How we review builders
The Van Guide maintains an independent directory of US van conversion shops. Here's how listings get added, what the data means, and how builders can manage their own profiles.
What gets a builder listed
To appear in the directory, a business must meet three criteria:
- Public business. The shop has a website, Google Business profile, or verifiable social media presence. We don't list businesses that operate entirely by word of mouth.
- Verified existence. We confirm the business is currently operating, not permanently closed, dissolved, or a placeholder.
- Builds custom van conversions. The shop must do full or partial van conversions as a core service. Auto body shops, general mechanics, and RV dealers that don't do custom conversion work are excluded.
Meeting these criteria earns a listing. It does not imply endorsement, recommendation, or any quality judgment from The Van Guide.
What gets a builder removed
A listing may be removed or flagged if any of the following apply:
- Permanently closed. The business has shut down, dissolved, or has been inactive for six months or more with no public indication of returning.
- Unresolvable BBB or legal disputes. Open complaints involving misappropriation of customer funds, fraud, or material misrepresentation that remain unresolved after a reasonable period.
- Fraudulent identity. The business does not exist as represented, operates under a false name, or has fabricated credentials (fake RVIA certification, invented review scores, etc.).
- No verifiable work. After investigation, there is no evidence the business has completed a van conversion. A website alone is not sufficient if no builds can be confirmed.
Negative reviews alone are not grounds for removal. Every builder gets unhappy customers occasionally. Removal is reserved for cases where the listing itself would mislead a buyer.
How we gather data
Listings are built from publicly available information:
- Google Business profiles (address, phone, hours, reviews)
- Company websites (services, platforms, pricing signals, gallery)
- Social media accounts (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube)
- Public review platforms (Google Reviews)
We do not purchase data from third-party brokers, scrape private databases, or use lead-generation services. If information is publicly posted by the business, it may appear in the directory.
How often listings are updated
The directory is updated on a rolling basis. New builders are added as we expand state-by-state coverage. Existing listings are refreshed periodically to catch closed businesses, updated contact information, and changes to services or platforms.
Refresh cycles vary by state and are not on a fixed schedule. Builders who have claimed their listing can update their own information at any time, which keeps those profiles current between refresh cycles.
If you notice outdated information on any listing, email and we'll prioritize the correction.
What the ratings mean
The star rating shown on each builder profile is pulled directly from Google Reviews. It is not a score assigned by The Van Guide. We display the rating and review count as-is, with no weighting, adjustment, or editorial influence.
If a builder has no Google Reviews, no rating appears on their profile. Absence of a rating is not a negative signal.
What "verified" means
A "verified" badge indicates the builder has claimed their listing and confirmed their business information directly with The Van Guide. Verified builders can update their description, add photos, and correct any inaccuracies.
Verification confirms identity and ownership. It is not a quality endorsement.
No paid placements
Directory listings are free. Search results and rankings are determined by relevance, not payment. No builder can pay to appear higher in search results, and no builder is excluded for declining to pay.
Conflicts of interest
The Van Guide is owned by Andrew Underhill, who also operates Emery Custom Builds, a van conversion shop in Costa Mesa, California. ECB is listed in this directory under the same criteria as every other builder. It receives no preferential placement in search results, no enhanced profile content, and no editorial favoritism.
The editorial standards on this site apply equally to content that involves ECB and content that doesn't. If this relationship ever changes in a way that affects how listings are presented, it will be disclosed here.
How we handle disputes
Builder removal requests. A builder can ask to be removed from the directory at any time by emailing from a verifiable business email address. Removal requests are honored promptly and without argument.
Factual corrections. If a listing contains incorrect information (wrong location, outdated phone number, misattributed services), email us with the correction and a source. We fix factual errors within a few business days.
Customer complaints about a builder. The Van Guide is a directory, not a mediator. We do not resolve disputes between builders and their customers. If a pattern of complaints suggests a listing is actively misleading buyers, we may investigate and apply the removal criteria above. Individual disputes should be directed to the builder, the BBB, or the relevant state contractor licensing board.
Defamation claims. If a builder believes their listing contains defamatory content, they should email identifying the specific claim and why it is false. We will review the claim against our sources and correct or remove any statement we cannot substantiate. Listings are built from public information and editorial analysis, not user-submitted reviews, so this situation should be rare.
Claiming your listing
If you're a van conversion builder listed in the directory, you can claim your profile to:
- Add photos and a gallery of your builds
- Update your business description and services
- Correct any inaccurate information
- Display a "verified" badge on your profile
The claim process verifies your identity by matching your email domain to the business website on file. If your email domain doesn't match (or the listing has no website), email and we'll verify manually.
Reporting incorrect information
If you see an error in a listing (wrong phone number, closed business, incorrect location), email with the builder name and the correction. We review reports within a few business days.