How To Safely Get Your Christmas Tree Home In CA

CALIFORNIA — Millions of Californias will likely be lugging Christmas trees home from local lots and stores this week, which is why it's important to know how to properly and safely transport your tree.

Getting your hand-picked tree from the lot to the living room can be a lot like moving furniture. Similarly, accidents or poorly secured trees can cause damage of up to $1,500 to fix scratched paint, seals or warped window frames, according to AAA Northern California.

“Although it may be an annual tradition, transporting a Christmas tree isn’t as easy as you think,” said Todd Burger, Chief Automotive Officer for AAA Northern California. “Every year, drivers damage their cars or break the law by improperly securing their Christmas trees or selecting a tree that would make Clark Griswold jealous.”

And while all states have laws against unsecured items falling off vehicles, in California, drivers can be fined up to $200 for an unsecured load. It's also a safety hazard, of course, to have any type of item topple into the roadway.

"Losing a Christmas tree on the drive home would no doubt put a damper on the holiday season. But, more importantly, a tree that comes loose could result in an accident or a fine," AAA said in a statement.

The roadside assistance and insurance company is offering a few tips to keep your tree from "fa la-la-la-la-lying off your car" (their words, not ours).

Here's what you'll do, according to AAA:

• Plan Ahead: "Make sure to bring strong rope or ratchet straps, an old blanket, gloves and of course – the right vehicle. One with a roof rack is ideal but a pickup truck, SUV, van or minivan can work as well."
• Wrap & Cover It: "Once you’ve found the perfect tree, have the lot wrap it in netting before loading it. Loose branches can also be secured with rope or twine to help protect the tree from damage. Prior to loading the tree, cover the roof with a blanket to protect the car from any damage."
• Secure It: "Tie down the tree at its bottom, center and top using strong rope or nylon ratchet straps instead of relying on nylon offered by many tree lots. Use fixed vehicle tie-down points and loop the rope or strap around the tree trunk above a branch to prevent any side-to-side or front-to-rear movement."
• Tug Test: "Once tied down, give the tree several strong tugs from various angles to make sure it is secured in place and will not come loose."
• Nice & Easy: "Drive slowly as higher speeds can create significant airflow that can damage your tree or challenge even the best tie-down methods."