Backed Into Your Garage Door? What to Do Next

If you have backed into or driven into your garage door, the first steps are simple: make sure everyone is unhurt, stop using the door, and do not try to force it open or closed. A door that has been hit is often out of balance and its tracks, panels or springs may be damaged, so it can drop or jam without warning. Here is how to size up the damage and what usually happens next.

What should I do right after hitting the garage door?

Turn off the engine, check that no one is hurt, and keep people and pets away from the door. Unplug the opener or switch off its power so nobody presses the button by accident. Take photos of the car and the door from several angles before you move anything, especially if you may want to talk to your insurer. Then leave the door where it is. Operating a damaged door is how a bad hit turns into a worse one.

Is it safe to open or close a door that has been hit?

Usually not until it has been looked at. A hit can bend the track, pull the rollers out, kink a cable or crack a panel, and any of these can make the door unstable. If the door is closed and looks fairly straight, leave it closed. If it is partly open or hanging crooked, keep clear underneath it. Do not pull the emergency release or try to lift it by hand unless you are sure it is stable and the springs are intact.

What parts of the door get damaged most often?

It depends on the angle and speed, but the common damage is:

• Bottom panel: dented, creased or cracked, often with the bottom seal torn away.

• Tracks: bent or pushed out of line, which stops the rollers moving smoothly.

• Rollers and hinges: popped out of the track or snapped.

• Cables and brackets: loosened, frayed or pulled off the bottom corner.

• Door sections: twisted or buckled so they no longer line up.

Can a dented garage door panel be repaired?

Sometimes, but most of the time a creased panel is replaced rather than hammered out. A crease in steel weakens the panel and the paint, and it tends to show. Whether a single panel can be swapped depends on whether your door model is still made and whether the colour and profile can be matched. Our guide to a dented or cracked panel explains how that choice is made.

Will the door just need to be put back on the track?

If the damage is small, yes. A door that has jumped off the track can sometimes be reset, but only after the track and rollers are checked and straightened or replaced. Forcing a bent track back in place usually makes it worse. Read our guide to a garage door that is off track for what is safe to look at and what to leave to a technician.

When is it better to replace the whole door?

Replacement makes sense when several sections are damaged, the door is old and the panels are no longer available, or the repair would cost a large share of a new door. A door that has been twisted can also fail to seal or close evenly, even after parts are replaced. Our repair or replace guide walks through the questions we ask. A technician can usually tell quickly from a few photos.

Should I involve my home insurance?

It is worth a call to your insurer before you decide, because coverage and deductibles differ from policy to policy, and we cannot tell you what yours covers. Keep your photos, and ask the repair company for a written description of the damage and the work needed. Many people find that the repair costs less than the deductible, but that depends on the policy and the damage.

Can I use the garage while I wait for the repair?

If the door is closed and stable, you can usually leave it closed and use the house door into the garage. If the door is stuck open and you need to secure the garage, call us rather than forcing it. A temporary fix can be made to close or support a damaged door safely until the permanent repair is done. Do not leave a damaged door open overnight if the garage holds tools or vehicles.

Need a technician to look at a damaged door?

Modern Empire Doors is at 138 Yorkland St, Richmond Hill, and we are available 24/7, serving the GTA since 2018. We are top rated on Google. Call 647-323-1826 and send us a photo of the door from inside and outside, with a close-up of any bent track or damaged panel. We will tell you what is likely needed and how to keep the door safe until we arrive.