Is It Legal to Put a Christmas Tree on the Roof of Your Car?
This time of year, many people are looking for the best way to transport their Christmas tree home, particularly if they only have a small car. This leads us to the question – can you put a Christmas tree on the roof of your car?
In short, you are allowed to secure long loads to the roof of your car subject to a number of road rules.
Australian Road Rule 292 states a driver cannot carry a load that:
Is not properly secured to the vehicle, or
May cause the vehicle to be unstable, or
Protrudes excessively from the vehicle.
Therefore, you should be OK if the tree is tied down securely, and handling of your car is not adversely affected.
How far can your Christmas tree stick out from your car?
The dimensions can vary by state but in general the following limits apply:
Front Projection: Loads must not protrude more than 1.2m from the front of the vehicle.
Side Width: Loads must not protrude more than 15cm on either side of the vehicle, with the maximum total width not to exceed 2.5m.
Rear Projection: Rear load over-hang limited to 60% of vehicle’s wheelbase. Where load protruding more than 1.2m from the rear of vehicle, the load must be clearly marked with a red flag during the day, or a red light at night.
Check Manufacturer Limits for Roof & Racks
We also recommend you check the manual for any vehicle manufacturer roof load limits, and roof rack specifications for safe loads.
