In 2023 there was 66 percent more hail damage to cars in Germany than in the previous year. Drivers were hit particularly hard in Bavaria.
Munich – sun, rain, snow or even hail. This weather mix is always on the agenda in Bavaria, especially in April. Recently, large snowflakes around Munich caused traffic chaos and accidents. But hail also causes damage from time to time - including to cars. Germany's second largest direct motor vehicle insurer, Verti Versicherung AG (Verti), has now evaluated how frequently hail damage to cars occurred in the individual federal states in 2023. Drivers in Bavaria are unlikely to be happy about the result, as nowhere else was there more hail damage than in the Free State.
Hail damage to cars is increasing significantly - especially in Bavaria
As can be seen from the Hail Atlas 2023, 66 percent more storm and hail damage was reported at Verti in 2023 than in 2022. Bavaria had the most hail damage to cars nationwide. However, Verti did not give an absolute number. According to the atlas, the second most hail damage occurred in Hesse in 2023. Baden-Württemberg came in third. This is followed by other federal states from the south and center of Germany: Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony. In the north, however, according to Verti, there was much less hail damage. Hail caused the least damage to cars in Bremen in 2023.
Among major cities, Munich ranks first with the most hail damage to vehicles. In addition, Nuremberg, another Bavarian city, is among the top 10 cities with the most hail damage.
Verti: Places near the Alps and in low mountain ranges are particularly at risk from hail
According to Verti, the most endangered regions in Germany regularly include places near the Alps and in low mountain ranges. And according to insurance experts, there is a reason for this. For example, places in the low mountain ranges and near the Alps would, due to their geographical location and climatic conditions, favor the formation and intensity of thunderstorms, in which hail can also occur. An example of severe hail damage near the Alps is the hailstorm on Lake Garda in the summer of 2023. Many cars were very badly damaged.
Despite the higher probability of hail near the Alps or the low mountain ranges, possible weather events in other places in Germany cannot be completely ruled out. According to Verti, hailstorms of varying intensity can occur anywhere in the country.
(By the way: Our Bayern newsletter informs you daily about all the important stories from Bavaria.)
Hail Atlas 2024: The amount of damage is also increasing - only comprehensive insurance pays for damage
According to Verti, the amount of hail damage also increased. “Overall, the damage attributable to storms and hail in Germany more than doubled in 2023 compared to 2022,” explained Verti. If your car is damaged by hail, it can be expensive. “As a rule, you have to expect a three to four-digit sum to repair hail damage,” said Alexander Held, motor vehicle and insurance expert at Verti. Exactly how much the bill will be depends not only on the size of the hailstones but also on the brand of car.
In order to be prepared for possible costs caused by hail damage, Verti advises drivers to take out comprehensive insurance in addition to the mandatory motor vehicle liability insurance. “Only then is damage to your own vehicle covered, such as hail damage. Policyholders who only have motor vehicle liability have to pay repair costs for damage to their car out of their own pocket,” explains Held.
(jr)