Does My Homeowner’s Insurance Policy Cover My Garage Door?
Before you purchase a homeowner’s insurance policy, make sure that the coverage available lines up with the coverage you need – including coverage for your garage door.
Home insurance companies frequently call Dominator Waikato for garage door repairs in Waikato. Thanks to our reputation as the top garage door service provider in the region and our excellent customer service, we’ve helped thousands of homeowners fix their garage doors when they file a claim with their insurance company.
We’ve also received plenty of calls from people asking us if their homeowner’s insurance policy covers garage door repairs and, unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Read on to discover how to find an insurance policy that covers your garage door and the difference between home insurance and a garage door warranty.
How to Determine If Your Insurance Covers Your Garage Door
Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover garage doors, but the amount of coverage and circumstances vary. For example, many policies will cover damage that you or a family member cause, but they will not cover damages caused by a third party. Furthermore, most policies cover you in the event of theft, fire or vandalism. If you have a detached garage, it’s important to check whether your policy considers that part of your home.
Filing an Insurance Claim for Garage Door Damage
Once you determine that your insurance policy covers your garage door, you can move on to filing a claim. To file a claim, you’ll need to gather appropriate documentation concerning the accident.
The kind of documentation required varies depending on the scenario. For instance, if you file a claim to report damage due to theft or vandalism, your insurance company will usually require a police report. In most cases, your insurance company will also send an adjuster to determine the repair cost and require receipts to document the actual value.
Garage Door Insurance vs. Garage Door Warranty
If your garage door is still covered under a manufacturer’s warranty, it is usually easier and more beneficial to use your warranty instead of filing an insurance claim.
Insurance policies have deductibles and maximums that impact how much you must pay out of pocket for your garage door repair or replacement. Let’s say you have an annual deductible of $1,000 on your home insurance policy. That means your insurance will kick in after you pay $1,000 out of pocket. Most garage door replacements cost around $1,200. If the claim on your garage door is the first you make that year, your insurance may only cover $200 of the replacement.
A warranty, on the other hand, could offer full coverage for up to 10 years. Dominator Waikato offers a Standard Warranty on all products and a 10 Year Total Confidence Door & Opener Warranty. As long as you abide by certain conditions and follow instructions in your owner’s handbook, we will completely cover your garage door repair or replacement.
Relying on your garage door warranty as long as you have it will save you money and won’t cut into your home insurance maximums. To learn more about Dominator Waikato’s garage door warranty options across New Zealand, call us on 07 847 5527.
