Does My Car Insurance Cover Me If I Hit a Pole or Tree?

If you hit a pole or tree with your car and have collision insurance coverage, you can make an insurance claim to your company for the damage.
Written by Jacqulyn Graber
Reviewed by R.E. Fulton
background
Sometimes accidents happen that don’t involve other vehicles—like sideswiping a mailbox or backing into a telephone pole or tree. If you have
collision insurance
, your policy should cover this type of damage.
  • Collision insurance covers repair costs from collisions with stationary objects
  • Collision coverage is optional unless your vehicle is leased or financed
  • You need to pay a deductible before your collision insurance kicks in on a claim

What happens if I crash into a tree or pole?

To cover the damage to your vehicle caused by hitting a pole or a tree, you’ll need to have collision coverage. 
Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle (up to the
actual cash value
of your car) that happens as a result of a collision with someone else’s vehicle or another object while you’re driving.
Collision coverage is designed to provide you with the money needed to cover the repairs needed to restore your vehicle to its pre-accident condition.
Collision insurance isn’t mandated by state laws. However, if your vehicle is leased or financed, your lender will require you to carry this type of coverage for the duration of the lease or loan term.
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Does basic insurance cover damage from a pole or tree?

Basic insurance is what’s legally required by most states and typically only includes
liability car insurance
coverage.
Liability insurance provides protection to other drivers on the road when you’re at fault in an accident. If you hit another person’s vehicle or property, your liability coverage will help cover the cost of any
medical bills
and/or
property damage
for the other party. Just keep in mind that liability coverage only pays up to your policy limits—anything over the limits is out of pocket for the at-fault driver. 

Understanding deductibles: How much damage will insurance cover?

A deductible is the amount you pay for a claim before your insurance company kicks in to cover the rest. In the event that your car hits a pole or tree, your insurer will cover the cost of repairs up to your vehicle’s actual cash value, minus your deductible.
For example, if you hit a pole causing $2,000 of damage to your vehicle and you have a $500 deductible, you’ll pay $500 and your insurance company will cover the remaining $1,500.
No matter the amount of damage, you’ll have to pay the deductible before you can make a claim, if your policy includes one. For this reason, it’s important to make sure you
set your deductible at a reasonable amount
that you can afford.

Basic insurance vs. full-coverage insurance

Basic insurance usually only includes liability coverage, which pays for damages to the other party in an incident, and other state-mandated coverage such as
uninsured motorist coverage
and
personal injury protection (PIP)
.
Full-coverage insurance usually refers to the addition of collision and comprehensive coverage to your auto insurance policy. This is what you’ll need if you want to cover damages to your vehicle.
Collision insurance covers your repairs if you get into an accident with another vehicle or object while driving. 
Comprehensive insurance
covers damage to your vehicle arising from a source other than a collision with another driver. It covers things like vandalism, theft, falling objects, or natural disasters.
Full-coverage insurance is more expensive than liability-only coverage, but it’s usually worth the added cost. Compare car insurance quotes from at least three to five providers to find affordable full-coverage insurance. 
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FAQs

Yes—if you have collision insurance on your car insurance policy. If you only have basic liability insurance, your coverage will not apply to damage to your own vehicle and you’ll be on the hook for the repairs out of pocket.
Yes—if you have collision insurance. If you hit the tree, you can submit a collision claim. And repairs and clean up for the tree will be covered under property damage liability (as long as it isn't your tree).
Hitting a tree is considered a single-car accident. If you hit the tree and drive away, you’re leaving the scene and failing to report an accident, and you can be charged, just like in a more traditional hit-and-run. If you don’t have insurance at the time, you may also have your license suspended and face additional penalties.
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