A Tree Fell on Your Car in a BC Windstorm — What Now?

by Admin

Every fall and winter, windstorms move through the Lower Mainland and bring trees and branches down with them — sometimes onto a parked car, sometimes onto one that’s still moving. If that’s just happened to you, the first question is usually about insurance. The second is what to do with the car if insurance doesn’t cover the whole story.

What ICBC Comprehensive Coverage Actually Covers

Basic Autoplan coverage (third party liability and accident benefits) doesn’t cover damage to your own vehicle from a falling tree or branch. That falls under comprehensive coverage, which is optional and covers non-collision events — ICBC’s own coverage page lists “weather — lightning, windstorm, hail, rising water” and “falling or flying objects” as examples of what it covers. If you’re not sure what’s on your policy, check ICBC’s comprehensive coverage page or call them directly before assuming either way.

When the Damage Makes It a Write-Off

If the cost to fix the car is close to or more than what it’s worth, the insurer can declare it a total loss and pay out its value instead of covering repairs. That’s the same calculation that applies after a collision — see our guide on what a totaled car is still worth after an accident for how that payout process works and what your options are once you have a number from ICBC.

If You Don’t Have Comprehensive Coverage

Without it, storm damage to your own car is on you. If a cracked windshield, crushed roof, or smashed hood isn’t worth fixing out of pocket, you’re not stuck with the car — it still has real value as scrap and parts, insured or not. The same logic applies whether the damage came from flooding or fire: an insurance payout is one option, not the only one.

How It Works Once We Pick It Up

1. Call or request a quote. Tell us the make, model, and what the storm did to it — a photo helps.
2. Free towing, no separate charge. A driver checks the car against what you described, then it gets towed — no flatbed to arrange yourself, even if it won’t roll.
3. Paid on pickup. Cash or e-transfer, cash always available, paid before the vehicle leaves.
4. ICBC paperwork handled on-site. Bring ID and proof of ownership — registration, bill of sale, or insurance papers — and the transfer gets done on the spot.

Any Condition, Storm Damage Included

It doesn’t matter if the car still won’t start, has a tree resting on it, or has already been declared a write-off. We buy vehicles in any condition across the Lower Mainland, from North Vancouver and West Vancouver to Maple Ridge and beyond — areas that see their share of fallen trees every storm season.

Get a Quote

Whether ICBC has already given you a number or you’re dealing with storm damage with no coverage at all, call or request a quote from Vancouver Scrap Car, or check our FAQ for anything else you’re wondering about.