It happens more often than you would think. You are backing out of the garage, or pulling in a little too far, and one bump later your door is dented or not moving right. First, do not panic, and do not keep pressing the opener button. Here is exactly what to do after you hit your garage door with your car.
First, Stop and Do Not Force the Door
The most important thing is to stop operating the door. If a track is bent or a roller has popped out, pressing the opener again can pull the door further off track, bend more hardware, or burn out the opener as it strains against the jam. If the opener is straining or grinding, unplug it. Then step back and look at what actually happened before trying to move anything.
Check for These Common Types of Impact Damage
- Dented or crushed panels where the car made contact.
- Bent tracks or rollers knocked out of the track, which often leaves the door sitting crooked.
- The door off its track entirely, see our guide to a garage door off track.
- A damaged bottom section or seal if the impact was low.
- A bent opener arm or bracket where the opener connects to the door.
Can a Dented Panel Be Repaired, or Does It Need Replacing?
A small, shallow dent is sometimes cosmetic and can be left alone or worked out. But a crushed or creased panel usually needs to be replaced, and because garage doors are built in sections, a technician can often replace just the damaged section rather than the whole door, as long as that model and color are still available. Our guide to garage door panel replacement explains when a section swap works and when a full replacement makes more sense.
Is It Safe to Keep Using?
If the door is off track, visibly crooked, binding, or will not close evenly, do not keep using it. A door under spring tension that is also damaged can behave unpredictably, and forcing it risks injury and more damage. If it looks crooked or uneven after the impact, that is a clear sign to stop and have it checked.
When to Call a Pro (Usually Right Away)
Anything beyond a tiny cosmetic dent is worth a professional look: bent tracks, rollers out of the track, a damaged bottom section, a bent opener arm, or a door that no longer closes flush. These involve parts under tension and alignment that affect how safely the door operates. A technician can straighten or replace the hardware, swap a damaged section, and realign everything so the door works correctly again.
Backed into your door or clipped it pulling in? We handle impact and collision damage, panel and section replacement, off-track doors, and bent hardware with same-day garage door repair across metro Atlanta and a free on-site estimate. We will get your door straight, safe, and closing properly again.