It can be a minor “panel-bender” accident in which a car gently rolls into the door, or a full-blown wrong-pedal accident that sends your garage door down onto the ground, gasping for air.
A minor collision with the door may cause just a few dents in the panels that can sometimes be pulled-out like car dents. A heavy impact can damage the garage door and the track system. In general, if there is significant damage to one one panel, it can be replaced. But it will never truly match the other weather-beaten panels, so you’ll have to re-paint the entire door. If two or more panels are damaged, it’s usually cheaper to replace the whole door than to try and fix it.
How Do Garage Doors Rate In Collision Tests?
A garage door has no brakes, no steering mechanism, and no airbags. It’s a sitting duck at the end of your driveway.
So be patient with your garage door. DO NOT drive into your garage until the garage door is completely up. Never play “Beat The Clock ” with your garage door, as it will always lose.
Keep your car away from your garage door. ALWAYS look behind you when backing your car out of the garage. If you do happen to drive into your garage door, don’t make it a hit and run. Report the incident to your garage door company and to your insurance company as soon as possible.