First minutes: a tree just landed on your vehicle
- 1
If you are inside the car, do not get out until you know no power lines are touching the vehicle — if a line is down on it, stay put and call 911.
- 2
If you are outside, keep back from the car and the tree; a limb balanced on a roof or hood can slide off without warning.
- 3
Look for wires — a falling tree often brings a line down with it, and a car in contact with a live line is energized; stay at least 50 feet away and call your electric utility.
- 4
Do not try to start the car or drive it out from under the tree; leaking fluids and a shifting trunk make that dangerous.
- 5
Once it's safe, photograph the whole scene and close-ups of the damage, the tree, and where it came from — your auto claim starts with these.
- 6
Call 1 Tree Emergency at (866) 320-7003. We're available 24/7 to lift the tree off your vehicle without adding to the damage.
Getting a tree off a car is about removing weight, not adding damage.
A car is a soft target — glass, thin roof panels, and pillars crush and spread the moment a trunk lands on them. The mistake that turns a repairable car into a total loss is dragging or rolling the wood off, which gouges panels and shatters more glass. The goal is a clean vertical lift.
Our certified arborists secure the tree, rig it so the load is controlled, and pick each section straight up and away from the vehicle. When the wood is heavy or the car sits in a tight driveway, a crane does the lifting so nothing is dragged across the paint or pushed further down.
Because a car under a tree can also mean a line down with it, we check for energized wires first and coordinate with the utility before we touch anything. Then we document the damage so your auto insurer sees exactly what happened.
Wood lifted straight up off the roof, no dragging, no added damage
We respond in minutes, not hours
Our network of certified arborists is on standby 24/7 to handle any tree emergency. From fallen trees to dangerous limbs, we provide rapid response to protect your property.
Why Choose Us
- Certified Experts
All our arborists are certified and fully insured
- Rapid Response
Average response time under 30 minutes
- Insurance Specialists
We handle all insurance paperwork for you
How our tree-on-vehicle response works
Clear steps. Fast action. Zero guesswork.
How We Handle Your Tree Emergency
Our streamlined process ensures quick response and efficient resolution of your tree emergency
Step :Call, Get a Person
Dial (866) 320-7003 any hour and a live dispatcher takes your location, the vehicle, and whether any line is down on or near it.
Step :Crew Dispatched
A certified arborist heads out with rigging and, for heavy wood or tight access, a crane. Emergency arrivals are typically 1–2 hours.
Step :Check for Lines
Before anyone approaches the car we confirm no line is energized on or near it, coordinating with the utility if one is.
Step :Secure the Tree
We rig the trunk and limbs so nothing can slide, roll, or drop further onto the vehicle while we set up the lift.
Step :Vertical Lift-Off
We crane or lower each section straight up and away — never dragging wood across panels or glass — to protect what's repairable.
Step :Clear the Site
We buck, chip, and haul the tree, sweep up glass and debris, and open the driveway or street back up.
Step :Claim Photos
We hand you dated photos, measurements, and cause-of-damage notes formatted for a comprehensive auto claim.
What we bring to a tree-on-car call
Clean Crane Lifts
For heavy trunks on a vehicle, a crane raises each cut straight up so the wood never scrapes across the car — the difference between a repair and a total loss.
Line-Aware Response
We check for and coordinate around downed conductors before anyone approaches the car, because a tree on a vehicle often brings a line with it.
Tight-Access Rigging
Driveways, garages, and street parking leave little room; we rig removals that heavy equipment can't reach without hitting the vehicle.
Auto-Claim Documentation
Scene and damage photos with measurements and notes tailored to how auto carriers assess a fallen-tree claim.
Our removals are led by ISA Certified Arborists. Around downed or damaged power lines, always follow your electric utility and the Electrical Safety Foundation — never approach a line yourself.
Insurance when a tree falls on your car
Damage to your vehicle from a fallen tree is paid by the comprehensive ("other than collision") portion of your auto policy — not by homeowners insurance — even if the tree was your own and even if it fell in your driveway. If you carry comprehensive, the repair or total-loss payout is covered, subject to your deductible; if you only carry liability, there is typically no coverage for the car itself.
Homeowners insurance generally covers removing the tree from your property and repairing any structure it hit, but the car specifically routes through auto. We photograph and measure the vehicle damage separately from any property damage so each claim goes to the right insurer with clear proof of cause.
Learn more about our insurance claim support for tree damage — we document the scene and coordinate directly with your carrier.
Frequently Asked Questions
A tree fell on my car — who do I call and what covers it?
If a line is down on the car or anyone is hurt, call 911 first. Otherwise call 1 Tree Emergency at (866) 320-7003 to lift the tree off safely, 24/7. The vehicle damage is covered by the comprehensive part of your auto policy, subject to your deductible — not homeowners. We give you photos and notes to support the auto claim.
Does homeowners or auto insurance pay when a tree crushes my car?
Your auto policy's comprehensive coverage pays for the car, even if the tree fell in your own driveway. Homeowners covers removing the tree from your property and fixing anything structural it hit, but not the vehicle. If you don't carry comprehensive, the car damage generally isn't covered.
Can I just drive the car out from under the tree?
No. Starting or moving the car risks igniting leaked fuel, and a trunk or limb balanced on it can shift and cause more damage or injury. Leave the vehicle where it is and let a certified arborist lift the wood off with proper rigging or a crane.
Will removing the tree cause more damage to my car?
Not the way we do it. The added damage on these calls comes from dragging or rolling wood off the car. We rig and crane each section straight up and away so nothing scrapes the panels or breaks more glass, which protects the car's repairability and your claim value.
What if there's a power line down on my car?
Treat it as live. If you're inside, stay inside and stay still; if you're outside, keep at least 50 feet back and keep others away. Call 911 and your electric utility and do not touch the car until they confirm the line is de-energized. We coordinate with the utility before we begin any removal.
Related Tree Emergencies We Handle
Facing a different situation? We respond to every kind of tree emergency, 24/7:
What Happens Next
From the first call to a closed insurance claim, here's how we help:
From Our Blog
Practical guides from our certified arborists:
Get Emergency Help Now
We're available 24/7. Call (866) 320-7003 or request service below.
Get in Touch
Our team is available 24/7 to respond to your emergency or answer any questions
Contact Information
Location
254 Prospect Ave, Hartford, CT, 06106
Serving clients nationwide