Who pays for hail and storm damage?

In short

Hail and storm count as natural hazard damage.

On the house the building insurance pays, on furniture and clothes the household contents insurance and on the car the partial casco. Without partial casco you are left with the damage on your car.

As of 2 October 2026 · VVG Art. 38 and 61 · Sources finews.ch, cms.vkg.ch, konsumentenschutz.ch and 1 more

GuideTo the answer in a few questions

Which insurance is responsible?

Choose what is damaged and what happened. You see whom you have to contact.

All answers at a glance

What is damaged? Something that belongs to someone else

Your personal liability insurance. If you caused the damage, your personal liability insurance is responsible. With the car it is the motor liability insurance of the vehicle.

What happened? Hail, storm, flood or avalanche

The building insurance. In 19 cantons this is the cantonal building insurer, in Geneva, Uri, Schwyz, Ticino, Appenzell Inner Rhodes, Valais and Obwalden a private insurer. As a tenant you report the damage to the property manager, who is responsible.

What happened? Fire

The building insurance. Fire at the building is covered by the building insurance, like natural hazards. As a tenant you report the damage to the property manager.

What happened? Earthquake

Usually no insurance. Earthquakes do not count as natural hazard damage. Buildings in Switzerland are usually not insured against them. Some cantonal building insurers have a limited solution, and private extra cover exists as well.

What happened? Hail, storm, flood or fire

Your household contents insurance. It pays furniture, clothes and devices at replacement value if your insured sum is enough. Natural hazards are included with the fire cover.

What happened? Water from a pipe

Your household contents insurance, if water is included. Tap water is usually a separate component of household contents insurance. Damage to the building itself goes to the building insurance or the property manager.

What happened? Burglary or theft

Your household contents insurance. Burglary is covered in household contents insurance. Theft away from home, for example of the bike, only with the extension for simple theft away from home. Always report theft to the police as well.

What happened? Hail, storm, stone marten, glass breakage or theft

Your partial casco. Partial casco pays damage to your own car that you did not cause yourself. Without partial casco you pay yourself.

What happened? I drove into something myself

Your comprehensive casco. Damage to your own car after a collision that is your fault is only paid by comprehensive casco. The damage to the other party is paid by your motor liability insurance.

What happened? Someone else drove into me

The liability insurance of the other vehicle. The motor liability insurance of the person who caused it pays for your damage. Fill in the European accident report together.

General classification, as of 2026. What exactly is covered is in your policy. Not advice.

Want to know more?

Who pays what?

What is damaged?	Responsible insurance
Roof, facade, windows, blinds	The owner’s building insurance
Furniture, clothes, devices, bike in the cellar	Your household contents insurance
Your car	Your partial casco
Plants and garden furniture	Household contents or building, depending on the policy

The hail of 28 August 2026 caused insured damage of almost one billion francs in the Central Plateau. More than 80 percent of it affected vehicles.

What do you do after the storm?

Safety first. Do not go onto a damaged roof and avoid flooded cellars with electricity.
Limit the damage. Cover broken windows and move things out of the water.
Take photos. Record the damage before you clear up. Keep damaged items until the insurer has seen them.
Report. Report the damage as soon as possible, many insurers offer an online form for this.
Collect receipts. Receipts and purchase proofs speed up the settlement.

What many people get wrong

“Hail on the car is paid by liability insurance.” Wrong. Motor liability insurance only pays damage to others. For your own car you need partial casco.
“As a tenant I have to pay for the broken blinds.” Wrong. Damage to the building is borne by the owner with their building insurance.
“Small damage is not worth reporting.” Hail under household contents or building insurance does not lead to a malus. You do bear the excess yourself, though.

I rent. Who pays for damage to windows and facade?

That is the owner's responsibility and that of their building insurance. Report the damage to the property manager straight away. Your household contents insurance only pays for your own belongings.

How quickly must I report the damage?

As soon as possible. The law requires a report as soon as you know about the damage. If you report late through your own fault, the insurer may reduce the benefit.

May I have damage repaired already?

Urgent measures such as an emergency roof or covering a window, yes, they reduce the damage. Everything else only after consulting the insurer, otherwise the damage can no longer be assessed.

Does my car premium rise after hail damage?

Hail under partial casco does not normally lead to a malus. After major storms, though, some insurers raise their premiums in general.

Your path · I have had damage Step 2 of 8

Your next step What does personal liability insurance pay and what not?

See all steps

Sources and date 2 October 2026

This page explains in general terms and does not replace personal advice. Law and your policy are what counts.