Insurance Guide for hail and storm damage

Unaware of what’s coming, Laura drives home from work on a hot summer’s day. On the way, the sky begins to darken, the wind picks up, the first heavy raindrops start to fall and then, suddenly, they turn into hail.

Of course, it’s too late for Laura to find suitable shelter, as she’s in the middle of the motorway. She can only hope that the hailstorm will soon pass and that she’ll get home safely; she does, only to find that her car is covered in large dents. What should she do now? Is it worth having the damage repaired? How much will her insurance cover?

In this kind of situation, you need to report the damage to your personal advisor as soon as possible. Laura calls her contact person at Union Swiss Brokers Holding AG straight away. Over the phone, the advisor helps Laura to report the claim in a matter of minutes.

Hail damage to the car would be covered by partial accidental damage insurance, and since Laura actually has fully comprehensive insurance (a combination of partial and comprehensive accidental damage insurance), she can relax and wait for her indemnity.

Hail can damage more than just cars; various items such as blinds, garden furniture and crops are also at risk. Aside from hail, fire, flooding, high water, storms, rockfalls, landslides, avalanches and snow pressure are natural events that are always insured together with fire coverage.

Building insurance covers hail damage caused by natural events. In almost all cantons, fire and natural hazard insurance is compulsory for single-family homes.

Furniture in or around the house that’s damaged by hail or other natural events is covered by home contents insurance. Farmers in particular are advised to take out hail insurance to protect themselves from financial ruin due to hail.

You can find more information about glass damage and the differences between household insurance, liability insurance and glass breakage insurance in our article on glass breakage insurance in Switzerland.

Our experts will conduct a thorough risk analysis with you and provide competent advice when it comes to making a decision. We’re on hand to assist you before you take out a policy, during the term of a contract and in the event of a claim. This service is free of charge. You can contact us by e-mail at burgdorf@unionsb.ch or by phone on 034 422 70 24.

To provide you with competent, comprehensive advice in the future, we require a written mandate from you. Simply download the form, fill it in and send it to us via e-mail or post to:

Union Swiss Brokers Holding AG
Lyssachstrasse 9
3400 Burgdorf

We’ll contact you upon receipt to discuss the next steps.

Would you like to know whether your building or household insurance provides sufficient protection against hail and severe weather damage? Our experts can support you with a personalised review of your insurance coverage. Learn more about our Insurance Solutions for Private Individuals here.

Hail damage to a vehicle is generally covered by partial casco insurance. Drivers with comprehensive casco insurance also benefit from the included partial casco coverage.

Yes. In Switzerland, hail damage to buildings is generally covered under natural hazard insurance. In most cantons, this protection is provided through the cantonal building insurance system. In the GUSTAVO cantons (Geneva, Uri, Schwyz, Ticino, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Valais and Obwalden), coverage is provided by private insurers. Applicable legal and contractual provisions remain decisive.

If furniture, garden furniture or other movable belongings are damaged by hail, storms or other insured natural events, the loss is generally covered by household insurance.

Natural hazard damage includes hail, storms, flooding, high water, snow pressure, avalanches, rockfall, falling rocks and landslides. In Switzerland, these natural hazards are generally insured together with fire coverage.

A claim should be reported as soon as possible after the event. Early notification helps facilitate the assessment of the damage and speeds up the handling of the claim.

Whether a repair is worthwhile depends on the extent of the damage, the value of the vehicle and the insurance coverage in place. Following the claim notification, the insurer and appointed experts will assess the most appropriate course of action.

For private individuals, this is generally not necessary. Hail damage to vehicles, buildings and household belongings is usually covered by the relevant insurance policies and their natural hazard coverage. Agricultural crops, however, can be protected through dedicated hail insurance that covers crop damage and resulting loss of yield.

A review of your existing insurance policies can determine whether your building, household and vehicle insurance adequately cover hail and storm damage and identify any areas where adjustments may be advisable.

Editorial note: This article was originally published on 19 August 2022 and was reviewed and updated in September 2026.