A Car Expert’s Tips to Drive Your Christmas Tree Home Safely
In the UK, between six and eight million Christmas trees are sold each year, with 85% of Brits putting up the iconic festive tree every festive season.
Decorating your Christmas tree is often one of the highlights of winter but transporting it home can cause a few headaches. If you don’t carry it properly, it can get you into trouble on the road.
In fact, if the tree’s position, distribution, or simply the way it’s been placed inside or on top of the car is deemed to be unsuitable due to overloading (CU50), you could receive a fine and three points on your driving licence.
So, how can you transport your Christmas tree home safely? cinch, the faff-free way to buy a car online, shares tips on how to carry your festive pine with confidence on the road.
Measure your car space
Preparation is key when buying a Christmas tree. As well as working out your perfect tree size for its space at home, it’s important to be practical and think about the dimensions of your vehicle first.
Sam Sheehan, motoring editor at cinch, said: “Before committing to a specific tree, it’s always worth working out how much space you have to play with. Ultimately, there’s no point in buying a Christmas tree that won’t fit inside or on top of your vehicle.
“Whether you’re the proud owner of a used Ford or VW, take time to measure your car's interior or roof-rack space and figure out the maximum length and (wrapped) width of tree you can buy.
“For example, models such as the BMW X7, Skoda Superb Estate, VW Touareg, and Ford Puma have generous boot spaces to accommodate most medium-to-large-sized trees.
“If you’re travelling solo, lay flat your back seats, too. This should give you an extra two or three feet to play with.”
But what if the kids want to help pick the tree? If there’s not enough room inside the cabin, you can strap the pine to the roof of your car.
You may want to use a tall vehicle to avoid impacting other drivers’ visibility and a roof rack to ensure the Christmas tree doesn’t sway from side to side.
Get your car ready
Once you’ve made all the measurements and have decided how to transport your new tree, it’s time to ensure your car is ready for the merry ride.
It’s no mystery that most Christmas trees lose a lot of pine needles, especially if shuffled about. When loaded inside the car, and as you tackle bends and bumpy roads, it’s bound to leave a trail of needles behind.
To avoid a prickly boot, you may want to place a blanket or tarpaulin sheet where the tree will go. When you get it home, all you’ll need to do is shake out the cover and give your car a quick vacuum.
You could also consider wrapping the blanket around your Christmas tree if the shop or farm doesn’t provide you with netting. This way, as well as avoiding a carpet of needles on your passenger seats, you’ll be able to keep its branches nicely bundled.
Transporting your tree home safely
Now that you’re ready to go, you’ll need to hit the road with extra care and caution. Since you’re carrying a bulkier load than usual, take corners slowly and avoid braking sharply where possible.
If there’s not enough room inside the car to accommodate your new festive passenger, you’ll have to attach it to the roof. Use ropes or bungee cords to secure the tree to your roof rack – ensuring it’s tightly held down from where the branches start to its tip.
Remember to put the stump end at the front of the vehicle to minimise wind resistance and prevent potential damage. And if your tree overhangs slightly from the roof at the back, attach a flag or something reflective on the tail end to alert fellow road users.
So, how do you feel about chauffeuring home your new Christmas tree this year? From measuring your car space to laying a blanket for loose needles, there are many easy steps you can take to carry your pine safely and comfortably.
