of the damage and the whole window inside and outside, the cut-out width and height, wall thickness, corner shape, and the vehicle make, model and year. Our team replies within 24 hours on working days with a quote.