You misjudged the clearance, the door didn’t open in time, or you miscalculated the angle — and now there’s a bent track, a broken panel, or a door off its rails. Before you call ICBC, here’s what you need to know: damage to your own garage is not an ICBC claim.
ICBC Basic Autoplan covers your legal liability to other people, not damage you cause to your own property. Here’s how coverage actually breaks down.
What ICBC Covers, and What It Does Not
ICBC Basic Autoplan covers:
- Your legal liability for injury or property damage to others
- Accident Benefits for you and your passengers
- Hit-and-run and uninsured motorist protection
It does not cover:
- Damage to your own vehicle (that requires optional Collision coverage)
- Damage to your own property, including your own garage door, header, or building structure
If you drove through your own garage, your home or property insurance handles the building damage. ICBC optional Collision coverage, if you carry it, handles the vehicle damage. These are two separate claims to two separate insurers.
Filing a Home Insurance Claim for Your Garage
Contact your home or property insurer, not ICBC, to report garage door or structural damage caused by your own vehicle. Your insurer will:
- Open a claim and assign an adjuster
- Request a written estimate for the repair
- Apply your deductible and pay the remainder
Unlike ICBC third-party property damage claims, many home insurance policies cover structures on a replacement cost basis, meaning depreciation isn’t deducted from the payout. This varies by policy, so check your policy wording or ask your broker before filing.
Most residential policies have deductibles between $500 and $2,500. If the damage is a single bent panel or a minor track issue, the repair cost may be below your deductible, making a direct cash repair the simpler path without involving your insurer.
What to Do Right Now
- Don’t try to operate the damaged door. A door off its track or with a damaged spring can be dangerous.
- Photograph everything before anything is moved.
- Call CCGDS at (604) 206-5727 for an assessment and written estimate.
- Compare the estimate to your deductible before deciding whether to involve your insurer.
How CCGDS Helps
We provide written estimates for home and commercial property insurance claims, formatted for adjuster review and including the documentation insurers need to process the claim without delays. We handle everything from single-panel replacement to full door, track, hardware, and operator reinstallation.
Same-day service available. Call (604) 206-5727. Or learn about our full vehicle-impact services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ICBC cover it if I drove into my own garage door?
No. ICBC Basic Autoplan covers your legal liability to others, not damage to your own property. The building damage goes through your home insurance. If you want coverage for damage to your vehicle, that’s optional ICBC Collision coverage, which is a separate claim.
Which insurance covers my garage if I accidentally drove into it?
Your home or property insurance covers the building. Most residential policies pay on a replacement cost basis, so depreciation isn’t deducted, but you’ll pay your deductible first. Call your broker before filing to confirm your policy wording.
What if the garage repair cost is less than my deductible?
Pay for it directly without filing a claim. A minor panel replacement or track repair below your deductible isn’t worth putting on your claims history. Call (604) 206-5727 for a same-day estimate so you can compare the cost to your deductible before deciding.
Is it safe to use a garage door that a car drove into?
Don’t try to operate it until it’s been assessed. A vehicle impact can snap torsion springs, bend the track, damage the header framing, or throw the door off its rails. Any of those make operating the door dangerous. Keep people and vehicles back from the opening until a technician can look at it.