Swiss hailstorm damage expected to cost insurers hundreds of millions

Insurers expect the August 28 hailstorm to generate at least several hundred million francs in damage across Switzerland. The first claims figures show why the bill is rising quickly: thousands of vehicles were pounded by hail, while homes, cellars and gardens also suffered damage.

The storm was the worst hail event of the year, according to several non-life insurers. A survey by the AWP news agency found that companies were already placing the total cost in the three-digit million range, even as claims continued to arrive.

Mobiliar reported around 18,000 claims across Switzerland by Wednesday, including 14,300 vehicle cases. Allianz Suisse had recorded more than 11,000 damaged-vehicle claims, while Helvetia reported around 11,500 claims. The figures come from individual insurers and cannot simply be added together, since policies and categories overlap across the market.

Generali Switzerland said it was also seeing a rise in claims but could not yet assess the final number or financial impact. The scale of the losses will become clearer as policyholders complete inspections and insurers process damage reports.

Cars account for the majority of reported claims, turning the storm into a national logistics problem for insurers, garages and motorists. Mobiliar said 14,300 of its 18,000 claims involved vehicles. Helvetia reported that approximately 90% of its claims came from motor-vehicle owners.

The damage has been concentrated in parts of the densely populated Bern region and the Swiss Mittelland. Axa described the volume of destruction in the area as exceptional, with a large number of losses occurring within a short period. Hail damage can affect windscreens, roofs, bonnets and body panels, and some vehicles are being classified as total write-offs.

Insurers are setting up drive-through centres so owners of roadworthy cars can have damage assessed without waiting for a conventional workshop appointment. Allianz Suisse is collecting vehicles suspected of being total write-offs and sending them for expert examination.

The claims surge is also affecting people who need to keep travelling. Helvetia said replacement vehicles were in short supply at both car-hire companies and garages. Helvetia and Allianz Suisse are offering financial support for public transport when no replacement car is available.

The storm damaged more than vehicles, with insurers also handling losses to buildings, cellars and gardens. Mobiliar said its claim figures included property damage alongside the much larger volume of motor cases. The final bill will depend on how many roofs, façades, windows, household contents and outdoor installations require repair or replacement.

That assessment is still underway. Mobiliar said a reliable projection might not be possible until the end of the week at the earliest. The company expects its own total to reach the high double-digit millions of francs. Allianz Suisse gave a similar initial assessment, placing its expected claim amount at least in the high double-digit millions.

Generali also cautioned that a definitive estimate was not yet possible. Insurers must first distinguish repairable damage from total losses, verify policy coverage and inspect properties that may not have been reported immediately.

The delayed tally is typical after a concentrated weather event. Claims arrive in waves as residents document damage, garages schedule inspections and building owners secure vulnerable structures. The industry-wide estimate will remain provisional until those processes are further along.

Insurers are preparing for more claims while Swiss households wait for repairs, inspections and replacement transport. The immediate priority is to process thousands of vehicle cases and identify properties requiring urgent protection. Drive-through centres can speed up assessments, but limited garage capacity and a shortage of replacement cars may extend the disruption.

The storm has also renewed attention on Switzerland’s long-running efforts to reduce hail damage. Switzerland pioneered cloud-seeding experiments, including the use of rockets intended to influence hail formation. Recent experiments have not produced the desired results, according to Swissinfo’s reporting on the technology.

For insurers, the August event offers no final figure yet. Mobiliar said its total was likely to run into the high double-digit millions, while Allianz Suisse used the same broad range for its initial estimate. Across the market, AWP’s survey indicated losses of at least several hundred million francs.

More precise numbers should emerge after the remaining claims are filed and inspections are completed. Until then, motorists and property owners face a familiar Swiss post-storm routine: document the damage, secure exposed areas, contact the insurer and wait for a repair slot.