Washington, D.C. — With only a few days left to prepare for the holidays, the American Automobile Association (AAA) is reminding drivers of the potential dangers of transporting a Christmas tree.
Specifically, Montrae Waiters, a spokesperson for AAA, first commented in 2022 that “nothing will make you say ‘bah humbug’ faster than losing the tree you just bought on the drive home. If not properly secured, a tree can damage your vehicle, or worse, fly off and become a danger to others on the road.”
And, in a previous AAA study, nearly one in five real Christmas tree buyers reported having a tree fall off or out of their vehicle when trying to get it home.
When looking at potential cost breakdowns, AAA further highlighted how surface scratches from a Christmas tree—however minor—can cost $100 to $150. Similarly, replacing the rubber seals on two doors costs around $220 to $550, with repaints totalling anywhere from $500 to $1,500.
To prevent any ho-ho-ho hazards, AAA thus reminds potential Christmas tree owners to secure their trees while also protecting their vehicle by covering the roof with an old blanket to prevent scratches to the paint and protect the car from any damage.
