Maybe. A garage door is part of the house, so a homeowners policy may cover sudden damage from a covered cause, but not wear and tear, and your policy and deductible decide. Photograph the damage, protect the home, keep receipts, and ask your insurer before permanent repairs. We cannot say whether a claim will be paid.
Is a garage door covered at all?
A garage door is attached to the house or garage, so it is normally treated as part of the building. Whether a claim is paid depends on what caused the damage, the wording of your policy and your deductible. Only your insurer can decide that.
Many policies separate sudden damage from a covered event from slow wear and tear. A spring that breaks after years of use is usually a maintenance item. A door crushed by a fallen tree limb is more likely a claim. Read your policy or ask your agent.
Common situations
| What happened | What to do first | Likely question |
|---|---|---|
| Storm or falling tree limb hit the door | Photograph, keep people clear, cover the opening | Is storm damage a covered cause |
| A vehicle backed into the door | Photograph, note the date, ask your agent | Which policy responds |
| Break-in damage to the door or opener | Report to police, then photograph | What the policy says on theft damage |
| Spring or cable broke from age | Stop using the door and get a repair quote | Likely wear, not a claim |
| Snow or ice damage to a panel | Photograph, clear safely, ask your agent | Cause of the damage |
Coverage depends on your own policy.
Document before anything moves
Massachusetts Division of Insurance advice, as reported by Boston.com, is to prepare a list of the damage and document it with photos, video and detailed notes. Take wide shots of the whole door and close shots of each dent, crack or bent part, with the date.
Make it safe
Keep people and pets away from a crooked or off-track door. Do not touch a spring or cable.
Photograph the damage
Take wide and close photos or a short video, and write down what happened and when.
Protect the home
Cover an open section and keep the garage dry. Policies can expect reasonable temporary steps.
Keep receipts
Save receipts for emergency work and temporary protection.
Contact your insurer
Report the loss and ask what they need.
Temporary repairs and permanent repairs
The same reported advice is to make temporary repairs to protect the property from more damage, but to postpone permanent work. An insurer may want to inspect before permanent repairs, and doing them early can make a dispute harder.
That is why we can secure a door, remove a hazard or write up the damage first. Ask your insurer before a full replacement. Never skip or promise to cover your deductible, since that is not a decision for a contractor.
What the insurer has to do
According to a report on the Massachusetts Division of Insurance's guidance, insurers are required to promptly investigate all claims and to decide, claim by claim, whether the cause is covered. If a claim is denied in whole or part, the insurer must provide proper documentation to the policyholder.
If you disagree with the result, start by talking with your agent or adjuster. If the problem continues, the Division of Insurance takes consumer complaints. Look up its current contact details on its website.
Get a quote that helps your claim
A written estimate should name the door, the parts, the labor and the cause of damage you found. Ask for photos of what was damaged. See garage door repair cost and repair or replace for how to compare options, and garage door repair for what a technician checks.
Who to call
Emil Garage Doors repairs garage doors, springs, cables and openers and installs new doors in Massachusetts, including Attleboro, Weymouth and Plymouth. Call or send your details with photos, and we book a visit and give you a written estimate you can pass to your insurer.
Questions people ask
Does homeowners insurance cover garage doors?
It may, if the damage comes from a covered cause under your policy. Wear and tear is usually not covered. Your policy and deductible decide, so ask your insurer.
Will insurance pay for a broken garage door spring?
A spring that wore out with age is generally a maintenance cost. If a covered event caused the damage, ask your insurer. We cannot say whether a claim will be paid.
Should I repair the door before the adjuster comes?
Make it safe and protect the home with temporary steps, and keep receipts. Hold off on permanent repairs until you have asked your insurer.
What should I photograph for a claim?
Take wide photos of the whole door and close photos of each damaged part, with the date. Add notes on what happened.
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