Report hail damage: How to secure your claims with the insurance company
19 May 2025
11
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
A hailstorm can cause costly damage to your car and home. Learn here how to correctly report hail damage and what steps are necessary to fully receive your insurance benefits. A swift and accurate report is often the first step towards successful claims processing.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Report hail damage to your insurance promptly, usually within a week.
Document damage in detail with photos and notes on the location and timing of the hail.
Third-party, fire and theft (for vehicles) and residential building insurance (for houses) are the primary points of contact.
Quick Facts: The essentials for reporting hail damage at a glance
After a hailstorm, quick action is required to secure your claims with the insurance company. Most insurers expect a report within a week of the event. Prompt reporting helps establish the direct link between the storm and the damage. For damage to cars, your comprehensive car insurance is usually responsible, which is also included in full coverage policies. For damage to houses, the building insurance steps in. Document all damage immediately and in detail with photos and notes on the location and time of the hailstorm. These initial steps are crucial for smooth processing.
Damage assessment and documentation: The foundation for your claims
Thorough documentation is essential when reporting hail damage. Photograph your vehicle or building immediately after the hailstorm from various angles and take close-ups of individual dents and damages. Record the exact date, time, and location of the event. Many insurers verify these details using weather data. Clean your car before an inspection so that even small dents are more visible. Retain damaged parts initially, in case the assessor wishes to see them. These steps facilitate the expert's work and expedite the processing of your case. Good preparation can often shorten the settlement time by several days.
Keep the following points in mind when documenting:
Photos of the entire vehicle/building and from each damaged side.
Close-ups of individual dents, ideally with a size comparison (e.g., placing a coin next to them).
Photos of damaged windows, lights, or shutters.
Notes on the number and approximate size of impacts per component.
Details of any previous damage to the vehicle or building.
This detailed insurance damage report is essential. It ensures that all aspects of the damage are considered.
Deadlines and Formalities: Reporting Hail Damage Correctly to the Insurance Company
Meeting deadlines is very important when reporting hail damage. Generally, insurance companies set a deadline of one week for damage reporting. Some contracts also mention "without delay," which means you must act without culpable hesitation. A call to your insurance hotline is often the first step, but in most cases, a written damage report via form is also required. You often receive this form online on the insurer's website or by post. If you miss the deadline for the written report, the insurance may reduce or even refuse the benefits. Be sure to keep proof of sending your documents. Prompt and formally correct reporting is an important part of successful settlement and secures your claims from the motor liability or comprehensive insurance.
The surveyor's appointment: Preparation and procedure of the damage assessment
After you report the hail damage, your insurance company will usually appoint an expert (surveyor) to assess the extent of the damage. This is especially true for more extensive damage. You should only carry out repairs after approval from the insurance company or after the assessment, unless they are emergency measures to mitigate damage (e.g. covering a broken window). In the case of comprehensive damage, the insurer usually has the right to direct regarding the expert. Therefore, you cannot easily appoint your own expert at the insurance's expense. Prepare your vehicle for the appointment: it should be clean and dry so that all dents are clearly visible. Have your vehicle documents ready. The expert documents the damage, calculates the repair costs, and prepares a report for the insurance, of which you will receive a copy. This report is the basis for further settlement, whether it is repair or a payout of the damage amount.
Repair or fictional invoicing: Your options after the report
Once the assessment is available, you have several options. You can have the damage repaired at a garage. If your contract requires you to use affiliated garages, you must visit a partner garage of the insurer. Alternatively, you can opt for what is known as a notional settlement. This means the insurance pays you the net repair cost determined by the assessor (excluding VAT), and you decide if and how you want the damage to be repaired. This option is often attractive for older vehicles or minor cosmetic damage. If you later choose to have repairs done and the costs exceed the paid amount, many insurers reimburse the difference upon presentation of the invoice. Note that with a notional settlement, a reduction in value is typically not reimbursed. The specific regulations regarding this can be found in your insurance policy. A repair better ensures the value retention of your vehicle, especially for newer models.
Here are the steps after receiving the assessment:
Carefully review the assessment report.
Decide between a repair or a notional settlement.
If opting for repair: Obtain insurance approval if necessary, or consider the garage binding.
If opting for a notional settlement: Inform your insurance company.
Submit all necessary documents (e.g., repair invoice) to the insurer.
Understanding the difference between third-party, fire and theft, and fully comprehensive insurance is also relevant for processing.
Special case residential buildings: Properly managing hail damage to the house
Not only cars, but buildings can also be heavily damaged by hail. Here, your residential building insurance is your point of contact for damage to the roof, facade, windows, or shutters. Moveable items inside the house that are damaged by hail (e.g., hail entering through a broken window) are covered by your contents insurance. Report the damage to your insurance immediately and document everything in detail. Begin clean-up or repair work only after discussing it with your insurer, unless it concerns preventing further damage (duty to mitigate loss), such as covering a damaged roof. The insurance will assess whether a natural hazard insurance is necessary or if the damage is covered by the standard residential building insurance. Often, an expert will also be involved to determine the extent of the necessary restoration measures. The costs for restoration can be significant, so precise coordination with the insurance is essential.
Expert depth: Legal aspects and common pitfalls
In insurance law, there are several important points when it comes to hail damage. Timely notification is a so-called obligation of the policyholder. Breaching this duty can lead to a reduction in benefits. The duty to mitigate damage according to paragraph 254, section two of the German Civil Code (BGB) states that you, as the aggrieved party, are obliged to keep the damage as minimal as possible. This means, for example, you must temporarily cover broken windows to prevent further damage from rain. Our expert tip: Always check with your insurance beforehand whether you are allowed to hire your own assessor; in the case of hull damage, the right to issue instructions usually lies with the insurer. Another point is the distinction between old and new damage. Insurances generally pay only once for the same damage. If a previous hail damage was settled fictitiously and not repaired, it can lead to deductions in the event of a repeated damage. When selling a vehicle, any known hail damage, even if repaired, must be disclosed to the buyer to avoid the accusation of fraudulent concealment. Knowing these details helps you avoid pitfalls and exercise your rights optimally.
Prevention: How to protect your property from hail damage
Your next step towards optimal protection
More useful links
The Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) provides comprehensive information on hail and its formation.
The Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV) provides current statistics on storm and hail damage in Germany.
The Umweltbundesamt informs about extreme weather events and the impacts of climate change on such phenomena.
The Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) offers daily insights into various weather topics.
FAQ
What does the partial coverage include in the event of hail damage?
Partial comprehensive insurance typically covers the costs for repairs of sheet metal, paint, and glass damage caused by hail. Consequential interior damage may also be covered. You must bear any agreed excess.
Will my no-claims discount be affected by hail damage?
No, hail damage is covered by the partial coverage. This does not affect your no-claims discount in the motor third-party liability or fully comprehensive insurance.
Do I have to pay for the expert assessment?
If the insurance company commissions the surveyor, they usually cover the costs associated with it. If you engage a surveyor yourself without prior consultation, you may end up bearing the costs yourself.
What is the duty to mitigate damages?
You are legally obligated to take measures to prevent the damage from worsening once a loss occurs (e.g., cover a broken window).
Which insurance covers hail damage to the house?
The residential building insurance is responsible for damages to fixed parts of the building, such as the roof, facade, or windows. The contents insurance covers damages to movable items within the house.
What should you consider in the event of hail damage to a leased vehicle?
In the event of hail damage to a leased vehicle, promptly inform your leasing company. They will coordinate the next steps with you and the insurance provider.
