A good electric garage door can be more secure than a basic manual one. When it is closed, the motor and drive hold the door down, and a rolling-code remote is hard to copy. Its security still depends on the age of the system and how you look after your remotes, and on the other ways into the garage that people tend to forget.
How does a motor lock the door?
Once the door is closed, the motor and drive resist anyone trying to lift it. That makes forcing the door harder than with many basic manual latches, which can be fairly thin. The strength of this locking varies between openers, so check the specification before you buy.
If you are having a motor added to an older door, the old lock is often disabled. That can sound like a step backwards, but it stops the door being locked while the motor runs. The motor takes over the job of holding the door shut, and we will explain what applies to your door.
Can someone copy my remote signal?
With a modern rolling-code remote, it is very unlikely. The code changes on every press, so a recorded signal cannot simply be replayed. A new handset also has to be paired with the receiver itself.
Older fixed-code systems are a weaker point, because the same code is sent every time. A cloning remote can copy it, which is handy if you want a spare but less reassuring from a security point of view. If yours is an older system, an upgrade is worthwhile. Often a new receiver can be added to the existing motor, so you may not need a new opener at all.
How to tell which system you have
Start with the make and model on the motor label, and look at any label on the handset. If you cannot find an answer, send us those details through our remote replacement page and we will identify it for you.
What if I lose a remote?
Remove the lost handset from the receiver as soon as you can. Until you do, anyone who finds it could open your door. This matters even more if the remote was stolen from a car parked outside your home, because the thief may know exactly which door it opens.
Even if you have lost every remote, a new handset can usually still be paired at the receiver. That clears out the old ones at the same time. Some openers let you do this at the learn button, so check your manual and take care if you need steps to reach it.
Are smart openers and apps safe?
They can be, as long as you treat the app like any other login. Use a strong password and turn on two-step login if the app offers it. Keep the app up to date, and remove access for anyone who no longer needs it.
Smart control can improve security in one simple way, because it reports if the door is open or closed. If you have ever driven off wondering if you shut the garage, you can check from your phone. Our smart garage door openers page covers what you need before you buy, including a reliable Wi-Fi signal in the garage.
Weak points people forget
The door itself is rarely the only risk. Most of the practical steps below cost nothing, and they close off the easy routes.
The door between the garage and the house
With an integral garage, the garage door is only part of the picture. Any internal door between the garage and your home should be solid, with a good lock. Do not leave house keys or car keys hanging up inside the garage, as they would make that lock pointless.
Remotes left in cars
A remote on show through a car window advertises what you have. Keep it out of sight, or use a keypad and leave the handset at home. Some cars have built-in buttons that can learn a garage door signal, although that depends on the car and the opener.
Keypads and shared codes
A wireless keypad is handy for children and for days when you do not have your remote. We can supply one with the remote-controlled garage doors we fit around Newcastle and the North East. Pick a code that nobody could guess, and change it if you have shared it with someone who no longer needs it.
Releases
If you have an external release, keep it secure, because it exists to disconnect the door from outside. Inside the garage, look at the release cord and check that it cannot be reached through any gap around the top of the door.
Side doors and windows
A strong main door will not help much if the side door is flimsy. Check the lock on any side door and the state of any garage window, because a burglar will always try the weakest route.
What happens in a power cut?
The door normally stays held shut, because the drive remains connected to it. Without a battery backup, nobody can open it with a remote, and that includes you. Plan your way in if the garage is your only entrance. Once anyone pulls the manual release, the motor is no longer holding the door down.
After a power cut, reconnect the door as your manual describes, and do not leave it released overnight. Our guide to garage door safety and power cuts explains how to do this safely.
Which type of door is most secure?
There is no single answer, because the build of the door and the strength of its locking matter more than the name of the type. Compare the specifications of the actual doors you are considering, and ask how each one resists being lifted or forced. If your current door is worn or twisted, a new electric door may be the better answer, since an ill-fitting door gives a burglar more to work with.
Does it affect your home insurance?
That depends on your insurer, so ask them directly and do not assume. Policies differ on what they expect from garages and outbuildings. It is sensible to check how yours treats tools, bikes and other valuables kept in the garage, as well as anything it says about locks.
If you have an older fixed-code system, or a handset has gone missing, deal with that first. Tell us the make and model on your motor label using the quote form at the top of this page. We will let you know what can be upgraded, and what would need replacing.
