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Do I have to pay a deductible if a tree falls on my vehicle?
When a tree topples over and lands on your vehicle, the damages can be costly. Most insurance policies require deductibles to be paid when filing claims regardless of the cause of the damage, so you may need to cover the cost out of pocket. It's important to review your policy thoroughly and know exactly what is covered in the event of such accidents.Skip to article
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Prachi Singh
Contributing Writer
Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
Yes, if a tree falls on your car, you typically have to pay your comprehensive deductible when making your claim for the damages to your vehicle.
Deductibles are not due according to a fault; anytime you use coverage that has a deductible associated with it, you have to pay your deductible. A branch or tree falling on your car would normally be covered under your comprehensive coverage, and the deductible would be due unless your own insurer would waive it for some reason.
If the tree was diseased or had problems that the tree owner should have taken care of, the tree owner may be found negligent and thus pay your deductible amount for your claim. If, however, the tree was healthy and fell due to high winds or other acts of nature, then usually, the tree owner won’t be held responsible since there was no negligence on their part.
— Michelle Megna contributed to this story.
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Laura Longero
Executive Editor
Laura is an award-winning editor with experience in content and communications covering auto insurance and personal finance. She has written for several media outlets, including the USA Today Network. She most recently worked in the public sector for the Nevada Department of Transportation.
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John McCormick
Editorial Director
John is the editorial director for CarInsurance.com, Insurance.com and Insure.com. Before joining QuinStreet, John was a deputy editor at The Wall Street Journal and had been an editor and reporter at a number of other media outlets where he covered insurance, personal finance, and technology.
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Leslie Kasperowicz
Managing Editor
Leslie Kasperowicz is an insurance educator and content creation professional with nearly two decades of experience first directly in the insurance industry at Farmers Insurance and then as a writer, researcher, and educator for insurance shoppers writing for sites like ExpertInsuranceReviews.com and InsuranceHotline.com and managing content, now at CarInsurance.com.
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Nupur Gambhir
Managing Editor
Nupur Gambhir is a content editor and licensed life, health, and disability insurance expert. She has extensive experience bringing brands to life and has built award-nominated campaigns for travel and tech. Her insurance expertise has been featured in Bloomberg News, Forbes Advisor, CNET, Fortune, Slate, Real Simple, Lifehacker, The Financial Gym, and the end-of-life planning service.
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Prachi is an insurance writer with a master’s degree in business administration. Through her writing, she hopes to help readers make smart and informed decisions about their finances. She loves to travel and write poetry.