For many homeowners, their car is likely the most valuable possession they own. However, they often keep it in the garage, which is secured by nothing but a padlock, and hope for the best. Smart technology for garage doors has revolutionized the way we think about securing our garages.

If you truly care for your car, it is important to know the advancements in smart garage doors. Why Smart Garage Doors Are Important Most people do not realize how significant a problem garage burglaries are in the UK to car theft. The majority of garage burglaries are committed using low-tech methods such as bypassing a padlock, using a fishing line to trigger open a garage door, or simply opening a garage door.

The good news is, smart garage doors help keep your garage burglaries safe. What is Rolling Code Technology? Since the late 90s, all garage door openers have used rolling code technology.

This technology is designed to increase security by changing the code used to control the door with each remote press. This technology is superior to older code systems that can be very easily exploited. Age Matters with Garage Door Opener Security If your garage door opener is more than 15-20 years old, it is likely superiority of security with older code systems.

The biggest security advantage over manual garage doors is that the motor acts as a lock, meaning that the garage door cannot be opened once the motor is engaged. Look for openers with an automatic locking function — sometimes called a deadbolt or slam lock feature — that adds an extra layer of resistance against forced entry by engaging a locking bar when the door closes. Wi-Fi Connected Openers and Apps The newest generation of smart garage door openers integrates with your home Wi-Fi and a smartphone app.

This creates some genuinely useful functionality from a security and convenience perspective: Open/close alerts: Your smartphone will be notified when the garage door is opened and closed. If it opens at 3am, you’ll receive an alert. Remote access: From anywhere, you can check if the garage door is open or closed, or if you forgot to close it when you left for work.

Remote access: You can open the garage door from anywhere for deliveries, family members, or even mechanics without needing to give them a physical remote, and you don’t even have to be home. Automatic closing: You can set the garage door to close automatically after a certain time. This is useful if you have a habit of forgetting to shut it.

Integration with Home Security Systems If you have a smart home alarm system, smart cameras, or video doorbells, a Wi-Fi garage door can be incorporated into the same system.

The Security Gap in Most Garages

Rolling Code Technology

Auto-Locking and Motorised Security

Wi-Fi Connected Openers and Apps

The latest generation of smart garage door openers connects to your home Wi-Fi and pairs with a smartphone app. From a security and convenience perspective, this opens up some genuinely useful functionality:

• Real-time open/close alerts: Your phone notifies you every time the garage door is operated. If your door opens at 3am, you’ll know about it immediately.
• Remote monitoring: Check whether the door is open or closed from anywhere. Particularly useful if you can’t remember whether you closed it after leaving for work.
• Remote operation: Open the door for a delivery driver, a family member, or a mechanic, without needing to hand over a physical remote or be at home yourself.
• Automatic closing: Set a rule that the door automatically closes after a set period — useful if you have a habit of leaving it open.

Integration with Home Security Systems

If you have a home alarm system, smart cameras, or a video doorbell, a Wi-Fi-connected garage door can be integrated into the same ecosystem. Some systems allow you to create automation rules — for example, triggering a camera recording whenever the garage door opens, or activating interior lights when you arrive home and the door opens. Brands such as Somfy, Chamberlain (myQ), and Hormann’s BiSecur system all offer varying degrees of smart home integration.

What to Look For When Buying

When specifying a new garage door and opener with security in mind:

• Choose a steel door with a minimum 0.8mm panel thickness (thicker is better)
• Look for multi-point locking as standard, not an optional extra
• Specify a motor unit with rolling code and preferably AES encryption
• Check that the system has battery backup so it operates during a power cut
• Consider a model with a built-in camera in the motor unit for visual verification

For anyone who has invested in a car they value — whether it’s a daily driver they rely on or a weekend motor they’re proud of — spending a little extra on a properly specified smart garage door is money very well spent. Peace of mind, as any car owner will tell you, is priceless.