Has your garage door recently suffered damage and led you to consider filing a claim with your homeowner’s insurance policy? Filing such a claim can be worthwhile in many cases, but there are some types of damage that your policy likely won’t cover. We’ll explain all you need to know about homeowner’s insurance and garage doors and what types of issues most policies typically will and won’t cover.
Types of Damage a Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Typically Covers
The terms of your homeowner’s insurance can obviously vary quite a bit depending on the specific type of policy you have and who your insurance provider is. Most insurance companies cover the same basic types of damage. Your policy will probably insure your garage door if it suffers storm damage from hail or extreme winds. However, some insurance companies have started including a cosmetic damage exclusion in their policies. If your policy has such an exclusion, minor hail damage that is a cosmetic issue that doesn’t impact the door’s ability to work properly likely won’t be covered.
Some policies also have exclusions that prevent the company from having to cover most types of wind damage. This makes it important that you carefully read your policy to know exactly what it does and doesn’t cover. If your policy does have a wind-damage exclusion, consider investing in a stronger, more wind-proof door to lessen the chances of it suffering damage.
Damage that occurs due to fire will almost always be covered, but many policies exclude flood damage. This is especially common in areas that are more prone to flooding, which means you may be required to have a separate flood insurance policy to ensure your garage door and the rest of your home are covered.
If your garage door gets vandalized or damaged as a result of a break-in, your insurance should also cover the costs to repair or replace it. Many insurance policies will also cover the costs to replace any items stolen from your garage during the break-in, up to a certain dollar amount.
One of the most common causes of garage door damage is accidentally hitting it with a vehicle. This is especially true in places with harsh winters where snow and ice can make the driveway extremely slick. Vehicular damage is a bit trickier and more of a gray area since whether your insurance will cover it usually depends on who was driving the vehicle.
Homeowner’s insurance usually covers any damage to the home that was done by the policyholder or any of their family members, and most policies will also cover any damage done by an invited guest. If your garage door was hit and damaged by anyone other than you, your family or a guest, your insurance policy probably won’t cover it. However, the person’s auto insurance should cover the damage, so you won’t have to pay for repairs or replacement out of pocket.
Garage Door Issues Your Homeowner’s Insurance Likely Won’t Cover
While garage doors can incur damage in many different ways, most doors simply end up failing due to age and general wear and tear. Unfortunately, insurance companies typically don’t cover any issues that arise due to wear and tear. If the insurance adjuster determines that your door was damaged or failed due to neglect or a lack of maintenance, they also won’t cover repair or replacement costs. This is one of many reasons why you need to have your garage door professionally maintained every year. When you do this, you will have records to prove it was properly maintained.
Another thing that won’t be covered is if you or anyone in your household intentionally damages your garage door. When filing a claim, you will usually need to provide some type of proof that the door was damaged by a storm or some other issue that was beyond your control. It’s important to take pictures immediately if your door gets damaged so that you have evidence to support your claim.
If you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes or wildfires, your homeowner’s insurance may not cover damage from this type of event. It’s wise to purchase a separate policy for any of these natural disasters or a homeowner’s policy that will fully cover your home against an earthquake, wildfire, or other disaster.
Attached vs. Detached Garages
Most homeowner’s insurance policies view detached garages differently than they do attached garages. If you have an attached garage, your insurance provider views the garage door as an integral part of your home. This means that the garage door falls under the dwelling coverage part of your policy, and your insurance company will likely cover the costs to repair or replace it if it gets damaged due to any of the reasons we previously discussed.
Most insurance companies generally don’t consider a detached garage as an actual part of the home but instead as a type of outbuilding. Nonetheless, most policies have an “other structures” clause that covers outbuildings like detached garages, sheds, etc. If your policy does have this type of clause, it means that the door on your detached garage should still be covered. However, most companies provide a lower amount of coverage for outbuildings, which means that your provider may not cover the same percentage of the repair or replacement costs as they would if your garage were attached.
Is Filing an Insurance Claim for Garage Door Damage Worth It?
Even if your garage door is damaged as a result of something covered under your insurance policy, you still need to think carefully about whether to file a claim. Filing a claim may only be worth it if your garage door has major damage and requires extensive repairs or replacement. One reason is that many policies have fairly high deductibles that you have to pay per claim you file. In cases where your garage door has only minor damage, paying the deductible may cost you nearly the same as paying for the repairs out of pocket.
Filing a claim may also cause your insurance company to raise your rates, and some companies may even deem you high risk and drop you if you file more than one or two claims within a certain number of years. This last scenario is the worst thing that can happen since it can make it more difficult to find another company that will insure you without having to pay a much higher rate.
Since 1971, Door Pro America has been providing exceptional garage door services throughout the country. We have locations in Virginia, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Washington, and our team is ready to help if you need any garage door repairs or a replacement. We carry a wide range of traditional, modern and carriage house doors, and we can also help if you need a new garage door opener or any maintenance services.
Contact us at Door Pro America for more information or to schedule an inspection or service appointment.
