Is my garage door ruined if a car hit it?

A car hitting the door, even at low speed, usually bends a section or two and can knock rollers out of the track. How serious it is depends on how many sections took the impact, whether the track and brackets bent, and whether the cables or springs were affected. Many doors that have been hit are repairable.

What to do right away

• Stop using the opener. Running a damaged or off-track door bends more track and can bring the door down.
• Leave the emergency release alone, and keep people and cars out from under the door.
• Take photos from a safe distance for your records or an insurance claim.
• Do not try to push the door back into the track or straighten the rail.

What decides repair or replacement

• Repair is likely when the damage is limited to one or two sections, the track is straight or can be corrected, and matching sections are available.
• Replacement may be better value when several sections are crushed, sections for that door are no longer made, or the damage extends into the framing around the opening.

What the visit involves

We support the door, check the sections, track, rollers, cables and springs, and give you a written price before any work. If sections can be replaced, the price covers those parts and any bent track or hardware. If a new door makes more sense, we say so and give you a free on-site estimate to compare. Repair visits carry a $45 diagnostic trip fee. See replacing a single panel for how section matching works.

Read more

• Off-track garage door repair
• Garage door repair
• Replacement garage door panels

Related questions

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Have a different question? Call (916) 838-8182 or browse all garage door questions.