Hail damage to the car: insurance, costs and repair
Hail leaves unsightly marks on cars. Comparis shows which insurance pays for hail damage and when, and how best to proceed with a repair.
18.06.2025
iStockphoto/MauMyHaT
1. Hail damage to your car: Which insurance pays in Switzerland?
Hail causes insured losses amounting to millions of francs in Switzerland every year. Hail damage is an environmental event and is classified as a natural hazard in insurance terms.
Hail damage and liability insurance: Have you only taken out liability insurance for your car? Then you must cover the repair costs for the hail damage yourself. Liability insurance does not cover natural hazards such as hail.
Hail damage and partial casco insurance: Good news for policyholders with partial casco insurance: the insurance pays for hail damage. As a rule of thumb, partial casco insurance is worth having for cars up to eight years old.
Hail damage and full casco insurance: Partial casco insurance is included in full casco insurance. This means that even with full casco insurance, you do not have to bear the repair costs for hail damage yourself.
Have you not taken out partial or full casco insurance for your car? Then hail damage can be expensive. Partial casco insurance is particularly recommended if you park your car outdoors without a roof over it.
Our tip: Compare the different providers and coverage options before taking out insurance.
2. Repairing hail damage: costs
Repairing hail damage to a car can quickly cost several thousand francs. The actual costs depend heavily on the vehicle and the severity of the damage. Especially with older cars, hail can even result in a total loss. The repair costs may then exceed the current value of the car.
3. How much does the insurance pay in the event of hail damage?
Full casco and partial casco insurance compensate for the actual financial damage incurred – minus any coinsurance. The maximum coverage is usually limited to the purchase price of the insured vehicle plus accessories.
Coinsurance and bonus level for hail damage
Does your insurance cover the hail damage? That does not mean that you will incur no costs. Under certain circumstances, a coinsurance may be due in the event of hail damage. The amount of your contribution can be found in the insurance policy. The bonus level, on the other hand, is usually not adjusted after a natural event.
4. What to do in the event of hail damage?
Report hail damage to your insurance company as soon as possible. Under no circumstances should you commission a repair yourself. The insurance company has the right to inspect the dents before repair. It will give you instructions according to the circumstances and refer you to a garage or an expert.
If there is large-scale hail damage, car insurers sometimes set up a service centre. There, experts examine the damaged vehicles. This allows insurance companies to counteract delays that can arise due to the large number of claims.
Good to know: Hail generally «only» leaves dents in the paintwork or cracks in the windscreen. Damage to the paintwork, such as scratches, is usually not due to hail.
Switching car insurance after hail damage
Did you know that you have the right to cancel your car insurance after your insurer has settled the claim? The deadline is 14 days from the date you’re informed that your insurer will cover the costs. Cover ends when your insurer receives your notice of cancellation.
5. Should you claim for hail damage to your car or have it repaired?
Are the dents caused by hail not bothering you? Then, in addition to a repair, you also have the option of receiving a cash payout for the damage.
However, please note: in the event of further hail damage, your insurer will not cover the full cost. After all, it is then no longer possible to clearly determine which dent originates from which hailstorm. In practice, your insurer deducts the payout amount from the previous hailstorm from the new total damage in order to establish the actual loss amount.
Important: in the case of leased vehicles, you will be charged for any unrepaired hail damage when the vehicle is returned.
Hail damage can significantly reduce the value of your car – even if you have it repaired. The actual loss in value depends on several factors:
Extent of damage: Depending on the number and depth of the dents, the resale value can drop sharply.
Vehicle value: The percentage loss in value is often higher for older cars. The reason is that repair costs are comparatively high in relation to the car’s residual value.
Repair history: A car with previous hail damage is usually rated lower on the used car market. This applies even if all the damage has been professionally repaired.
The exact amount of the loss in value after hail damage varies depending on the vehicle type and condition. You can consult a specialist to determine the exact loss in value.
This article was first published on 11.06.2019
