Falling trees and home insurance: Are you covered when nature strikes?

Falling trees: 4 common scenarios explained

A tree fell on your car. Now what?

A branch—or an entire tree—lands on your vehicle. In this case, it’s your auto insurance, not your home insurance, that will cover the claim, but only if you’ve chosen “All Perils Except Collision or Upset.”

So, does home insurance cover a tree falling on your car? No. And if you only have third-party liability for your vehicle, you’ll be paying out of pocket. Therefore, if you only have “one-sided” coverage, meaning liability insurance only, you won’t receive any compensation for this type of damage.

A tree fell on your home. What do you do?

Mother Nature unleashes her fury. Your house takes the hit? Don’t panic: damage to your residence is typically covered under your home insurance policy.

On a related note, optional landscaping coverage may also apply. This additional protection can cover direct damage to trees, shrubs, plants, and lawns on your insured property, provided the cause falls under one of the risks listed in your policy, such as fire, lightning, explosion, vandalism, or theft.

Piles of branches in your yard

A storm blew through and left a mess of branches across your property. Maybe a tree crashed down in your yard, but caused no damage along the way. In these cases, there’s no actual loss. Cleanup becomes your responsibility; your insurance company won’t issue any compensation.

However, if fallen trees or debris are blocking access to make necessary repairs following storm-related damage, debris removal costs may be reimbursed as part of the claim.

Damage to someone else’s property

Did one of your trees give way under the weight of snow or hail and damage your neighbour’s patio door on the way down? Your home insurance policy may cover the damage through your liability protection.

This type of coverage applies to unintentional damage you may cause to others, whether it happens on your property or elsewhere.

That said, prevention is your responsibility. It’s strongly recommended to inspect your trees at least once a year and call in a professional when needed to reduce the risk of damage. This will help you avoid a liability claim down the line.

Falling trees: Better be safe than sorry

What if a tree hasn’t fallen yet, but its branches are hovering dangerously close to overhead wires? Time to act. Prevention is key. If your home still has power and the mast is intact, but branches or trees are at risk of damaging your electrical connection, it’s your responsibility to fix the issue.

Thinning out the tree cover around power lines can help limit damage during extreme weather. But be careful! Hydro-Québec provides examples of potentially hazardous situations, along with best practices to follow, on its website to help keep you safe.

As a property owner, here’s what you need to know:

• If the branches are at least three metres from the wires, you may prune the tree yourself or hire a professional tree trimmer.
• If the branches are closer than three metres, the law requires that only a tree professional authorized by Hydro-Québec perform the pruning or tree removal. The Société internationale d’arboriculture du Québec (SIAQ) provides a list of Hydro-Québec–approved members on its website.

And finally, in some cases, your municipality may be responsible for trimming city-owned trees whose branches are threatening the electrical wires near your property. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re unsure.

Your home insurance: A steady anchor in the storm

A homeowner’s journey isn’t always smooth. Unexpected events can strike at any time. Fortunately, a few smart habits can help you prevent the risk of insurance claims.

If misfortune hits—say, a hailstorm or a tree falling—your first move should be to take photos to document the damage. Then, of course, pick up the phone and contact your trusted insurance provider!