Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Garage Door Repairs?

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Garage Door Repairs?

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Your home is an important investment, which is why you protect it with homeowners insurance. But what if something happens to your garage door? Are garage doors covered by your home warranty?

Garage doors protect a large entryway into your house and all of the possessions you store inside your garage. If a driver in training accidentally backs into your garage door or a tree lands on your garage during a hurricane, you’ll want to make repairs right away. Understanding what your garage insurance policy covers is important to help you make affordable repairs if disaster strikes.

How to Determine if Your Insurance Covers Garage Door Damage

Every insurance policy is different and often customizable to your coverage preferences. Know what your insurance policy will cover before an accident happens. While most garage door damage is covered by insurance, each policy may have different variables. 

Read your policy to know what is insured, and make changes if you prefer more coverage for things like your garage door. The language used in policies can sometimes be confusing, so contact your agent to help you understand your coverage. 

Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Garage Doors?

Standard homeowners insurance usually covers garage door repair — but what about garage door replacement and home insurance? It largely depends on the circumstances. If your garage door is broken during a hit-and-run or by an uninsured driver, your homeowners’ policy will likely pay to have it fixed. 

Sometimes, damage is severe, and a brand-new garage door is needed. If the cost of repairs exceeds the cost of a new garage door, insurance covers the replacement. 

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What Types of Garage Door Damage Are Covered Under Insurance?

Garage doors are vital to your home, offering convenience, security and curb appeal. However, they are also susceptible to damage from accidents, weather and mechanical failures. The following damages are typically covered under most home insurance policies:

1. Car Damage

Typically, homeowners insurance is designed to cover damage to your home and personal property, while auto insurance covers your vehicle. If your garage door damages your car by accidentally closing on it, for example, the repair costs will often fall under your auto insurance, not your homeowner’s policy.

Things become more nuanced if someone else in your household or a visitor operates the garage door and damages your car. While homeowners insurance includes liability coverage for damage or injuries you cause, it generally does not cover damage to your own car. 

Does insurance cover backing into a garage door? Your auto insurance won’t likely cover the damage. It is more likely that the homeowners insurance will pay for these repairs.

2. Theft 

Homeowners insurance usually covers any damage to your garage door caused by a break-in. Depending on your policy, it may also cover stolen property up to a certain amount if it is not returned. If you store valuable items in your garage, you may want to increase your coverage on stolen property. 

3. Vandalism 

It is vandalism when someone intentionally damages your property. Fortunately, malicious activity is often covered by a homeowner policy. Insurance often pays for the repairs if a stranger vandalizes your garage door with spray paint or a baseball bat. You may have to file a police report before you can make a claim on your policy.

4. Fire Damage 

Housefires can be devastating, but having insurance can provide comfort, knowing it can cover the cost of restoring most of your property. Insurance will likely cover a replacement garage door along with repairs to the rest of your home. 

Wildfires are considered natural disasters, which insurance companies may not cover under a standard policy. If you live in a vulnerable area, check with your insurance agent and purchase additional coverage if necessary. 

5. Natural Disasters

You must look over your policy carefully to determine which natural disasters are covered under your insurance. Standard homeowners insurance will protect against severe weather like extreme winds and lightning storms. However, floods, earthquakes and wildfires may require additional coverage. If you live somewhere prone to natural disasters, like tornadoes or hurricanes, note it may cost extra to add those coverages to your policy since they are more common. 

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What Type of Garage Door Damage Is Not Covered Under Insurance?

Insurance can help you save a lot of money on repairs if accidents happen. However, some types of damage are not covered: 

What Type of Garage Door Damage Is Not Covered Under Insurance?

  • Wear and tear: Premium-quality garage doors can last many years but eventually wear out. General wear and tear are not covered by insurance. You can invest in regular maintenance to extend the life of your garage door. Leave it to the experts to keep your garage door functioning like the day you bought it. 
  • Intentional damage: If you intentionally break your garage door, it will not be covered under your insurance policy. Claims often require photos or video evidence. If you get caught trying to pass intentional damage off as accidental, that is considered insurance fraud, which is punishable by fines and jail time. 
  • Minor damage: Most home insurance policies include a deductible. A deductible is a set amount you are responsible for paying before your insurance coverage. For example, if the damage to the garage costs $200 and your deductible is $500, then you are responsible for all of the charges. If the repairs cost $5,000, then insurance will cover $4,500, and you are only responsible for the deductible of $500. Deductibles vary depending on where you live and your policy. 
  • Poor maintenance: Damage resulting from neglect, like failing to address a broken spring or track misalignment, won’t be covered. Insurers expect homeowners to perform regular maintenance to prevent avoidable problems.

What if the Garage Is Detached From the Home?

If your garage is detached from the home, can it be covered by your homeowners’ policy? In some cases, a detached garage will be covered by your home insurance under an ‘other structures’ policy. These policies offer protection for fences, pools, sheds and even garages that are not technically part of the home. However, it is typically covered by a lower percentage compared to the rest of your house. 

Check your policy carefully to find out how much coverage you have if your garage is separate from the rest of your dwelling. 

How Do You File a Claim for a Damaged Garage Door?

Filing a claim with your insurance provider can help offset repair or replacement costs if your policy covers the damage in question. Here is a step-by-step guide to navigating the claims process effectively:

  1. Damage assessment: Inspect the extent of the damage to determine if it’s caused by a covered peril. Document with photos or videos to use as evidence in supporting your claim.
  2. Policy review: Check if your policy provides coverage for the incident, paying attention to exclusions and deductibles.
  3. Gather documentation: Collect the evidence and other relevant documents like repair or replacement estimates and receipts for temporary fixes.
  4. Contact the insurance: Contact the insurance provider promptly and schedule an inspection with an insurance adjuster. Their report will influence the claim’s approval and payout.

Contact RCS Garage Doors for Garage Door Repairs Today

Contact RCS Garage Doors for Garage Door Repairs Today

In most cases, homeowners insurance can cover garage door repairs if the damage results from a covered peril like a storm, vandalism or theft. However, coverage typically excludes damage caused by wear and tear, neglect or accidents involving your own vehicle. You can make the most of your policy by reviewing your coverage details and keeping up with routine maintenance. Being proactive ensures you’re prepared for unexpected situations and can minimize out-of-pocket repair expenses.

When accidents happen, it helps to have a repair service you can trust. If you need garage door maintenance, repair or replacement, RCS Garage Doors has you covered. We have over 30 years of experience providing customers with the highest quality products and repairs. You can trust our expert technicians to quickly make necessary repairs without disrupting your busy schedule. When we are finished, your garage door will look and function beautifully. We’ll provide a free estimate for the job that you can submit to your insurance provider. 

Schedule a repair today with RCS Garage Doors. 


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