Is Your Garage Door Covered By Homeowners Insurance?
From vehicle damage to harsh weather conditions, garage doors go through a lot and stand strong through it all. However, sometimes they can receive cosmetic or structural damages that require garage door repair. In these instances, residents of Irvine and the rest of Orange County often ask us whether their garage door repairs will be covered by their homeowner’s insurance. While it’s hard to definitively state what repairs are or aren’t covered by insurance due to differing policies and levels of coverage, there are some general rules that can help you determine whether your damage will likely be covered by your homeowner’s insurance.
Garage Door Damage from Vehicles
The most common way for garage doors to be damaged, besides natural wear and tear on parts, is by a vehicle. Whether someone else ran into your garage or you backed into it yourself, repairs of that extent need to be taken care of right away. But will your homeowners insurance cover this type of damage? For the most part, it will. If you hit your own garage door with your car, your homeowners insurance will cover this (although your car insurance will not!). If someone else has hit your garage door with their car, their car insurance will cover the cost of the damages since they’re at fault. If the driver at fault drives away from the scene and you can’t identify them, then your homeowners insurance should typically cover the repair costs.
Garage Door Damage from Natural Disasters
Garage door damage caused by natural disasters is not covered as broadly as vehicle damage. Repairs are typically only covered if the damage was caused by a specific type of natural disaster such as a hailstorm or severe wind. Natural disasters such as earthquakes or floods are typically not covered unless you have specific insurance for these events. Check your policy carefully to verify which types of natural disasters are covered by your homeowners insurance.
Garage Door Damage from Vandalism/Break-Ins
Most homeowners insurance policies have a clause covering malicious mischief. This covers events such as break-ins, vandalism, and other types of malicious damage. If someone attempts to break into your garage or if someone defaces it, you’ll likely be covered by insurance. However, you should always check your policy to ensure that you’re covered in the event of malicious mischief.
General Garage Door Wear & Tear
All garage doors wear out over time, even with the most diligent maintenance. Although garage door maintenance helps extend the lifespan of your garage door, it will still require garage door repair or replacement eventually due to natural wear and tear on the parts. Unfortunately, most homeowners insurance policies don’t cover general wear and tear. If your garage door parts are worn out and in need of repair or replacement, you’ll want to contact a garage door repair specialist such as All Right Garage Doors for quick and affordable repair services that are often less than the cost of your insurance deductible anyway.
Whatever the cause of your garage door repair, All Right Garage Doors can handle it all. Whether it’s a dented door or broken springs, our technicians will make your garage door look as good as new. Check with your insurance provider to file a claim and see how your coverage affects the repair, and let us know what we can do for you. We have experience working with homeowner’s insurance providers, so we’ll ensure that the process is as smooth and hassle-free as possible. To receive a free estimate on your garage door repair, give us a call today at (714) 726-2225.
