When a car crashes into a house, the damage you see from the driveway is only the start. The impact can break framing, crack walls on the other side of the room, snap pipes and shift the wall off its foundation. Getting it back to normal is a structural repair, with engineering, permits and inspections, not just a patch.
We have been working on one of these in Oxnard, and the photos from that job show how the process actually plays out, from the first day to a finished front of the house.
What the damage looked like on day one
A vehicle hit the front of this home, near the entry and the garage. Our first photos show:
- The exterior wall broken open. Stucco torn away, studs snapped and pushed in, insulation hanging out, and debris across the tile entry.
- Plumbing exposed. Copper water lines inside the wall were visible at the base of the opening.
- Damage on the inside of the same wall. In the laundry area, the drywall and framing behind the washer were broken through.
- Cracks in nearby walls. Other walls had cracks running through the drywall.
- A water heater close to the impact. It sits in the garage near the damaged wall, and our photos document it along with the gas and water connections.
Step one: secure the house
In our photos three days later, the opening was closed up with plywood. That keeps weather, animals and people out while everything else gets figured out. If a car has hit your house, the first things to handle are:
- Make sure everyone is safe and let emergency responders clear the scene.
- Stay out of the damaged area until someone has looked at the structure. A broken wall may be holding up part of the roof.
- Check utilities. If gas lines, water lines or wiring are near the impact, shut them off or have the utility check them.
- Take photos of everything, inside and out, before anything is moved.
- Get the driver’s information and the police report number.
- Board up the opening so the house is secure.
Step two: find out how far the damage goes
About six weeks after the impact, the inside walls around the damage were opened to the framing. Our photos from that visit are marked up with arrows showing which walls and framing members were affected. That kind of mapping is what the engineer and the estimate are built from.
This is where people are usually surprised. The impact point may be one wall, but the force travels. Cracked drywall in a room on the other side of the house can be part of the same claim, and it needs to be documented before anything is repaired.
Step three: engineering and permits
Structural damage like this needs a permit, and a permit usually needs engineered drawings. Our photos from this job include the engineered plans and permit paperwork. On this job, the first photos were taken in May 2025 and the rebuild photos start in August 2026, so expect this part to take a while.
Step four: the rebuild
Once the permit was issued, the work moved quickly:
- The damaged framing came out and new framing went in.
- Crews dug down at the base of the wall for the structural work.
- New water lines were run in the rebuilt wall.
- The inspection record was photographed as the work moved along.
- Stucco, drywall, paint and the entry were finished last.
By late September, our photos show the front of the house finished, with new stucco and a clean entry where the opening used to be. Our construction services page covers the rebuilding side of what we do, and our post on repiping a house covers how walls get put back after plumbing work.
What to ask before the rebuild starts
- Will you handle the engineering and pull the permit?
- How will you document the damage for the insurance company?
- What happens if more damage turns up once the walls are open?
- Is the plumbing and electrical inside the damaged wall included?
- Who is responsible for securing the house until the work starts?
Who pays when a car hits your house?
According to Farmers Insurance, if the driver is at fault, the damage would likely be covered by the driver’s auto insurance, up to their policy limits. If that is not enough, your own homeowners policy may cover the rest, depending on its terms. Talk to your agent early, and keep every photo and report.
Our post on insurance coverage for water damage is a good reference if the impact also broke a water line.
FAQ
How long does it take to fix a house after a car crashes into it?
It depends on the damage and the approvals. On this job, the photos from new framing to a finished exterior span about five weeks. The time before that, from the impact to the start of the rebuild, was much longer.
Can I stay in my house after a car hits it?
Sometimes. It depends on where the car hit, whether the structure is sound and whether utilities are safe. A contractor or engineer should look at it before you decide.
What if the car broke a water pipe?
Shut off the water main right away and call for help. Water inside a broken wall needs to be dried before the wall is rebuilt, or it turns into a mold problem behind the drywall later.
Had a car hit your house?
Total Restoration handles emergency board up and vehicle impact repair, plus water damage restoration in Oxnard and across Ventura County, Santa Barbara County and Santa Clarita. Contact us and we will come look at it.