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Table Of Contents
- How to Determine if Your Insurance Covers Garage Door Damage
- Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Garage Door Replacement?
- What Types of Garage Door Damages Are Covered Under Insurance?
- What Is Not Covered Under Insurance?
- What if the Garage Is Detached From the Home?
- Get Garage Door Repair Services
Your home is an important investment, which is why you protect it with homeowners insurance. But what if something happens to your garage door? Does insurance cover garage door repair?
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 door or a tree lands on your garage during a hurricane, you’ll want to make repairs right away. It’s important to understand what’s covered by your garage insurance policy 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 they are often customizable to your coverage preferences. Know what your insurance policy will cover before an accident happens. 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. Most garage door damage is covered by insurance.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Garage Door Replacement?
In most cases, standard homeowners insurance does cover garage door repair. But what about home insurance and garage door replacement?
Sometimes damages are 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.
What Types of Garage Door Damages Are Covered Under Insurance?
The following damages are typically covered under most home insurance policies:
1. Car Damage
You can make an insurance claim to pay for the damages if someone in your family accidentally backs into the garage door. Most standard homeowners insurance plans may cover garage door damage caused by your vehicles. Note that damages to your vehicle will not be covered unless you have an auto insurance policy that will pay for the repairs.
But what do you do if someone else hits your garage door? If a neighbor or a distant relative accidentally damages your garage door with their vehicle, the repairs should be covered under their auto insurance policy. Most auto policies have limits on liability coverage. If the cost of repairs exceeds the coverage from their auto insurance policy, an average homeowners policy will likely cover the difference.
If your garage door is damaged during a hit-and-run or by an uninsured driver, your homeowners policy will likely pay for the damages.
2. Theft
Homeowners insurance usually covers any damage to your garage door caused by a break-in. It may also cover the stolen property if it is not returned, up to a certain amount, depending on your policy. If you store valuable items in your garage, you may want to increase your coverage on stolen property.
3. Vandalism
It is violating when someone intentionally damages your property. Fortunately, malicious activity is often covered by a homeowners policy. If a stranger vandalizes your garage door with spray paint or a baseball bat, insurance often pays for the repairs. 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 damages and replace most of your property. Insurance will likely cover a replacement garage door along with repairs to the rest of your home.
Wildfires are considered a natural disaster, which insurance companies may not cover under a standard policy. Check with your insurance agent if you live in a vulnerable area, 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 Types of Garage Door Damages Are Not Covered Under Insurance?
Insurance can help you save a lot of money on repairs if accidents happen. However, some damages are not covered:
- Wear and tear: High-quality garage doors can last for many years, but they 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 damage 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 damages to the garage cost $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 the policy you have.
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.
Contact RCS Garage Doors for Garage Door Repairs Today
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.
When disaster strikes, you can trust our expert technicians to make the necessary repairs quickly without disrupting your busy schedule. Your garage door will look and function beautifully when we are finished. 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.
